Acupuncture is One of the Best Treatments for Infertility

It’s a wonder why a lot of women suffering from infertility have not considered acupuncture with the very high rates of success this treatment has in curing their condition. Studies regarding acupuncture show that it boosts by 50%, IVF efficacy rates. For infertile sufferers who have tried everything, acupuncture has fulfilled the wishes and desires of many once childless couples. In ancient China, emperors would hire acupuncturists to ensure that any infertility issues in their wives and concubines are resolved in order to produce healthy heirs. Today, in this century, we are witnessing a rise in infertility cases as well as women opting to become pregnant later in life. For couples struggling to produce offspring, in the end, they go for medical help and doctors more often than not would prescribe fertility medications or recommend in-vitro fertilization (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI), or other types of (ART) assisted reproductive technologies. One of the best and most overlooked standalone or complementary treatments for infertility is acupuncture.

We get a greater appreciation of conception once we have an idea of how complex the female reproductive system is and comprehend the rhythmic flow of hormones in the body. Any disruptions to them can lead to the rise of fertility issues. Infertility may develop when the hormones in the meat you eat disrupt the levels of testosterone and estrogen in your body. They begin to affect the cycles and levels of the other hormones required for normal luteal, ovulatory, and follicular cycles. Infertility can also occur due to stress from relationships or at work which affects the pH levels of your cervical mucus that becomes too acidic for the sperm to live. Infertility can also happen when you suffer from certain food sensitivities that weaken your immune system making it very hard for your body to conceive or support a pregnancy. Infertility can have several various causes. Acupuncturists trained in treating both male and female reproductive issues are able to identify the underlying problems from the viewpoint of both Eastern and Western Medicine.

Acupuncturists are also trained to track even subtle imbalances. They know how to resolve those internal imbalances to bring back homeostasis in the body which is essential for successful conception and pregnancy. By evaluating, for example, a woman with puffiness of the face and a pale complexion who complains of poor digestive health and fatigue, an acupuncturist may see that the woman has deficient spleen that weakens blood production and produces poor blood quality, which in turn, adversely impact the thickness and quality of the endometrial wall, which is required for successful implantation of the embryo. Any imbalances in the yin of the patient can be detected by an acupuncturist. This imbalance disallows for adequate fertile cervical fluid which is required in order to transport the sperm to the egg. A huge positive difference in the results of ART-assisted and natural conception can occur when you have a clear understanding on how to properly address the subtle and not so subtle imbalances causing infertility.

Besides treating their problem, acupuncture treatments for infertile couples can greatly improve their overall health. And since acupuncture is a type of medicine that strives to restore balance to the entire body system, the person’s emotional, mental, physical well-being is greatly improved, as well. Couples suffering from infertility often suffer from severe stress which can take a toll on their health. Their worries and anxieties get addressed with acupuncture’s calming effects on the nervous system. The thickness and health of the endometrial wall can be greatly improved with acupuncture and this is vital in successful IVF treatments. A thick and healthy endometrial wall can boost by 50% the likelihood for successful embryo implantation in an IVF procedure. Blood flow to the ovaries is also increased with acupuncture treatment which leads to better nutrition and functioning of the follicles. Acupuncture also treats uterine spasming which aids in successful implantation. Acupuncture makes the body more conducive for conception and assists the body during pregnancy by resolving excess edema, morning sickness, and preventing possible miscarriage; this treatment also promotes a healthy delivery and is a very helpful postpartum support.

To conclude, the reproductive health of a person can be greatly enhanced with acupuncture. Treating fertility problems with this therapy will also help you know when your most fertile time is. The treatment will also include recommendations to your lifestyle and diet. Acupuncture heals PMS, addresses hormonal imbalances, thickness the endometrial lining, and boost circulation to the ovaries. This gives the body a better foundation in which to have a problem-free and happy pregnancy.

Acupuncture Health Center
1303 Astor St #101
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 715-1824

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Why Acupuncture Is a Very Important Tool in the Treatment of Infertility

Acupuncture practice dates tens of hundreds of years ago in China and is more and more being recognized as a valid form of treatment by Western physicians. While this ancient form of treatment has been seen to really help in treating a wide range of illnesses, from smoking cessation to the management of pain, new researches have revealed that acupuncture can also help in the treatment of infertility.

From the Orient…

Acupuncture has been around for more than three millennia, although modern Western science still has to successfully explain how it really works. This treatment modality has been introduced in France by Jesuit missionaries in the 1600s, where it become so popular it quickly spread throughout Europe in no time at all. Acupuncture has only been widely practiced In the United States during the last four decades.

The Chinese believe in a life force known as Chi circulating all over the body and this belief is the basis of how acupuncture works. The free and normal flow of Chi is required in order to stay healthy; when an imbalance or a blockage develops in that flow, ill health develops, as well. The human body has 20 primary Chi channels that convey life force all over the body. These channels known as meridians are accessible by means of over 400 various acupuncture points, or acupoints, for short.

