Seeking alternative wellness and treatment options to enhance fertility, such as acupuncture for fertility, is rapidly becoming an acceptable and popular option for singles and couples looking to start or grow a family. But how does acupuncture work for fertility and how effective is it for couples using IVF?
We answer all of your urgent questions about acupuncture for fertility, including when to do acupuncture for fertility, how to balance acupuncture with IVF treatments, and how acupuncture helps to support a healthy early pregnancy.
How Does Acupuncture Help Fertility?
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), infertility is called ‘Bu Yun’, which translates to ‘not being able to hold’. In strict medical terms, infertility is the inability of a sexually active, non-contracepting couple to achieve pregnancy in 12 months. Women who experience miscarriages may also be considered infertile.
Infertility impacts the lives of generally:
12% of women aged between 15 and 44
35% of couples experiencing fertility issues
Both the male and female play a role in the unsuccessful conception
In 8% percent of infertility cases, the male is the exclusive factor
Acupuncture can be beneficial for couples after several unsuccessful months or years of trying to become pregnant, with or without fertility assistance.
Acupuncture is proven to:
Help regulate hormones
Improve the menstrual cycle
Promote ovulation
Help reduce stress, anxiety and depression in infertile couples
Many doctors recommend acupuncture to couples looking to conceive, immediately before starting fertility treatment (pre and post-embryo transfer) or in the first few weeks of pregnancy.
High levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) have been linked to increased risk of miscarriage in women once they become pregnant. Depression can also be an issue for women struggling with infertility. In these cases, acupuncture’s role is to decrease stress and anxiety that contribute to fertility problems. For pregnant women who participated in depression-focused acupuncture, acupuncture treatments can reduce depression symptoms by 63%. For pregnant women, acupuncture, combined with good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, helps alleviate some of the undesirable symptoms of pregnancy such as:
Morning sickness, fatigue and depression
Lower back pain that can occur during late pregnancy.
How Effective Is Acupuncture For IVF?
For couples undergoing IVF, receiving acupuncture helps relax the uterus at the time of transfer, increasing the chances of implantation. Acupuncturists typically recommend a short treatment of acupuncture prior to and immediately after an embryo transfer.
Acupuncture and Male Fertility
To increase chances of conception, it’s recommended that both partners achieve optimal health. Studies show that in cases of male infertility, acupuncture can increase the chances of pregnancy.
Acupuncture can:
Improve energy levels
Increase testosterone levels
Help increase sperm quality and density
When To Get Acupuncture For Fertility?
Acupuncture is usually offered as a treatment 3 to 4 months prior to and in the lead up to insemination, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or donor-egg transfer. The pacing of the treatment can have a therapeutic effect and help ease stress.
Acupuncture can also help prevent miscarriage in pregnant women. Typically, most miscarriages occur within the first 3 months of pregnancy. To support a healthy early pregnancy, acupuncture treatments typically last through to week 12.
What to expect at your Acupuncture appointment?
At AcuLife, your initial visit with our Acupuncturists will involve an in-depth consultation where we seek to understand your needs and ask you questions about your stress levels and nutrition. After this consultation, the acupuncturist will stimulate a variety of acupuncture points with acupuncture needles, most often on the head, arms, lower legs and belly. These acupuncture needles will be left in for about 20-25 minutes.
Acupuncture For Fertility: How Often?
If you are trying to conceive naturally, our acupuncturists will recommend a tretament plan that is personalised according to your consitutuion, needs and previous history. This will be discussed during the initial consultation.
About our Fertility Specialist
Dr Zainab Hassan is focused on helping her patients along their fertility journey and with IVF support. Dr Zainab is a qualified and experienced Acupuncturist, Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Being a mother of 3, she has the right approach and understands the importance of assisting women towards their journey into motherhood. She educates clients and empowers them with the knowledge and skills to support their health during towards enhancing fertility, supporting pregnancy, and aiding postpartum.
Dr Zainab combines her knowledge of Western Science with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine to gain a thorough understanding of her client’s individual needs – and guides them through every step of their health journey.
To learn what we can do for you, Contact our team today👇
AcuLife
(02) 4620 9798
5 Stewart St, Harrington Park
Bookings: www.aculife.com.au