Fertility & Acupuncture

By Kuan-Chung Chou, LAc

In America, as many as one in six couples experience fertility problems and seek treatment for infertility. The medical community has been addressing this problem for many years and acupuncture may be an aid to assisted reproductive techniques (ART), improving ovarian response, uterine receptivity and increasing the rate of pregnancy in women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF).

German research is showing that acupuncture can increase success rates by almost 50% in women having IVF. The report published in the journal Fertility and Sterility found the pregnancy rate in the group receiving acupuncture was 42.5%, compared to the group which did not receive the therapy, where the rate was 26.3%.

One study published in Fertility and Sterility reported that, “acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer (ET) significantly improves the reproductive outcome in infertile women”. The results showed that the acupuncture group that received treatment the day of the transfer had a statistically significant higher rate of pregnancy than the control group that did not receive acupuncture.

Another study published in Fertility and Sterility, compared a true acupuncture group to a placebo or sham acupuncture group. The results showed that the pregnancy rate was 31% in the true acupuncture group and 23% in the sham group. They also concluded that acupuncture was safe for women undergoing embryo transfer.

Every month more than seven million couples experience the emotional pain and disappointment of failing to conceive. One method of trying to address this problem is through acupuncture, which is not truly understood, but is thought to work to enhance both the mans and womans fertility by restoring health and balance to the body, mind and spirit. Stress, lifestyle, exercise and even the foods we eat can all affect our fertility, so addressing these areas can have a positive impact on a couples ability to conceive, as well.

It is believed in Chinese medicine that acupuncture can raise the fertility potential for women by affecting the quality, quantity, balance, and flow of Qi and blood. When Qi (life energy) and blood are circulating freely throughout the body, every cell, tissue and organ is properly nourished and functioning well. When this occurs, a womans health and fertility are increased.

Whether you are interested in enhancing your fertility naturally or alongside artificial reproductive technology (ART) such as IUI or IVF, acupuncture is proving to be helpful in many cases.