Various combinations of acupoints are activated with acupuncture needles based on the illness you’re experiencing. The needles are extremely thin and long although they may vary in length based on the acupoint they will be used on. The activation/stimulation of an acupoint causes Chi flow to rebalance or return to its normal state of free flow which leads to the resolution of the medical condition.

…To the West

Some Western medical experts still remain skeptical towards the healing art of acupuncture. It seems that Western medicine’s failure to fully explain the workings of this modality makes it perceive acupuncture as nothing more than a load of mumbo jumbo. The actuality that the Chi pathways don’t really correspond to say, the nervous or circulatory system, or any other recognized body system only serves to boost the skepticism of these “experts.”

Nevertheless, health institutions such as the World Health Organization or the United States’ National Institutes of Health have endorsed this treatment for a number of health problems. They have researchers working to study acupuncture in order to understand it more thoroughly. Some possible explanations as to why acupuncture works include:

– its ability to release endorphins into the body, acupuncture can effectively reduce pain. Endorphins naturally develop in the pain control system of the body, in the central nervous system.

– the release of neurohormones and neurotransmitters when acupuncture needles activate the central nervous system. This helps improve the natural self-healing capacity of the body.

– central nervous system stimulation causing positive changes in body temperature, blood flow and blood pressure during an acupuncture procedure causing the undergoes.

The truth is, acupuncture is a painless type of treatment that has very few, side effects if any at all, especially when it is performed by a qualified practitioner. If risks ever occur, they may involve minor bleeding, forgotten or broken needles, infectious disease transmission, and the puncture of body organs. These risks can all be avoided or reduced if you get yourself treated by a certified and fully trained acupuncturist.

Acupuncture is contraindicated for people using blood thinners or for those suffering from blood disorders.

Infertility and Acupuncture

As a standalone therapy, acupuncture can be a very good alternative therapy for fertility issues. Most of the time, however, it is mostly used as a complementary modality to updated fertility therapies. When utilized as a standalone treatment, acupuncture is very effective for couples who are suffering from functional problems, like irregular ovulation; when the infertility is due to a structural condition like a sperm duct obstruction, it may not be as effective as the patient would want it to be. Certain acupuncturists would also include Chinese herbal medicine or any type of treatment to augment the acupuncture treatment you are receiving. Make sure your doctor knows that you are taking herbs if you are receiving other medical treatments since there are herbs that can interact with certain fertility procedures and medications.

Acupuncturists explain that acupuncture works for fertility problems because it helps regulate the patient’s body system resulting in the stabilization of the hormone levels and in the increase of flow of blood to the reproductive organs leading in turn, in an increase in male sperm production and an improvement in female ovarian function.

Acupuncture can be utilized as a complementary form of treatment for women who are under fertility treatments. Some doctors think that acupuncture helps women stay more relaxed when they are subjected through quite invasive fertility therapies. Specific studies have revealed that the success rates of in vitro fertilization procedures greatly increases when acupuncture is included in the procedure.

In 2002, a study done in Germany tested the usefulness of acupuncture in improving the rate of conception of infertile women undergoing IVF therapy. Eighty women all with fertility problems participated in the study and they all underwent IVF. For those who received acupuncture, 42.5% got pregnant. For the women who received zero acupuncture treatment a success rate of only 26.3% was achieved. A more recent US study was conducted to test the effectiveness of acupuncture in boosting IVF success rates. The study attracted 114 participants who all were suffering from infertility. The study showed that in women who were given acupuncture, 51% of them successfully conceived with IVF therapy. For the women who only had IVF treatment, only 36% successfully conceived. A more thorough evaluation of the study showed only an 8% miscarriage of the group given acupuncture as compared to the 20% miscarriage rate of the group who only had IVF therapy. Moreover, the rates of ectopic pregnancy were far lower in women who received acupuncture compare to those who only received IVF therapy.

Finding the Right Acupuncturist

These days, a lot of medical doctors have now integrated acupuncture in their daily medical practice. They require a few hundred hours of acupuncture training in order to practice this treatment on their patients. For non-medical doctors, the required number of hours they need to complete in order to be considered a qualified practitioner is around 2,000 to 3,000 hours of training as well as passing the board exams to earn certification.

To be on the safe side, you should always check the credentials of the acupuncturist you think can help you with your problem. Check to see if he has the proper certification and training as mandated by your state. Seek referrals from anyone you know who has undergone the treatment especially if it involved treating the same condition you are currently suffering from. Know how much the treatment costs. There are insurance companies that now provide medical coverage for acupuncture treatments so you may want to do a little research on that as well.

For the treatment of infertility, multiple sessions of acupuncture therapy is required. Sessions might be once or a couple of times a week for weeks or even months. Typically, a dozen sessions is recommended with each session lasting an hour or so.

