Infertility and Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine has treated infertility for thousands of years.  Couples who dream of having their own children sometimes are confronted with difficulty in conceiving when they are finally ready to become parents.  Chinese medicine and acupuncture use techniques to support the woman's whole body.  

With acupuncture it is possible to increase the blood flow to the uterus, which improves the chances of an ovum implanting once fertilized.   Stress and anxiety actually produce hormones in the body which inhibit fertility.  Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are excellent ways of reducing stress, helping you feel calmer, more grounded and contented by releasing endorphins, the natural "feel good" neurotransmitters into the body.     Chinese medicine has been proven to help normalize hormone and endocrine systems that regulate ovulation and the menstrual cycle. Acupuncture can positively affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, which plays a key role in fertility.

In 2002 a landmark study done in Germany and reported by the Journal Fertility & Sterility showed that woman going through In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) who had acupuncture dramatically improved the success rate. Of the woman who just received the IVF 26.3% became pregnant.  Of those who received the IVF along with acupuncture 42.5% became pregnant or nearly a 50% increase in success.  

Male infertility, sexual performance problems and other male sexual issues can also be treated with Chinese medicine.  Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can improve the quality and quantity of sperm and improve the overall quality of the semen.  This in turn increases the chances of creating a healthy and viable embryo.  In some cases it is best to treat both the man and the woman at the same time while the couple is actively trying to conceive to maximize the results.

Acupuncture and Chinese medicine are a far less expensive and less invasive option than what Western medicine has to offer for infertility.  It is not necessary to go though months of a hormonal roller coaster that adds stress to your body, mind and relationships.  Sexual relations are left to be a natural and joyful experience between loving partners instead of a clinical experience with doctors and test tubes.  Chinese medicine is gentle, natural and safe with the goal to maximize health and vitality, reduce stress and introduce tranquility and peace to the process of becoming pregnant.

Acupuncture and herbal programs are available at Acupuncture Associates, either alone, or in conjunction with your Western treatments to maximize your likelihood of a successful pregnancy.  Once you become pregnant, Chinese medicine can help in the areas of morning sickness, threatened miscarriage, labor induction and easing of your labor once the baby is full term.

Call today to make an appointment to see how acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help you!

Hours: Monday - Thursday, 9am - 5pm by appointment only