Infertility affects 6.1 million people in the US, or roughly 10% couples of childbearing age. It can be one of the most stressful circumstances couples face in their lifetimes; not only is the emotional price high, but the financial cost of treatment can stretch couples’ budgets to the limit, adding more strain to an already distressing time. But there’s good news: a growing body of research suggests that acupuncture may be an effective tool in helping treat infertility, both in women and in men.
When combined with Western infertility treatments, acupuncture may increase the rate of conception by up to 26%. A 2012 study by researchers at Tel Aviv University found that when acupuncture was used in conjunction with conventional treatment, 65.5% of those treated were able to conceive, as opposed to 39.4% of the control group receiving conventional treatment only. Acupuncture has also shown promise as a treatment for threatened early-pregnancy miscarriage in women who are already pregnant.
Infertility can have many causes. Problems with ovulation are by far the most common cause of infertility in women, and include:
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Hyperprolactinemia
- Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (FHA)
- Malfunction of the hypothalamus
- Malfunction of the pituitary gland
The most common causes of infertility in men are:
- Low sperm count
- Poor sperm quality
Varicoceles, a condition in which enlarged testicular veins increase the temperature of the testicle, are frequently associated with both low sperm count and poor quality. A 2012 study published in the journal Spermatogenesis found that electroacupuncture significantly improved the production and quality of sperm in rats whose testes had been treated with heat. The study concludes that, “This … may restore normal semen parameters in subfertile patients.” An earlier study from the Institute of Chinese Medicine had already concluded that acupunture could markedly improve fertility in men suffering from low sperm count and poor sperm motility.
It is believed that Acupuncture may also be helpful in cases where the uterine lining fails to support a pregnancy. In addition, it may directly affect the number of egg follicles available for fertilization, leading to a higher chance of conception.
Acupuncture is a painless, non-invasive, drug-free option for couples who are struggling with infertility. The focus of acupuncture treatment is to help balance hormone imbalances, lower stress and improve blood flow to the reproductive organs. Acupuncture seeks not just to help couples conceive, but to support a healthy pregnancy and a healthy, happy birth.
References:
- Changes in serum cortisol and prolactin associated with acupuncture during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in women undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer treatment. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19118825 (2008)
- Acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer significantly improves the reproductive outcome in infertile women: a prospective, randomized trial. (2006) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16600232
- Electro-acupuncture reverses nerve growth factor abundance in experimental polycystic ovaries in the rat. (2003) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14671415
- Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy. (2002) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11937123
- Effect of acupuncture on sperm parameters of males suffering from subfertility related to low sperm quality. (1997) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9272232
- Reduction of blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries of infertile women with electro-acupuncture. (1996) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8671446
- Electroacupuncture enhances spermatogenesis in rats after scrotal heat treatment. (2012) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22553490
- Acupuncture as a therapeutic treatment option for threatened miscarriage. (2012) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22439880
OTHER REFERENCES
- http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infertility/basics/causes/con-20034770
- https://web.stanford.edu/class/siw198q/websites/reprotech/New%20Ways%20of%20Making%20Babies/Causefem.htm
- http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/infertility/#d http://www.acupuncture.com/Conditions/fertility.htm
- http://www.pacificcollege.edu/acupuncture-massage-news/articles/1192-how-does-acupuncture-for-fertility-work-increase-chance-of-conception-without-side-effects.html
- http://www.webmd.com/infertility-and-reproduction/features/ancient-art-of-infertility-treatment?page=3
- http://www.webmd.com/infertility-and-reproduction/guide/infertility-reproduction-overview_facts
- http://www.aftau.org/weblog-medicine–health?&storyid4704=1437&ncs4704=3