Acupuncture Health Center
1303 Astor St #101
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360) 715-1824

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The Ways Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs Help in the Treatment of Male and Female Infertility

Acupuncture significantly increases the rate of conception by an average of 27%, especially when it is used in conjunction with Western fertility therapies. A Palestinian study concluded that TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) treatments (herbal medicine and acupuncture) helped increase the rate of success of IUI treatments by 66% as compared to only 39.2% from the control group, who received zero type of TCM treatment. In the United States alone, there are around 5 million couples who are suffering from a specific type of infertility condition each year. A lot of them need to consider acupuncture as a way to overcome their condition.

Based on several medical research and studies, there are three ways that acupuncture can do to treat infertility: It can aid in the balance of the endocrine and reproductive systems, increase the flow of blood into these systems, and boost fertility by removing stress in the person’s mind and body. Acupuncture’s goal when treating infertility from the viewpoint of TCM, is to not only make the patient pregnant, but also to let her stay pregnant and help her deliver a healthy baby. Besides these three benefits, acupuncture can also increase the circulation of blood to the uterus and ovaries, resulting in the egg’s stronger chance to be nourished and brought to term.

Acupuncture involves the insertion of acupuncture needles into certain points in the body. The needles are made of stainless steel, sterile and extremely thin. The human body has over 2000 acupuncture points scattered throughout. Underneath each acupuncture point lie a meridian of which there are 14 in the body and where the vital energy known as chi flows or travels. The meridians, according to TCM practitioners, are believed to be located between the internal organs and the surface of the body. The vital energy chi is the force that normalizes a person’s physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental balance. When, because of disease, pain, poor health and other circumstances the flow of qi is disrupted, acupuncture can be considered and enabled to improve the flow of qi which then helps improve the chances of conception.

Treating infertility with acupuncture in Tarzana can resolve almost any factor that can cause infertility. Female infertility accounts for 40% of all infertility cases while male infertility matches that with same number of cases as women (40%). Causes of male infertility include poor sperm motility and count while female infertility includes, endometriosis, and anovulation as the common reasons for female infertility.

As mentioned before, reducing stress is one way acupuncture can help treat infertility. Stress is one important factor in the loss of fertility; when individuals are under extreme stress, their stress hormones, known as cortisol, increases in their body. The cortisol changes the neurochemical balance of the brain resulting in an imbalance in pituitary function and a change in hormone levels thus compromising the normal cycle of reproduction. Fortunately TCM is able to help a woman go through this important time in her life. Acupuncture can be extremely helpful for the physical and emotional balance of a woman, important factors required for her to successfully conceive. Furthermore, this powerful TCM modality can also help with insomnia, birth preparation anxiety, physical pain and ache, nausea, morning sickness and many other forms of conditions.

Since stress can capably disrupt the delicate balance between the reproductive, pituitary and hypothalamic glands, it can prevent a woman from ovulating altogether. This is one of the most common causes of female infertility. Moreover, spasms in both the uterus and fallopian tubes can occur because of stress resulting in the interference in the movement and implantation of a fertilized ovum. Stress also affects men by causing impotence and lowering sperm motility and count. Treating stress with acupuncture can help neutralize the effects of cortisol and stress itself by helping releasing endorphins in the brain. Chinese herbal formulas can also help alleviate stress in men.

Cortisol is not really an important player for the creation of a hormonal imbalance that leads to infertility. Ovulation disorder is the most common reason for infertility. This particular problem occurs when the release of a mature egg is blocked in the ovaries due to an imbalance in the hormones. If the body has insufficient amounts of progesterone, for example, it can make it difficult for the fetus to attach itself to the uterus. Overabundance of prolactin, on the other hand, can also make it impossible for the body to ovulate. Prolactin is the hormone that activates breast milk production.

The male reproductive function can also become imbalanced when the reproductive hormones are imbalanced. This imbalance can lead to poor sperm production and motility. Fertility drugs designed to activate ovulation through the normalization of the pituitary and hypothalamus glands can help infertile women but not infertile men. A recent herbal product that can cure male importance may be just what you need to conceive.

There’s a 20% – 40% chance of success for fertility drugs to work. However these drugs come with side effects that include nausea, weight gain, water retention (edema), bloating, and tenderness in the stomach

Certain research data also show that usage of these drugs can also lead breast cancer.

In contrast acupuncture treatment for infertility has little if no side effects at all while at the same time can perform the same function as medications, which are resolving the underlying cause of both male and female infertility, properly balancing the hormones, and stimulating the hypothalamus in order to also balance the endocrine system.

Acupuncture for Infertility

A lot of adults think that the most purposeful and exciting time in their lives is to have and raise a family of their own. Deplorably, however, approximately 25% of adults in the United States are unable to conceive. Their choices then are to resort in treatments and techniques to attain conception which can be distressing and disappointing processes that can eventually result to monetary and emotional pressure.

