Enhance Fertility with Acupuncture
Acupuncture regulates hormone levels and alleviates stress creating an internal environment that supports pregnancy. Increase success rates of IFV/IUI, Relieve PMS/Menopause symptoms.
Acupuncture can be an effective therapy for improving fertility, balancing hormone levels, and regulating many symptoms related to your menstrual cycle or even menopause syndrome. Whether you are planning to use high tech fertility treatments, take a natural approach, or combine the best of both systems, acupuncture can increase your chances of achieving a pregnancy and delivering a healthy baby.
Why Acupuncture Works for Fertility:
- Promotes blood flow to the uterus and ovaries
- Improves egg quantity and quality
- Reduces uterine contractions after IVF assisted implantation
- Reduces miscarriages and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL)
- Helps normalize reproductive hormones
- Assists in thickening the uterine lining
- Creates calmness – a more “grounded” feeling
- Treats PMS, endometriosis, anovulation
- Regulates menstrual cycles
- Male Factor: Improves sperm count, motility and morphology
- Relaxes the patient & reduces stress, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue
- Improves and supports your immune system
- Reduces side effects of medications & IVF drugs
- Treatments given throughout pregnancy
[expand title=”IVF/IUI/ART and Acupuncture”]
Research on the impact of Acupuncture combined with IFV/IUI/other ART interventions has shown:
- 26% increase in the rate of clinical pregnancies
- 6% fewer ectopic pregnancies
- 10% fewer multiple births
?The treatment protocol for IVF/IUI patients includes a series of 15 treatments: 10 treatments twice a week for 5 weeks before egg retrieval/insemination, 1 treatment 12-24 hours before transfer and 1 treatment immediately after the transfer, followed by 2 treatments post transfer. This protocol is based on two major studies done which demonstrated increased pregnancy rates combining acupuncture with IVF/IUI/ART.
*** [Acupuncture of Columbus offers this series of treatments in a package deal and is able to offer 7 days/week availability for transfer treatments in most cases.]
Combining acupuncture with your IVF/IUI care program, you should expect:
- Improved Pregnancy Rates
- Reduced rates of miscarriage, multiple births, and ectopic pregnancies
- More Take Home Babies! ?[/expand]
[expand title=”Fertility and Acupuncture”]
How Acupuncture Can Assist With Fertility
Acupuncture uses the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine for maintaining a balanced system. Our goal is to allow patients to conceive naturally. By strengthening the patient’s health, it allows the inborn ability of conception to take place. A healthy, more balanced body will conceive more easily. Many women feel a sense that their “biological clock” is running out; it stands to reason that pregnancy is more likely to occur in a “healthy” 40 year old versus an “unhealthy” 40 year old.
It will take more than three months to improve the quality of oocytes (immature egg cells that develop into follicles). Acupuncture therapy can improve both ovarian and follicular function. Additionally, acupuncture can increase blood flow to the endometrium, helping to facilitate a thick, rich lining.
This doesn’t mean lost time; it means giving your body a head start. If you do not conceive naturally and decide to use ART, IVF or IUI, you can rest assured that the time spent on improving your health will give you the best possible outcome.
Should I wait to try Acupuncture before using high tech fertility treatments?
Every woman has the inborn ability to conceive naturally. Acupuncture improves your overall health and will bring the body back to “health” balancing all organs and systems involved in reproduction. By allowing this inborn ability to return to its natural state we can restore the body to enable it to carry out what it is naturally prepared to do, and that is to procreate. Its goal is aimed at creating a healthy person. Conception and pregnancy is then just a natural event, the way it should be.
Most patients are aware of their ‘Windows of Opportunity’ or hear the term “Biological Clock” and often believe they are running out of time. In reality, a successful conception and pregnancy relate to the patient’s health more than to the patient’s age. A 40-year-old patient, whose health is restored (including general as well as reproductive health), stands a better chance of conceiving and maintaining pregnancy than a 30-year-old patient who is in poor health.
When a couple doesn’t conceive on their own (or with the help of IVF), it is time to try something new. Although we cannot guarantee that patients leaving our Clinic will conceive they will be in much better health than before they started acupuncture. If more aggressive methods are needed like IVF, IUI’s, we can support you through these treatments as well. One thing to remember is that you are going into the next step a whole lot Healthier after having preconception care.
