Turn to Acupuncture as an Alternative or Complementary Fertility Treatment.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 9 million women in the US are using infertility services. While cutting edge technologies offer a variety of treatments, success rates are still well under 50%.

Research shows that acupuncture can improve conception rates and reduce the chance of miscarriage. Many women turn to acupuncture as an alternative or complementary fertility treatment.

Promising Research

Physician-scientists at Cornell University conducted a review of current
research that supports the potential benefits of acupuncture for infertility
and found that:

• Acupuncture reduces the stress hormones that interfere
  with ovulation.
• Hormones that regulate ovulation are stabilized, thereby
  improving the probability that an egg is released.
• The chances of a fertilized egg implanting are increased due
  to the enhanced blood flow to the uterus.
• Women with PCOS, which makes getting pregnant difficult,
  find their ovulation cycles are improved.
• Pregnancy rates are increased in women who are going
  through IVF.

According to a German study in 2002, there was a 50% higher rate of
conception when acupuncture was used in conjunction with IVF therapies. An earlier study in Sweden also found that conception rates were boosted when acupuncture was done with IVF.

An article in OBGyn News late last year stated the women who received
acupuncture during the stimulation phase of an IVF cycle and immediately after the embryo transfer have a higher live-birth rate than do controls. This study was conducted by Paul C. Magarelli, MD of the University of New Mexico.

Why is it effective?

Acupuncture involves the skillful insertion of tiny, hair-thin needles into
specific areas of the hands, feet, ears and abdomen. This improves the flow of energy (chi), which in turn increases the flow of blood to the uterus, thus making your body more hospitable for conception. Acupuncture promotes relaxation and helps reduce stress levels that can soar during this most emotional of times. By relaxing the body and creating a nourishing environment for conception, you enhance your chance of success.

To learn more about acupuncture, call The Healing Acupuncture Center at 512.458.7880, or to schedule your appointment.