If couples are unable to conceive for at least a whole year, they are then deemed or diagnosed to be infertile. There can be several complications that can develop or arise during the conception process.  Infertility can strike both sexes roughly equally. For men who are infertile, they comprise approximately 40% of infertility cases. Low sperm count, bad sperm quality, poor sperm motility and some other abnormalities can all bring about infertility among the human male species.

One the other hand, women, on the other hand contribute to about half (50%) of the cases of infertility. The reproductive system of the female is more complex than that of the male. Certain issues arising there like obstructed fallopian tubes, deficient ovarian reserve, and hormone irregularities and other problems can all lead to a woman’s incapability to conceive. Also both the male and female partner can be infertile but in most cases one part of the couple is the one infertile.

About 10% of infertility cases are of unknown cases (idiopathic cases).  This type of infertility is quite a difficult one to diagnose and it often affects couples who are seemingly healthy overall.

Considering the Options

Infertile couples who really want to become parents of natural born children will seek help from fertility specialists to see what is specifically wrong with them. They need to undergo tests that help specialists to know what procedure is best for their condition. Some of the assisted reproductive techniques (ART) for addressing infertility can include GIFT, ZIFT, ICSI, IUI as well as IVF.  Most of the procedures basically require the female to receive hormones that can stabilize and improve the process of ovulation as well as implantation. These procedures can be quite successful although they can take a firm commitment financially and time-wise on couples many of them cannot make.

Due to their costliness, these aforementioned therapies are not often considered. These days, a growing number of couples are opting for natural therapies to help them conceive. These types of therapies can either be used as a standalone therapy or as a complementary modality for IVF as well as other ART procedures.  The most commonly used of these natural modalities are traditional Chinese medicine modalities like acupuncture.

What New Research Reveals About Acupuncture

Even with tons of research done on acupuncture for years, the mystery of how it really works still has not yet been discovered.  Researchers have two theories as to how acupuncture works in treating several conditions. One theory uses TCM’s concept of “meridians” and “vital energy” known as “chi”. The second theory uses modern scientific evidence to explain the physiological processes that happens when acupuncture needles are inserted into the skin.

The Connection between Acupuncture and the Brain

When an acupuncture needle is inserted into the skin, some very interesting changes happen in the body and brain. Newer research has revealed that changes in the brain happen when the acupuncturist uses needles to stimulate these areas. Some of the latest functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have validated this connection. Researchers have observed that acupuncture actually helps release endorphins that affect the gonadotropins FSH and LH when the therapy is used to treat infertility. LH and FSH affect and stabilize the functioning of the ovaries and testes. Furthermore, the needles also seem to improve blood circulation to the uterus, improving the environment that becomes more conducive for implantation. So what acupuncture does is to greatly improve the body’s ability to conceive by regulating the woman’s hormone production, among others. Regulated hormones imply regular menstruation, timely ovulation, good implantation and a perfect environment for conception.

One major cause of infertility is stress. Stress from personal problems, financial stress and work all play a part in hormonal irregularities and so can impact fertility.  Certain women undergo a stressful event that causes them to skip their period.  Fortunately, acupuncture is a very popular stress relieving procedure and has as a positive calming effect for women undergoing stressful fertility treatment processes.

Chinese Herbal Medicine

The benefits of Chinese herbal medicine cannot certainly be ignored in spite of acupuncture being the most studied type of natural alternative therapy for infertility. The use of the correct herbal formula can certainly help regulate the menstrual cycle and provide a great opportunity to achieve successful conception. There are also various kinds of herbal formulas that boost male fertility and treat problems like low sperm count and erectile dysfunction. These herbs can very powerful medicine and as such need to be only prescribed by TCM practitioners specializing in traditional Chinese herbal medicine.

IVF and Acupuncture: Great ART Combination

One of the most commonly used ART procedures to attain conception is In-Vitro Fertilization or IVF.  The March 2008 issue of the British Medical Journal stated that the rate of pregnancy and live birth is considerably improved when acupuncture is given along with embryo transfer for women undergoing IVF.

IVF therapies have truly helped a lot of couples realize their dream of being proud parents of their own natural born children. Still, in spite of this wonderful achievement these techniques do not address certain factors which play important roles in our health that can impact our fertility. These factors like stress management, dietary choices, sleep and emotional health are ignored.  The good news is that a lot of medical physicians and fertility specialists are beginning to be aware of new research works and are now seeing the value of acupuncture on couples who want a better integrated approach to their health. If you are seriously considering acupuncture as a way to treat your infertility or improve your chances to achieve conception then you can consult with a licensed acupuncturist or a licensed TCM practitioner to know how acupuncture can be of help in resolving your fertility or conception problems.