Prior to thinking about using some assisted reproductive technologies or various fertility drugs, you should take into account acupuncture as well. It is far less popular than other usual fertility treatments, but it is starting to gain more attention as research suggests a connection between fertility and acupuncture.
Acupuncture is different from conventional medical treatments as it is focused on the individual. Every person experiences different problems with conceiving and different men or women will experience different fertility issues. Acupuncture features an extremely individualized holistic approach which focuses on every symptom for higher chances to get pregnant by natural means.
The Basics of Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine and consists of the introduction of tiny needles into certain pressure points on different parts of the body. Fertility is improved by reinstating the stability in the body’s qi (live energy) by eliminating the blockages within the twelve major meridians of the body. Meridians are similar to blood vessels, but they are transporting qi instead of blood. An individual is believed to be in good physical shape when all the twelve meridians carry balanced amount of easily-flowing qi. On the other hand, the blockage of the vital qi can lead to severe health problems, including infertility.
Is it a mere coincidence that people facing infertility generally have stressful jobs, irregular diets and moderate to heavy alcohol and coffee consumption? All these have a negative effect on the qi in the kidney, liver and spleen meridians. Despite the fact that these organs are not part of the human reproductive system the three aforementioned meridians are in fact important to fertility. The effects of the stressful lifestyle and poor diets can be neutralized by acupuncture, healthy diet and different Chinese herbs.
Acupuncture and Female Fertility
Numerous studies on acupuncture analyze the influences it has on female fertility. As it is widely known, acupuncture amplifies and normalizes the blood supply toward the uterus and ovaries, promoting thus, regular ovulation. In the case of hormonal discrepancy, acupuncture fixes such infertility problems as endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, luteal phase defect, increased levels of follicle stimulating hormone, anovulation and amenorrhea.
Before the start of any acupuncture treatment, you need to inform your therapist about your monthly cycle and its symptoms, because acupuncture treatments are scheduled based on the phases of your period. You have higher chances of a successful treatment in the case of a precise prediction of your ovulation or the start of the luteal phase. As it takes about 120 days for an egg to fully mature before being released by the ovary during a menstrual cycle, it might call for up to six months of consistent acupuncture treatments before the improvement of your fertility.
Acupuncture and Male Fertility
In case of male fertility, acupuncture treatment can be efficient in up to three months of regular treatment, the time needed for a set of new sperm to be formed. A study that recently appeared in Fertility and Sterility reveals the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment on male fertility. A group of men with inexplicable infertility underwent acupuncture treatment two times a week for five weeks. Then, after three days of abstinence, two samples of semen were taken from them (one before the start of regular treatment, and the second after the most recent acupuncture treatment).Men’s Health acupuncture
The collected samples were compared to a batch of 12 samples taken from an untreated control group. The study indicated that samples from the acupuncture group presented 50% higher sperm motility, higher level of healthy sperm and 38% better sperm morphology. Although acupuncture treatment cannot treat every sperm malfunctions, the study suggested that it can enhance male fertility stemming from poor sperm production and quality.
In conclusion, Acupuncture and fertility are connected. Acupuncture can help both men and women increase their fertility so that they have a higher chance of actually conceiving