What can you do to help yourself? / by Randine Lewis
First, the more you can eliminate nicotine, caffeine, drugs and alcohol, the higher your chances for success. Take natural, high potency multivitamins with iron, folic acid, and B vitamins. Eat only hormone free meat and dairy products as the typical American diet is loaded with harmful, synthetic estrogens. Eat soy products and supplements containing natural phytoestrogens.
Exercise moderately, and employ deep breathing techniques. Become actively aware of your fertility signs. Don’t believe that the only way to achieve pregnancy is by taking fertility drugs or medically assisted conception. Some cases do require the use of these methods but with or without them, acupuncture can help support your body’s normal function.
We will help you balance the disharmonies which have been preventing conception.
It is very common for couples today to feel like “it is getting too late”. While it’s true that the average couple waits until later in life to conceive, Acupuncture may help “turn back the reproductive clock.” Please be patient with yourself. It takes at least three cycles to normalize a woman’s cycle; longer if she has taken fertility drugs, has a history of sexually transmitted disease, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, or polycystic ovaries. Likewise, it takes 70 days to generate new sperm in a man. If he has a history of drug and alcohol abuse or urological complications, it may take longer to regenerate his reproductive capacity.
You are not alone. Approximately one in six to ten couples experience problems with fertility. Innumerable women grieve the loss of a potential child once a month, and lose a little more hope with each period. We believe that we can give you reason for optimism. Acupuncture therapy is gentle, yet effective. Many women do not need fertility drugs and medically assisted reproductive techniques, yet they go through months of physical and emotional agony, not to mention the financial burden. Acupuncture is safe, natural, cost effective, and has no side effects. In fact, Acupuncture can only make you stronger, while helping create a healthier environment for a harmonious pregnancy. (It will also increase the likelihood of conception if you do opt for the fertility drugs or medically assisted fertilization techniques.)[/expand]
[expand title=”Fertility Testimonial”]
‘My husband and I were thankful that getting pregnant with our first child came with no challenges. So when we tried to get pregnant a second time we were surprised by the difficulties we faced. After trying to conceive for a year with no success we began to explore options with my doctor, which was mainly to try clomid to regulate my cycles. Personally, taking clomid felt very forced and I did not feel comfortable with this option as I did not have a clear answer as to why my cycles were so irregular. A few months later we did seek the advice of a fertility specialist and went through testing, but ultimately we were back on a path of medication. While I really wanted a second child, I also wanted to find a more natural way to get my body back to functioning normal. Out of the fear of the unknown I almost pulled a no-show for my first acupuncture appointment, but fourteen months later and about to have our second daughter I am sure glad I gave acupuncture a chance, because it changed everything!
Once I began my acupuncture treatments I was committed. Fairly quickly I could see tangible results as my cycles began to shorten and regulate with every month, which made trying to get pregnant much easier. Acupuncture allowed for a slower, more natural return to normal for my body rather than a quick fix from a drug. My body had been out of sync for several years so I knew I needed to be patient. Within seven months I had gotten a positive pregnancy test. Trying to have a baby can be a very stressful experience. While we focused treatment on hormonal issues, we also could target my anxiety. I felt calm and relaxed which I know was helpful in allowing my husband and I to conceive.
As Steve says “acupuncture is a great tool” and I could not agree more, but I also think your acupuncturist is an important factor in your treatment. Steve is so knowledgeable that he puts your nerves at ease. Instead of being given a prescription and sent on my way, I felt supported. It was nice to have someone understand my desire to get pregnant through more natural means and my hesitation to taking fertility drugs. It was easy to build a trusting relationship with Steve so that I could be open and honest and receive the best care. Throughout my pregnancy I have continued my treatments on a regular basis and I am very appreciative to have been so well taken care of from my nausea, aches and pains and anxiety. My husband and I are very grateful for our “acupuncture baby”.’
-Laura, 34[/expand]
For more information about how acupuncture and other treatments can help you, please contact Board Certified Licensed Acupuncturist, Steve Drugan,B.S., L.Ac., at 614.218.6287 or click here. Taking new patients in and around Columbus, Ohio.