Couples trying to get pregnant that don’t find success can feel disheartened and dismayed. It can be traumatic to try and start a family and not know where to turn when pregnancy isn’t occurring. Thankfully acupuncture and fertility improvement measures go back to the era of Traditional Chinese Medicine as a method used to help people successfully conceive.
So, what do acupuncture and fertility have to do with each other? How does acupuncture work to help women get pregnant? Is this just a myth, or is there some effectiveness to it?
In this article, we are going to look at how acupuncture can help aid with infertility and what patients receiving acupuncture treatment for infertility should expect.
Infertility
Infertility is considered the inability to conceive in a sexually active couple who are trying to get pregnant for one year. Around the world, 8-12% of couples have trouble with infertility issues.
Infertility stems from issues from the male about ⅓ of the time and from females about ⅓ of the time.
Infertility a common issue around the world, and the stigma surrounding infertility should not exist in this day and age. Couples who struggle for years to conceive then, all of sudden, they can find themselves pregnant after the right combination of holistic treatments and therapies.
Infertility Issues With Men
Men can experience infertility for many reasons. According to the mayo clinic: Male infertility is due to low sperm production, abnormal sperm function, or blockages that prevent the delivery of sperm.
Some men cannot tell that they are suffering from infertility other than the fact that their partner cannot conceive. Other men do experience signs and symptoms of infertility. These can include difficulties in sexual functions, gynecomastia, chromosomal or hormonal abnormalities, and pain or swelling in the testicles.
How Acupuncture and Fertility in Men Work Together
Acupuncture treatment for infertility is mainly used to boost blood flow to the reproductive organs. By promoting blood flow to these regions of the body, it helps stimulate metabolic activity and detoxification.
In the case of men, boosting blood flow to the reproductive organs can help promote healthier and stronger sperm – increasing the chance of successful fertilization.
An intensive study was conducted in the mid-2000s to determine if there was any validity to the claims that acupuncture is an effective treatment for male infertility.
The research showed that after five weeks of acupuncture treatment conducted on a group of men, structural abnormalities in their sperm was reduced, and their overall sperm counts improved.
Infertility Issues With Women
For conception to occur, every step of the reproductive process has to happen smoothly. For women who are not able to conceive after trying for a year with their partner, there may be an underlying disorder. For women, there is a wide range of reproductive bodily disorders that can occur to affect the ability to become pregnant.
Women can experience different types of ovulation disorders. They may suffer damage to their fallopian tubes, or even have Endometriosis, among other uterine or cercal issues.
How Acupuncture Helps Women With Infertility Issues
Any physician will tell you that stress, anxiety, and depression are detrimental to women who are trying to get pregnant. The human body holds onto the negative energies created by powerful emotions and mental health challenges.
As acupuncture is implemented to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, it can better help women get their bodies aligned and in a positive state while trying to become pregnant.
Just as acupuncture and fertility treatment for men depends on the stimulation of the blood flow to the reproductive organs, the same is the case for women.
In a study conducted on a 28-year-old couple that was having difficulty conceiving, both the male and female received three months of acupuncture treatment to stimulate blood circulation to the reproductive organs.
After seven treatments, cysts on the female’s ovaries were gone, and the patient got pregnant soon after.
Acupuncture and Fertility Treatment
Getting pregnant can be difficult for many couples, but it’s not something to give up on. Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to help couples get pregnant, and studies in recent years have shown evidence that that treatment is effective.
To learn more about acupuncture and fertility treatments, please contact our wellness center and ask about our programs for acupuncture in Massachusetts.