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đź“Ś Benefits of acupuncture in fertility 

acupuncture and fertility

Acupuncture has been a fundamental pillar of traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Its applications are still many and varied today. In recent decades, it has been increasingly used as a complement to assisted fertility treatments -such as IVF or artificial inseminations- with the aim of increasing the chances of success. 

 

But what is certain that acupuncture can achieve this improvement? 

 

It has not yet been possible to correctly contrast whether acupuncture increases fertility itself or if it only improves the general condition of patients and thereby increases, naturally and indirectly, the chances of success, but some research is promising. 

 

Studies on fertility enhancement and acupuncture

A literature review of 23 scientific studies concluded that acupuncture improved the chances of conceiving in women undergoing IVF. 

 

Another unpublished study of 160 couples at London's Homerton Hospital reported that women who underwent four acupuncture sessions their treatment cycle achieved a rate of 46,2% pregnancy, compared to 21,7% among women who had not undergone acupuncture. The findings were presented at the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology in July 2016.

 

Acupuncture to support fertility treatments

Another study found that acupuncture, performed before and after in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryo transfer, increased the odds of getting pregnant compared to women who only made lifestyle changes. 

 

Many of the existing studies are with small samples or are pilot studies, so it would be ideal and necessary to carry out larger controlled studies to support these results. However, it is equally true that there are no studies showing that acupuncture has a negative impact on fertility or treatment outcomes.

 

How does acupuncture work?

Chinese medicine considers that everything in the body is energy. In fact, it could be said that we are pure chemistry and electromagnetism. The correct functioning of the entire organism depends on the different electrical charges of substances and tissues. 

 

Acupuncture manages to generate small magnetic fields with its needles, which modify this energy, the electricity that gives us life. 

 

In traditional terminology, acupuncture was described as the stimulation of acupuncture points to readjust the proper flow of energy, or Qi, in the body. The energy, unique and dynamic, runs through the entire body, every organ and tissue of the organism. 

 

Acupuncture is able to correctly regulate this flow of energy through the channel maps drawn up more than 3.000 years ago. With acupuncture, rhythms, intensities or the order that this energy follows are corrected; and even blockages that do not allow its correct flow are eliminated. 

 

In a more western language, it could be said that acupuncture works directly on the central nervous system, generating chain effects, from the local level to the brain, passing through the spinal cord.

 

How does acupuncture affect fertility?

 

In terms of physiological effects on fertility, the theory is that acupuncture works in three main ways:

– Releasing chemicals. These (neurotransmitters) send messages from the brain that affect hormones and reproductive organs.

– Stimulates blood flow to the uterus, which increases the probability of implantation of embryos.

– Increases the production of chemicals that inhibit stress hormone levels.

 

In addition, with acupuncture, it is possible to work on previous pathologies that are very conditioning for fertility, such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, endometriosis, irregular cycles, dysmenorrhea or even amenorrhea.

 

The goal of Chinese medicine in its origin was never to cure disease but to prevent health. Today, with acupuncture, a better balanced state is achieved so that the normal physiological processes of the body function properly. 

 

In the case of fertility, for acupuncture to be effective, the ideal is to start working on the origin of the problems, for a certain time, preferably even before starting stimulation for IVF, for example. 

 

Are there any side effects of using acupuncture to improve fertility?

There are no negative side effects of acupuncture. Not even the idea of ​​being punctured is a problem. 99% of people who receive acupuncture describe the experience of each session as pleasant and extremely relaxing. 

The insertion of the needles is noticeable, but it is not a particularly painful therapy. 

 

The practice of acupuncture is generally safe, but it is important to find a certified and licensed practitioner who specializes in infertility treatments. 

 

As an added precaution, you may be asked to see the needles that will be used in your treatment to ensure they are individually packaged and single-use. This is already a widely extended practice today. Gone is the sterilization of needles in small electric ovens

 

 

What is a fertility-focused acupuncture session like? 

The initial visit should include an in-depth consultation. The questions may not immediately seem related to infertility, but they are important for your doctor to determine the ideal therapy for you.

 

The points where the needles are inserted into the skin are known as acupuncture points or energy resonators. 

 

At the time of starting treatment, the acupuncturist will use a combination of points designed to improve blood flow to certain organs, regulate the nervous system and modulate the immune system in order to improve the person's fertile capacity. 

 

Pressure points on the head promote relaxation, while points around the stomach help open the fresh blood supply to the ovaries. Other points around the lower legs are used to promote blood flow to the reproductive organs, which begins in the feet.

 

The exact acupuncture points and the number of needles used vary from person to person and from the state in which the patient is at that moment. 

 

In general, the needles are left in place for about 20 to 30 minutes, although this can vary depending on the treatment and the time of year in which the treatment is applied.

 

Acupuncture treatment can be reinforced with other techniques of traditional Chinese medicine such as moxibustion, herbal medicine or Shiatsu massage.

 

 

Benefits of acupuncture for fertility

So far, it has been shown that acupuncture helps reduce anxiety and stress levels (something that is triggered when there is a fertility treatment). 

 

 

In fact, it's not uncommon for fertility doctors to endorse acupuncture for relaxation purposes. 

 

It has also been confirmed that acupuncture helps reduce depression, which can be a problem for women struggling with infertility. Additionally, high levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) have been shown to increase the risk of miscarriage in women once they become pregnant.

 

Once pregnant, acupuncture is perfectly suited to the special needs of moms-to-be. Acupuncture appears to have the ability to alleviate some of the undesirable symptoms of pregnancy such as morning sickness, fatigue, and depression. Some research has shown that in pregnant women who underwent depression-focused acupuncture, the treatment reduced symptoms by 63%.

 

It's not entirely clear whether acupuncture is effective in increasing fertility, but it has been shown to help with depression and anxiety that can make it difficult to get pregnant. 

 

It has also been shown to help women who are already undergoing IVF achieve better results. 

 

If there's a chance that acupuncture will increase your chances of getting pregnant or at least take away some of the stress you're dealing with, it may be worth a try.

 

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