Practitioners in China have used acupuncture, either alone or, frequently, combined with an herbal formula, for centuries to treat infertility. Acupuncture is similar to physical therapy; both work with what the body already has. Herbs are similar to medicinal therapy and can supplement what the body lacks. Chinese acupuncture and herbs can address most problems that affect fertility. The partial list below includes some infertility causes we can help you with:
- Irregular menses
- Anovulation
- Elevated FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) level
- Poor egg quality, including that caused by advanced maternal age and diminishing ovarian reserve
- Fallopian tubal adhesion or scar tissue
- Uterine fibroids
- Uterine lining quality & thickness issues
- Unexplained infertility
- Recurrent miscarriage
- Immunological infertility
- Luteal phase defect
- Male factor infertility (except sterility)
The Oriental medical approach to treat infertility is very different from the Western medical approach. Both approaches have their strength and limitations. For example, acupuncture and herbs will not stimulate multiple eggs to be released for fertilization, although modern assisted-reproductive technology practices achieve this as a routine procedure. However, to take egg quality as an example, acupuncture and herbs can help a woman with a diagnosis of poor egg quality by increasing blood flow to her ovaries to enrich the follicles and increase their growth potential.
Why seek Oriental medicine first, before other fertility treatment?
We strongly suggest couples seeking fertility treatment to try acupuncture and herbal treatment first, before trying assisted-reproductive technology, for the following reasons:
— Cost savings: Acupuncture and herbal treatments cost a fraction of what assisted-reproductive technology costs, and their pregnancy/live birth rates are similar.
— Fewer side effects: No pharmaceutical drugs means patients not only save on expensive medication, but also don’t have to deal with their side effects. In fact, we have found that most of our patients actually feel better and healthier after our treatment than they did before because our treatments naturally correct the fertility imbalance’s root causes.
— Increased chance of conception if reproductive technology is ever needed: Your body will be more receptive to fertility medication and injections and will be better prepared for pregnancy. This translates into a good chance of bringing home a baby(ies).
I am already in an IVF cycle. Is it too late to get acupuncture?
Not at all! In fact, if you are undergoing an artificial insemination (IUI) or IVF cycle, acupuncture can help to increase your success rate of the cycle. Recent clinical studies have concluded that acupuncture performed immediately before and after embryonic transfer significantly improves the pregnancy rate, compared to without acupuncture (Fertil Steril 2002, 77:721–4; Fertil Steril 2006, 85:1341–6, American Society for Reproductive Medicine). Besides increasing the pregnancy rate, acupuncture can reduce the side effects caused by fertility medications. Please bear in mind that some botanical herbs can interact with specific pharmaceutical drugs used to treat infertility and some acupuncture points are contra-indicated at certain times during your IVF or IUI cycle. It is of the utmost importance that you work with an experienced Oriental medical practitioner who has extensive knowledge of assisted reproductive protocols and fertility medications.
To schedule an appointment to find out how acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can address your fertility need, please call the telephone number listed below.