Acupuncture for the treatment of Infertility and I.V.F.;
A safe and effective approach
Acupuncture is a comprehensive, effective and safe treatment option for couples struggling with some of the known causes of infertility and unexplained infertility, acupuncture is a scientifically-backed approach to treating infertility and to significantly improve outcomes of conventional treatments like in-vitro fertilization (I.V.F.).
Acupuncture works by increasing blood supply to the uterus, balancing hormones, managing anxiety, reducing scar tissue, and it can be used to target specific gynecological conditions like endometriosis, Poly-cystic ovarian syndrome and pelvic inflammatory disease.
At Acupuncture Clermont, we ensure that acupuncture treatments are comfortable and personalized to fit each person's unique needs we work with other fertility treatments and providers.How acupuncture benefits known infertility.
How acupuncture benefits unexplained infertility.
Benefits of Acupuncture combined with I.V.F.
References and research on acupuncture benefits for I.V.F. and Infertility
Understanding Infertility
Infertility is a challenging and emotional experience for many wanting to have a child. It affects approximately 6-10% of Americans, with 33% of cases linked to female infertility, 33% to male infertility, and the remaining 33% involving both partners or unexplained causes. Of these, 25% of infertile couples face multiple contributing factors.
With increasing awareness of holistic treatment options, acupuncture has become a widely recognized and effective approach to enhancing natural fertility for both men and women alone or in conjunction with other treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Understanding Infertility: Primary, Secondary, and Unexplained
Primary infertility refers to the inability to conceive after one year of regular, unprotected intercourse (or six months if over 35 years old) without having previously been pregnant. Secondary infertility occurs when aperson or couple who has been pregnant before is unable to conceive again after a similar period. Unexplained infertility is when no obvious cause isidentified despite fertility tests. While many factors can contribute to infertility, acupuncture has shown promise in treating many of these conditions, whether known or unexplained. (1)
How Acupuncture Benefits Known causes of Infertility
Acupuncture has long been studied for its role in treating fertility issues, and there’s a growing body of evidence supporting its effectiveness, both men and women can enhance their fertility with, acupuncture, herbal treatment and lifestyle changes.
For men, issues such as stress, low testosterone, low sperm motility, and the effects of drug use can be improved through acupuncture. Likewise, additionally lifestyle modifications are also recommneded to improve male fertility and stress involved in the challenges being faced.
For women, acupuncture can help regulate reproductive hormones, which are often affected by conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriois, pelvic inflammatory disease and Uterine fibroids. Additionally to acupuncture successfully treating these conditions it can also reduce the scarring left behind in the follapian tubes and uterus interfering with movement and implantation of an egg.
Another major challenges in female fertility is the delicate balance of hormones that regulate ovulation. Acupuncture can help stimulate the ovarian function, the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, which are essential in hormone production and regulation.
Over a course of acupuncture treatment signs and symptoms associated with the condition causing infertility are monitored for changes including regulation of menstrual cycle and improvement with other relevent blood tests or imaging. (2)
How Acupuncture treats unexplained Infertility
For couples dealing with unexplained infertility, the lack of a clear diagnosis can add emotional strain and uncertainty. While fertility tests may show no clear abnormalities, acupuncture can offer a solution for those who don’t fit within the typical diagnostic criteria. Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that acupuncture can double the chances of pregnancy in individuals with unexplained infertility when compared to standard care alone.
Getting pregnant and carrying a full term of pregnancy does not come down to one organ, hormone or system of the body there are many factors that play different roles through various stages, often no clear disease shows up in any tests, but an individual may show various signs and symptoms that point to one or more imbalances involved in the complex whole body process of fertility
When the reason for infertility is not known acupuncture can still help by taking a holistic view of each individual and treating areas that show distress or dysfunction, for example treatment for one person treatment may be focused on improving irregular menstrual cycle with pre-menstrual symptoms (P.M.S) and general anxiety. A second individual with unknown infertility may have no menstrual cycle irregularities or P.M.S but has stress, insomnia and digestive issues and treatment would be focused on regulating the nervous and digestive systems. (3)
Benefits of Acupuncture combined with IVF
In the context of assisted reproductive technology (ART), acupuncture can significantly increase the chances of success with in vitro fertilization (IVF). Numerous studies have shown that acupuncture improves IVF outcomes, with one study reporting a 63.9% clinical pregnancy rate for women who received acupuncture before embryo transfer, compared to only 33.3% for those who did not.
The most effective time to start receiving acupuncture for IVF is before the embryo transfer. Acupuncture helps increase blood flow to the uterus, enhancing the environment for embryo implantation. For women with lower egg quality or quantity, acupuncture can be incorporated into a treatment plan up to three months before egg retrieval to improve egg production and overall fertility.
Additionally, IVF treatments can create emotional strain, leading to anxiety, depression, and increased stress, which can hinder the effectiveness of fertility treatments. Acupuncture can help alleviate these emotional pressures, creating a more balanced environment for successful pregnancy outcomes. (4)
