Heavy bleeding, lengthy bleeding, frequent bleeding, no bleeding, mid-cycle bleeding, skipped cycles, long cycles, short cycles, painful ovulation, painful menstrual cramps, pre-menstrual bloat, breast tenderness, pre-menstrual mood changes; all of these menstrual symptoms tell us that your hormones are not optimally balanced. The most common western treatment for these symptoms is the birth control pill. The pill will often “resolve” symptoms and produce a cycle that appears to be “regulated,” but birth control pills superimpose an artificial hormonal infrastructure on top of your own. Thus, the “regulation” is at the expense of your body’s own natural rhythms and often doesn’t actually resolve the under- lying issue. In any case, obviously, birth control pills are not an option for those women seeking to become pregnant. Fortunately, all of these symptoms can be effectively mitigated or resolved with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine; your first step toward a happy, healthy conception and pregnancy.
Happy, Healthy Sperm It is estimated that 25% of infertility is directly due to the male
partner, and the male likely is a contributing factor in another 15- 25% of cases. Acupuncture may be utilized for men just as it is for women: as a way to optimize health in a generally healthy male, or as a more focused, directed treatment plan for a male with broader health concerns or known issues with his sperm count.
Normal sperm count values are currently given as the following:
• greater than 20 million sperm per ml • greater than 50% of sperm moving vigorously (motility) • greater than 14% with no deformities (morphology)
However, a population study looking at men’s fertility found that those men who were most successful in fathering a child had, instead, greater than 48 million sperm per ml; a motility of more than 63%; and a normal morphology of 12%. The implication here is that even those men whose counts fall within normal range may want to consider ways in which they can improve the quality and quantity of their sperm. Research suggests acupuncture as an effec- tive intervention.
Acupuncture and IVF or IUI
The efficacy of acupuncture in improving outcomes for both IVF (In vitro fertilization) and IUI (Intrauterine insemination) is well-established. Studies have shown that acupuncture used at the
time of implantation results in significantly higher rates of viable pregnancies, decreases miscarriages, and increases live births. A sampling of research includes the following:
• A study of 160 women undergoing IVF found a 42.5% success rate in the acupuncture group compared to 26.3% success rate in the group that did not receive acupuncture.
• In a study of 114 women, half of the women received acupunc- ture prior to and following embryo transfer. The acupuncture group had a 51% pregnancy rate and a 0.8% miscarriage rate. The control group had a 36% pregnancy rate and a 20% miscarriage rate. The acupuncture group also had a live birth rate 23% higher than the control group.
Treatment Plans
Fertility treatment approaches and time-frames can vary from per- son to person, but are usually scheduled for at least three consecu- tive cycles (twelve weeks). Treatment may include acupuncture, customized herbal therapy, stress reduction, and dietary counsel- ing. If you or someone you love is struggling with infertility or any troublesome reproductive health issue, consider acupuncture and Chinese medicine as a proven, powerful, and effective treatment option.
Alexa Gilmore is a board-certified acupuncturist and Chinese herb- alist practicing Chinese Medicine at ATX Acupuncture in Portland, Maine. She takes a no-nonsense approach to the healing arts and expects positive outcomes. In addition to providing high quality treatments, she works in partnership with her patients, empowering them to make lasting changes in their health profile by implement- ing simple, effective principles of Chinese Medicine into their daily lives. Learn more about Alexa and ATX Acupuncture at
www.atxacu. com. See ad on page 19.
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