Infertility is on the rise in the United States. While the statistics will differ slightly, it is estimated that 1 in 7 people will suffer through infertility. This condition is very common and people are looking for different treatment methods for infertility. Of course, there are high tech options, but these are often expensive and do not promote good health. It is said that 30% of people undergoing infertility will look to try acupuncture. This raises questions about acupuncture and infertility. Does acupuncture increase fertility? Is acupuncture an effective treatment for infertility? What is the likelihood of success when pursuing acupuncture, or other methods of fertility enhancement? These questions are all valid and many are seeking the answers.
How does acupuncture work to treat infertility? There are several theories as to how acupuncture increases fertility. Those with infertility that have tried acupuncture can attest that they feel more relaxed after treatments. Acupuncture is often used for stress relief, and excels at creating a de-stress response in the body. After acupuncture, it has been observed that particular brain chemicals are released, which create a feeling of relaxation, wellness, and peace in the patient. While it may be difficult to quantify, stress does have physical effects on the body. Elevated heart rate and blood pressure are unlikely to be beneficial to fertility, and so lowering stress in the body is likely one way that acupuncture helps with increasing fertility. The amount of stress that is encountered on a everyday basis is arguably rising quickly, as technology allows more and faster intrusions upon our time, and continues to blur the line between work and personal time.Facial acupuncture
Another way that acupuncture can improve fertility is that it can increase blood flow to directed areas. Thermal scans have shown that a particular body area can see an increase in blood after acupuncture treatment. Therefore, it stands to reason that acupuncture can be used to promote more blood flow to reproductive organs, bringing them more nourishment and also allowing more effective removal of waste products. As many Americans have health that is not ideal, it would stand to reason that increasing blood flow to the pelvis and reproductive organs could treat infertility. Increased blood flow would potentially lead to better organ function and better nourished eggs and sperm.
Also, although it is unknown as to the specific mechanism as to why, acupuncture seems to increase implantation rates for fertilized eggs. Theories as to why usually are linked to the relief of stress, which may make the body more receptive to implantation. Also perhaps increased blood flow to the uterus could mean increased thickness of the endometrium, which could mean a higher chance of implantation. The thickness of the endometrium has been observed to increase when a patient undergoes regular acupuncture.
Acupuncture has been shown to be a very safe treatment option, with minimal negative side effects. While research has a difficult time pinpointing the mechanisms of efficacy, there is much research to support that acupuncture is a good treatment option for infertility.
Dorothy Pang, L.Ac. is the founder of TheNaturalFertilityCenter.com, an innovative comprehensive solution for women that are trying to conceive. TheNaturalFertilityCenter.com is dedicated to helping women across the United States utilize acupuncture principles, stress management, and rejuvenating practices to move towards youthfulness and fertility. She has helped with the conception of hundreds of babies so far! Through her website, e-zine, and Fertility in Bloom programs, Dorothy helps women increase their chances of conception, create balance in their lives, and find inner peace.