HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE HELP FERTILITY (IUI & IVF)?
The treatment of Infertility and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) dates back 2,000 years. These ancient, time-tested techniques improve fertility rates ans supports a woman’s whole body, allowing for unlimited potential for health, healing and childbearing. Studies reported by The American Pregnancy Association suggest that the most effective fertility treatment involve a combination of acupuncture, herbal medicine, and traditional medical interventions. However, conception does sometimes occur without traditional medical interventions when acupuncture and herbal medicines are used alone.
Researchers from Weill Cornell Medical Center in New
York reviewed recent studies and concluded that are
acupuncture HELPS to:
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Increase blood flow to the uterus, which improves the
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chances of an ovum implanting on the uterine wall.
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Reduce anxiety and stress. The hormones that are secreted during stressful situations can significantly decreases fertility.
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Normalize hormone and endocrine systems that are regulate ovulation, especially in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome.
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Positively affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, which plays a key role in fertility.
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Regulate the menstrual cycle.
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Regulates hormone levels (follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinzing hormone, estrogen and progesterone)
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Moderates cylooxygenase and prostaglandin levels in the uterus (which improves implantation rates)
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Lessens uterine contractions after embryo transfer.
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Reduces miscarriages .
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Improves thickness of uterine wall lining.
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Lessens side effects of medications .
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Improves quality of eggs .
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Helps to regulate follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).
Pre & Post Embryo Transfer Treatments.
These are two acupuncture sessions that are done on the same day as
your embryo transfer. One before transfer and one after.
In a clinical trial where 160 patients underwent embryo transfer, half
were given acupuncture treatments before and after the transfer and
half were not. The group with no acupuncture had a 26.3% success rate,
while the acupuncture group had a 42.5% success rate.Scientific studies
have shown that this improves uterine artery blood flow, supports
endometrial lining, decreases uterine contractions, and increases
implantation and pregnancy rates.
Research
IVF and Acupuncture Research
Combining acupuncture and IVF doubles the successful birth rate. If you would like to read more:http://www.hra.nhs.uk/news/research-summaries/the-impact-of-acupuncture-on-the-success-of-ivf-treatments-a-rct/
Pre and Post Embryo Transfer Acupuncture treatments done in conjunction with IVF give a 42.5% success rate in comparison to a 26.3% success rate with IVF alone. If you would like to read more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=11937123&dopt=Books
Acupuncture in conjunction with IVF gives significantly higher pregnancy rate than IVF alone where embryo transfer had previously failed. If you would like to read more: http://aim.bmj.com/content/31/2/157
Acupuncture significantly lowers stress levels in women undergoing IVF. If you would like to read more:
http://aim.bmj.com/content/30/2/85
Acupuncture and Pregnancy Research
Pre-birth Acupuncture research shows 35% reduction in inductions (43% in first labours), 31% reduction in epidurals, 32% reduction in caesarean delivery. If you would like to read
more: https://acupuncture.rhizome.net.nz/media/cms_page_media/146/Prebirth%20Acupuncture.pdf
Acupuncture is effective in treating morning sickness. If you would like to read more: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11843784
Acupuncture and Moxibustion help resolve breech position in pregnancy. If you would like to read more:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15280133
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=11937123&dopt=Books
Proper Nutrition & Lifestyle Effecting Pregnancy Rates: 2007: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/17978119/?i=3&from=/19279491/related
Oriental Medicine Positively Effecting Pregnancy Rates: 2015: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4458185/
This study shows that the use of acupuncture can regulate and balance hormone levels.
Acupuncture Regulates Hormones
Acupuncture Normalizes Dysfunction of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Ovarian Axis – Bo-Ying Chen M.D., Professor of Neurobiology
Acupuncture Helps Build Uterine Lining
Acupuncture & Ovulation Induction
Substitution of Acupuncture for HCG in Ovulation Induction – Cai Xuefen, Obstetrical & Gynecological Hospital, Zhejiang Medical University, Zhejiang Province
Polycystic Ovaries
Effects of Electro-Acupuncture on Nerve Growth Factor and Ovarian Morphology in Rats with Experimentally Induced Polycystic Ovaries – Elisabet Stener-Victorin, Thomas Lundeberg, Urban Waldenstrom, Luigi Manni, Luigi Aloe, Stefan Gunnarsson, and Per Olof Janson
Role of Acupuncture in Female Infertility
Role of acupucture in the treatment of female infertility – Raymond Chang, M.D., The Institute of East-West Medicine, The Department of Internal Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Pak H. Chung, M.D., The Department of Internal Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Zev Rosenwaks, M.D., The Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility.
Improved IVF Outcomes After Treatment of Subclinical Hypothyroidism in Infertile Women – Rahman AH, Abbassy HA, Elatif Abbassy AA.
Sympathetic Nervous System and Ovluation
Relationship Between Blood Radioimmunoreactive Beta-Endorphin and Hand Skin Temperature During The Electro-Acupuncture Induction of Ovulation – Chen Bo Ying M.D. Lecturer of Neurobiology, Institute of Acupuncture Research, and Yu Jin, MD., Prof of Gynecology, Obstetricus and Gynecology Hospital Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
Chinese Herbs & Fertility
Quick Facts:
One study found that acupuncture may improve the quality of life in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization(IVF). It was also found that women receiving acupuncture reported significantly less abdominal pain, other pain, nausea,and stress two hours after occyte aspirations(egg collection)compared to women receiving conventional analgesia.
