Can Acupuncture Really Help With Fertility?
Fertility treatment
Are you thinking of trying Acupuncture to treat your fertility? In today’s world, both female and male infertility has increased. And there are also some treatments available for infertility such as IVF or In Vitro Fertilization.
However, this process is quite costly. For this reason, many people are approaching fertility treatment, In Vitro Fertilization alternative.
Even high-technology reproductive experts are looking to the relatively mysterious world of Chinese medication to help fertility patients with Acupuncture for whom the western science like IVF treatment alone isn’t enough.
So, let’s now know in detail about the treatment of Acupuncture for fertility.
What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a standard Chinese medicine that a few people use to handle a wide range of disorders. An acupuncturist generally treats patients by inserting very thin, small needles into precise points of the patient’s body to boost blood flow to that region.
When utilized as a cure for infertility, supporters of acupuncture treatment say it can aid by:
- Balancing hormones
- Boosting blood flow of the patient’s reproductive organs
- Optimizing natural fertility
- Relieving stress
- Improve reproductive health
- Improve menstrual cycle
- Helps in a healthy pregnancy
When Should Your Start Acupuncture Treatment?
Women are frequently advised to begin acupuncture treatment 3 months before their fertility treatments for example, in vitro fertilization (in short IVF) treatment or intrauterine insemination (in short IUI). Nevertheless, starting acupuncture treatment with your physician’s recommended fertility treatment may still be advantageous.
Acupuncture is equivalent to physical treatment in that it’s a process-oriented approach to medical intervention. Patients are typically treated for 3 to 4 months before going to insemination, donor-egg transfer, or in vitro fertilization treatment (IVF). This period of treatment appears to have a restorative effect on patients.
Women are often encouraged to acquire acupuncture treatment pre & post embryo transfer treatment. It is believed that acupuncture treatment helps women to increase the chances of getting pregnant.
Clinical observations for reproduction indicate that the most compelling fertility treatments consist of a mixture of herbal medicine, acupuncture, and also traditional therapy. Nevertheless, conception sometimes occurs when herbal medicines and acupuncture are used without conventional medical interventions. However, there isn’t any written proof for that yet.
Does Acupuncture Work For Fertility Treatment?
The Chinese people have utilized acupuncture to control the female reproductive method for several years. Laboratory and clinical studies have demonstrated that acupuncture treatment affects the peripheral and central nervous systems of a woman. Specifically placed needles activate the brain to discharge endorphins that aid to reduce the stress reaction and support to balance of hormone levels.
Research has demonstrated that acupuncture treatment delivers a positive impact and no negative impacts on pregnancy results. Acupuncture treatment helps to improve fertility in several ways such as:
- Reducing anxiety and stress associated with your infertility issues
- Improving motility and sperm count
- Enhancing blood flow to your reproductive organs (testes and uterus)
- Normalizing hormone production as well as endocrine systems
- Reducing inflammation that might be generating infertility
- Reducing the chances of miscarriages
- Increasing the chances of pregnancies for women experiencing in vitro fertilization or IVF treatment
- Controlling the menstrual cycle and thus, improving it
Below we are going to highlight and explore a few of the key things to consider before starting acupuncture treatment, its benefits for fertility, as well as its side effects.
Things to Consider Before Trying Acupuncture For Fertility
In case you are considering acupuncture treatment for fertility, here is how you should get started to have a safe and secure treatment process…
Find A Certified Acupuncturist
Before you start your acupuncture treatment, make sure your acupuncturist is an experienced and licensed one. Because a single wrong does can harm you instead of providing you with benefits. Thus, it is a must to check if the acupuncturist is licensed or not.
Benefits of Acupuncture Treatment For Fertility
Acupuncture treatment has been shown to assist with reducing depression and increasing luteinizing hormone. By reducing depression and increasing luteinizing hormone, acupuncture treatment helps improve fertility.
It can even decrease anxiety and stress which often contribute to fertility issues. What is more, high levels of the stress hormone (cortisol) have been demonstrated to advance the chance of miscarriage once they conceive.
Acupuncture helps to enhance sperm quality in men, improves reproductive health, and reduces the chances of sexually transmitted infections.
Risks of Acupuncture Treatment For Fertility?
The procedure is normally safe, but it is important to find out a licensed and certified expert who is knowledgeable about infertility considerations. Ask the reproductive endocrinologist whether she or he can guide you to any professional acupuncturist.
Preferring an experienced, licensed acupuncturist is the safest way to lower the risk of difficulties. It is also necessary to consult your complete medical history with the acupuncturist before starting the treatment. That consists of even medical concerns that aren’t related to your infertility. Some diseases, for example, bleeding disorders, might increase the risk of complications.
An honorable clinician will use only sterile, disposable needles. That lowers your chance of infection.
An unprofessional acupuncturist may push the needle in too far, which may lead to the risk of injury. Make sure all needles used are removed carefully before you leave their office.
Alternative Fertility Treatments For IVF or In Vitro Fertilization
Fertility treatment such as in vitro fertilization or IVF is a well-known method to treat infertility. IVF or In Vitro Fertilization alternative offers hope while other infertility treatments do not work.
It literally combines the sperm and egg in a lab. The gynecologist then places the embryos in the uterus. However, IVF is costly, with a moderate cycle costing $12,000 to $17,000, excluding medication. The rate of fertility declines with age and thus, nowadays, many women are suffering from infertility.
So, to help those people fight infertility, here are a few in vitro fertilization alternative treatments. Let’s have a look at the treatments below…
Intrauterine Insemination or IUI Treatment
It is a popular method to treat fertility issues. Gynecologists place sperm into the uterus instead of into the egg in this procedure. This treatment is performed during your ovulation period. IUI is less costly and easier than in vitro fertilization (IVF ). However, pregnancy rates with IUI are much lower than with IVF.
Reproductive Medicine
The concept of protecting and supporting the health of the female uterus.
Reproductive medicines are medicines for both the male & female reproductive tract systems. It contains a wide range of reproductive conditions, their assessment, prevention, and also their following treatment as well as prognosis.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Or ICSI
Medics can directly inject sperm into your egg in the lab. This procedure, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), helps during the time men’s sperm count is quite low or sperm do not move well. As soon as the fertilized egg is prepared, it goes into the female’s uterus via the normal IVF procedure.
Surgery for Fallopian Tubes Which Is Blocked
Often, scars stop eggs from going down the fallopian tubes. This can occur in case you have a disorder called endometriosis or in case you have had pelvic surgeries or infections. Physicians can perform surgery to correct scar tissue, which could extend your chances of conceiving.
BOTTOM LINE:
Some people undergoing infertility may think of complementary or alternative treatments, such as acupuncture, to assist them to conceive easily and quickly.
Nevertheless, scientists have been incapable of conclusively proving that acupuncture treatment does or doesn’t help treat and improve female fertility. It means, that acupuncture treatment is normally safe and comes with few risks with it. Anyone hoping to go through it to assist treat fertility problems should consult a physician first.
Learn more about our superb treatment options by visiting our Fertility acupuncture service page.