Infertility
What is Infertility?
What is the History of Infertility?
How Does Acupuncture Help Conception?
When Should I Start Acupuncture Treatments for Fertility?
Does Acupuncture Help with IVF Treatments?
Is Acupuncture Safe, During Pregnancy?
What is Infertility?
Infertility is defined as the inability to become pregnant after one year of unprotected intercourse. There are two types of infertility: primary infertility, which is infertility without any previous pregnancy, and secondary infertility, referring to cases in which there has been a previous pregnancy.
What is the History of Infertility?
Acupuncture and Herbs for the treatment of infertility, can be found in early Chinese medical literature dating back to 11 A.D. Different Acupuncture techniques assist in regulating the menstrual cycle and invigorating the sperm, but they also serve to enhance the function of the whole body to allow natural birth as well. This “whole body” health approach, in turn, provides a key to unlocking unlimited potential in healing. This is especially appropriate for the over 40 couple because it stimulates overall well being to effect reproductive health. Functional related infertility is often stress-related, and is most common among women who work or live in stressful environments. In Chinese medicine, acupuncture is used to decrease stress in the body by regulating the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system. The treatment also addresses possible hormonal imbalances and circulatory problems.
How does acupuncture help conception?
Acupuncture can help enhance fertility by doing the following things:
Regulate the menstrual cycle
Increase blood flow to the reproductive organs
Regulate hormones, impacting the flow of hormones before ovulation
Thicken and improve the quality of the endometrial lining
Boost ovarian function
Causing an increase in endorphins and serotonin, which play a role in helping the pituitary and with follicle development
Increase the number of follicles
Improve egg production, both quality and quantity
Reduce uterine contractions that may interfere with implantation and cause miscarriage
Reducing psychological and physical stress and tension, which negatively affect fertility
Supporting implantation by helping embryos attach to the uterine lining and begin to grow
Reduce the rate of miscarriage
Reduce side effects of IVF medications
Improve sperm count
When Should I start acupuncture treatments for fertility?
To Boost the quality of egg production, Acupuncture and herbs can be started at any point in the menstrual cycle or at any point before a medically administered fertility treatment to enable the body to be as healthy as possible for conception. The more time before ovulation or retrieval, the better, because the benefits of acupuncture and herbs are cumulative. So, three treatments to increase blood flow to the uterus and ovaries will be more effective than one treatment, however, acupuncture can always benefit the process, no matter when you start. Please understand that it usually takes around three months to regulate a woman’s menstrual cycle. Acupuncture and Herbs are designed to treat Infertility on a individual basis, so treatment and diagnosis varies between individual.
Does Acupuncture Help with IVF Treatments?
If you choose to undergo IVF, be assured that recent studies have concluded that acupuncture performed immediately before and after IVF significantly increases the chances for a viable pregnancy (ongoing studies confirm these findings.) Acupuncture reduces uterine contractions, which may contribute to the failure of IVF treatments, before, during and after IVF. Acupuncture can also increase blood flow to the uterus, which creates a very favorable environment for pregnancy to occur. Minimally, a treatment should be performed 1/2 hour before implantation and 1/2 hour after. In order to achieve maximum benefit, weekly treatments are recommended at least two months prior to the start of IVF.
Is Acupuncture Safe, During Pregnancy?
Acupuncture is safe during pregnancy. Once pregnancy occurs, medication is usually prohibited therefore acupuncture is the ideal tool to help with morning sickness, coughs, colds, headaches, back pain, constipation, tiredness and the many afflictions the human body has to deal with daily. It can also be used to induce labor and to turn breach babies if necessary.
For Your Free Consultation, Call Angie at (423)-839-4764
For Direction to Seymour Clinic
