|
|
| |
Acupuncture can enhance fertility for both women and men, whether the cause of the fertility challenge has been identified by western medicine or not (though in cases of fallopian tube blockage or pelvic inflammatory disease these situations should be managed by conventional medicine first). Acupuncture can also increase the effectiveness of assisted reproductive technologies, such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Women
Enhancing Female Fertility
Acupuncture works in several ways to enhance female fertility: it regulates hormones and the menstrual cycle, reduces the effects of stress and promotes blood flow to the uterus and ovaries. Acupuncture can also be beneficial for helping to prevent miscarriage and promoting a healthy pregnancy.
Regulating the Menstrual Cycle
Acupuncture is very helpful in regulating many aspects of the menstrual cycle through its effect on regulating hormonal balance. It can promote ovulation and it can regulate the length of the follicular phase (prior to ovulation) and the luteal phase (from ovulation to menstruation). Acupuncture can also help to reduce uterine cramping and moderate overly heavy periods.
Reducing the Effects of Stress
Trying to conceive a child can be a very stressful process when fertility is a challenge. Unfortunately, stress hinders fertility further, compounding the problem. It is important that women (and men) trying to conceive have methods of reducing their stress, such as participating in regular exercise, and using relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga or positive visualizations on a regular basis. Acupuncture also provides a strong way to relax the nervous system and promote relaxation, allowing the body to self-regulate more effectively.
Promoting Blood Flow
Acupuncture points in the low abdomen, low back and the legs help promote circulation to the uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes, strengthening their functioning. Acupuncture can enhance ovarian function, help to thicken the uterine lining, if necessary, and can also reduce cramping, clotting or spotting.
Promoting Healthy Pregnancy
Acupuncture can be used through the first trimester of pregnancy (and beyond) to help prevent miscarriage and to deal with symptoms such as morning sickness, fatigue, spotting, difficulty sleeping, and others. It can safely be used throughout pregnancy to deal with physical complaints and to promote health and well-being.
Conditions Affecting Female Fertility
Acupuncture and diet and lifestyle advice based on Chinese medicine can also be helpful with many conditions that can affect fertility, such as:
- polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- endometriosis
- small fibroids
- luteal phase defect
- pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- mild cases of fallopian tube ostruction or pelvic adhesions
- anovulation (lack of ovulation)
- amenorrhea (lack of menstruation)
- irregular cycles
- recurrent miscarriages
- high prolactin levels
Treatment Guidelines for Women
Treatment guidelines can vary from person to person, depending on symptoms and the underlying patterns of disharmony, but I generally recommend weekly treatments, at least at the beginning. Each week of your cycle there is something different going on, and it is important to have regular treatments in the beginning to guide the body back to balance. As treatment progresses and symptoms improve, treatment can sometimes be reduced to focus on a particular time in a woman's cycle.
Men
Enhancing Male Fertility
Male fertility challenges affect about 40 percent of couples trying to conceive and can include low sperm count, low motility, poor morphology, anti-sperm antibodies, varicoceles (varicose vein in the scrotum) and vasectomy reversal. Even when all the measurable parameters of male fertility seem to be normal, men may have a poor sperm DNA integrity, leading to recurrent miscarriages or problems with embryonic development.
Acupuncture works in many of the same ways for men as it does for women. It can regulate hormonal function, reduce stress and increase blood flow to the reproductive organs. Clinical trials have confirmed acupuncture's effectiveness in increasing the percentage and number of normal morphology sperm, increasing sperm density in men with low sperm count and increasing the fertility rates for men who were using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with in vitro fertilization, among other findings.
Conditions Affecting Male Fertility
Acupuncture and diet and lifestyle suggestions based on Oriental Medicine can be helpful with the following disorders:
- low sperm count
- low sperm motility
- poor sperm morphology
- varicocele
- anti-sperm antibodies
- optimizing vasectomy reversal
Enhancing Male Sexual Function
Acupuncture can also help with the treatment of erectile dysfunction, especially when treatments are started around the time of onset of the problem and if clients are also willing to make diet and lifestyle modifications, such as quitting smoking (which acupuncture can also assist with) and getting appropriate exercise.
Treatment Guidelines for Men
For men with recognized fertility challenges, such as abnormal sperm test parameters, treatment should be continued for at least 10 weeks (the length of time it takes for sperm cells to be produced), preferably with treatments twice a week.
For men looking to optimize their fertility because of age-related factors or recurrent miscarriage of their partners, treatment can be once a week, or may consist of one or two visits a month, just prior to their partner's ovulation.
For men seeking to enhance sexual function, treatment should continue for at least 10 weeks, preferably twice per week.
Extra Reading
Lewis, Randine. 2005. The Infertility Cure: The Ancient Chinese Wellness Program for Getting Pregnant and Having Healthy Babies. Little, Brown and Company.
Ni, Daoshing and Herko, Dana. 2008. The Tao of Fertility: A Healing Chinese Medicine Program to Prepare Body, Mind and Spirit for New Life. Harper Collins Publishers.
For any further information, please feel free to contact Genevieve at 780-499-9749 or boyer.genevieve@gmail.com.
|
|
|
|
|
