Can Acupuncture Help Couple with Infertility?

When a couple is struggling to conceive, they may want to consider looking into the beneficial link between acupuncture and infertility. Originally from the east, acupuncture is now used world wide to treat many different physical and mental complaints from smoking cessation to back pain. By stimulating the nervous system, acupuncture encourages the release of neurotransmitters, neurohormones and endorphins. These powerful organic chemicals heal the body naturally, without the added stress of manufactured medications. This is key to acupuncture's growing popularity in the treatment of infertility. The fact that it is relatively non invasive and has few side effects means it can be used to bolster traditional treatments and thereby enhance the effectiveness of both. This is an important consideration for many people, especially when dealing with infertility as the body should remain as relaxed and 'clean' as possible.

Before you start...

Before starting a course of treatment with any complementary therapy, it's crucial to address the physiological issues first. Remember that acupuncture encourages the body to heal and regulate itself from within. Although it's certainly effective on the nervous system, acupuncture and infertility have a limited relationship as it can do little for a scarred fallopian tube or a low sperm count. These are infertility issues best left to more modern medical techniques.

How do Acupuncture and Infertility go together?

After extensive research, doctors have discovered that acupuncture increases blood flow to the targeted organs to help them heal. It could be said that it forces the body to focus on the areas that are causing problems. When it comes to acupuncture and infertility, the most common 'focus' area for treatment is the body's hormonal system and any imbalances that may be inhibiting conception. Because of the complex nature of this problem, the acupuncturist may decide to prescribe some herbal remedies for infertility. However, these herbs are often quite potent and can interfere with any prescribed hormone treatments so be sure to consult your doctor prior to using the supplements.

If you are skeptical about the connection between acupuncture and infertility, look at the treatments as a method of relaxation. Studies have shown that a woman has a harder time conceiving when she is under pressure. Invasive treatments and the wondering/waiting that comes with every cycle can make conception an incredibly traumatic experience. Consider your two or three acupuncture sessions a week as precious time for relaxation and reflection on your body and its marvelous processes. You may find combining acupuncture and infertility to be a healthy investment with a growing family as the payoff!