Can Acupuncture Improve Your Fertility? By Alexa Gilmore, L.Ac I


n short, a resounding yes! Statistics show that one in five couples over the age of 30 have difficulty conceiving after one year of trying. Many of these couples turn to acupuncture and Chinese medicine for a safe, effective and natural solution to having a baby. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine have a long history when it comes to enhancing reproductive health and fertility for both men and women. In fact, evidence that acupuncture and herbal medi- cine have been used to aid fertility can be found in early medical literature dating back to 3 AD. Fast forward to modern times, and the practitioner of Chinese medicine has almost two thousand years of refined theory to draw from in the use of acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and diet and lifestyle recommendations to support people in all aspects of their reproductive health. Modern research has begun to catch on, and studies confirm what we already knew: that acupuncture is capable of significantly enhancing fertility. Research has found that acupuncture can:


In women:


• increase blood supply to the uterus and ovaries • improve the function of the ovaries to produce better quality eggs


• increase the thickness of the uterine lining for improved implantation


• regulate the hormones directly involved in follicle development and implantation


In men:


• increase sperm motility and reduce the presence of abnormal sperm


In IVF/IUI treatments:


• increase pregnancy rates when used prior to and post embryo transfer


• decrease side effects of drugs used in IVF and IUI treatments • improve semen to create better quality and quantity of embryos


In general:


• relax patients and decrease stress levels • decrease the chances of miscarriage, improve live-birth rates • strengthen the immune system • improve overall health and well-being


Well-Regulated Menstrual Cycles


For a woman with few symptoms or health complaints, acu- puncture and Chinese medicine can be an opportunity to prepare for conception by optimizing her health. Regular treatments will alleviate stress, fine-tune and balance her body, and support her reproductive health through the different phases of her menstrual cycle; the shedding of the uterine lining, building it back up, ovula- tion, and preparing for implantation. We prepare the body for the very important job of growing a human! For those women with specific health problems, we can provide more focused treatment. Depending on the case, acupuncture and herbs may be used as a primary treatment or in conjunction with western fertility treat- ments.


Where do we start? A healthy conception and pregnancy begins with a healthy menstrual cycle. We want to see evidence that your hormones are well-regulated. This means a regular 28-30 day cycle with good quality fertile mucus, pain-free ovulation, no pre-menstrual symptoms, and a pain-free period with bleeding that is neither too heavy nor too scanty and that resolves in an efficient manner (3-5 days).


18 Essential Living Maine ~ February 2015 Digital Edition


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