Infertility

February 7th, 2015

ACUPUNCTURE AND INFERTILITY

Acupuncture can increase the chance of conception by 40-60% in women undergoing IVF (invitro fertilization) . It can also help someone conceive naturally when all else fails. How it does this is by: (1) increasing the blood flow to the uterus and ovaries which improves the condition of these organs for fertilization; (2) regulating the menstrual cycle; (3) reducing stress / anxiety which decreases the release of hormones like adrenaline which have an effect on the arteries feeding the reproductive organs; and (4) normalizing the endocrine and hormone systems that regulate ovulation – good for women with polycystic ovarian syndrome. It also helps men with fertility issues: namely quality of sperm – helping with motility and structure of.

In TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) 3 yin organ systems are involved with successful fertility. They are the Kidney, Spleen, and Liver organs. The kidneys supply essence or jing which is necessary for a healthy body. The spleen helps to control the blood in your body necessary for a normal menstrual cycle and supplying a fetus for a healthy pregnancy. The liver controls the free flow of Qi (chee) and blood in your body which if not balanced can lead to stress / anxiety / depression and hence reduce the chances for conception.

Anyone considering fertility treatments should commit to a period of at least 3 months to get their bodies ready and as healthy as possible before beginning IVF or any type of Western medical infertility treatment. There are no side effects and people who have had no success with IVF, had multiple miscarriages, etc should consider acupuncture and TCM before giving up.

Acupuncture can also help with the unpleasant symptoms of pregnancy, such as; morning sickness, back pain, carpal tunnel, spotting, premature contractions. It can even help with a smoother delivery when the time comes.

I’ve had some success (~60-70%) helping women conceive with the help of acupuncture and supplements/herbs.




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