Acupuncture is an extraordinary modality for treating fertility issues or for complementing modern fertility treatments.
Here at City Acupuncture Circle, we have seen an increase in patients seeking support for a range fertility issues (pregnancy loss, infertility, PCOS, and irregular ovulation, among others). Unsurprisingly, fertility issues are increasingly common in our modern society, where stress and over-work are the norm for many men and women.
Considering that stress-relief is anecdotally (and scientifically) proven to be one of the number one “side-effects” of acupuncture, it is not surprising that more and more people are seeking alternative methods like acupuncture to help restore their body’s nature rhythms and healing abilities, which are disrupted by excessive stress, lack of sleep, and poor diet.
However acupuncture does much more than stress relief. Because acupuncture treatment aids in the body’s blood flow to the reproductive organs and stabilizes hormones levels, it can increase ovarian function in women and sperm production in men.
Based on scientific studies, the Wiell Cornell Medical Center has made some phenomenal conclusions about the effect of acupuncture on reproductive health. They have found that acupuncture:
- normalizes hormone and endocrine systems that regulate ovulation
- positively affects the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis (which means less stress, better immune system and digestion)
- regulates the menstrual cycle, and increase blood flow to the uterus
- regulates elevated follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
Studies have also shown that acupuncture increases the rate of pregnancy in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). A study done in 2002 showed that of the 80 women who underwent IVF and received acupuncture, 34 women got pregnant. That’s a success rate of 42.5%, compared with 26.3% for women who only received IVF and no acupuncture!
Our newest acupuncturist, Sarah Knaup, L.Ac, has specialized training in fertility issues, including working with a leading endocrinologist in the San Diego area, utilizing acupuncture to complement patients’ IUI and IVF cycles.