Optimizing Fertility with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
Couples trying to conceive have many options when it comes to improving their odds each month. Not even the most advanced science or technology can guarantee a pregnancy, but thankfully, many treatment options exist for couples who are struggling to conceive. Chinese medicine (consisting of acupuncture, customized herbal therapy, and Eastern nutritional advice) has been used for thousands of years to enhance fertility, support a healthy pregnancy, and address postpartum issues. While Jaime, Sheeva and I (Mary) see this clinically every day, scientific studies are confirming the ability of Chinese medicine to naturally improve fertility as well as enhance Western medical fertility treatments such as Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
How Does Chinese Medicine Help Fertility?
Understanding the impact of Chinese medicine on fertility is a work in progress as research continues to be conducted, but many important discoveries have already been found. Couples who work with a Chinese medicine practitioner in the months leading up to and including an IVF have higher live birth rates.[1] Studies also show that acupuncture and Chinese herbs help strengthen the communication between the pituitary gland in the brain and the ovaries, which can improve the health of a woman’s cycle including reducing PMS symptoms, regulating the menstrual cycle, promoting regular ovulation, strengthening the luteal phase, improving progesterone production, and promoting ovulation in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and hypothalamic amenorrhea.[2] Acupuncture and Chinese herbs have also been shown to improve fertility in women with endometriosis as well as manage associated symptoms like pelvic pain.[3] Acupuncture improves blood flow to the uterus and ovaries and can help build a healthy, more receptive lining, especially when combined with appropriate Chinese herbs.[4]
Acupuncture is often used as a supportive therapy during IVF and IUI cycles to enhance the effects of medications, bring more blood to the uterus and ovaries and improve implantation.[5][6][7] It may also help modulate the immune system, which can also support implantation and possibly prevent some types of miscarriage.[8] For male fertility, acupuncture and Chinese herbs have been shown to improve sperm parameters.[9]
Many women and couples who struggle with fertility experience high levels of stress and anxiety. While some studies show this is common and likely won’t impede their ability to conceive, other studies indicate taking measures to mitigate stress and improve quality of life through the fertility journey can help shorten the time to conception.[10] Oftentimes, the inability to control the fertility process causes immense frustration. It’s important to remember that any intervention or treatment for fertility merely increases the odds of conception or eliminates potential barriers. It is not always clear why a couple is not conceiving and it’s essential to keep trying ways to improve these odds and eliminate possible barriers each cycle, while also seeking appropriate emotional support to get through the process. Chinese medicine is one path and works very well alone or in combination with Western medical interventions.
Working with an acupuncturist can not only improve fertility outcomes, it also has the added benefit of stress reduction, improving mechanisms for coping and enhancing overall health and well-being. This, in-turn, can create a less stressful fertility journey with a subsequent healthier pregnancy, labor and delivery and post-partum time.
[1]Lee E. Hullender Rubin,a Michael S. Opsahl,b Klaus Wiemer,b Scott D. Mist,c and Aaron B. Caugheyc. Impact of Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine on In Vitro Fertilization Outcomes. Reprod Biomed Online. 2015 Jun; 30(6): 602–612.
[2]Julia Johansson 1 and Elisabet Stener-Victorin 1 , 2 ,*Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Effect and Mechanisms of Acupuncture for Ovulation Induction.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013; 2013: 762615.
[3]Sai Kong, 1 Yue-Hui Zhang, 2 , 3 Chen-Fang Liu, 1 Ilene Tsui, 4 Ying Guo, 1 Bei-Bei Ai, 1 and Feng-Juan Han 2 ,*The Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Endometriosis: A Review of Utilization and Mechanism.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014; 2014: 146383.
[4]Yuehui Zhang, 1 , 2 Yiman Fu, 3 Fengjuan Han, 1 Hongying Kuang, 1 Min Hu, 1 and Xiaoke Wu 1 ,*The Effect of Complementary and Alternative Medicine on Subfertile Women with In Vitro Fertilization.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014; 2014: 419425.
[5]Shuai Z1, Lian F2, Li P3, Yang W2. Effect of transcutaneous electrical acupuncture point stimulation on endometrial receptivity in women undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer: a single-blind prospective randomised controlled trial. Acupunct Med. 2015 Feb;33(1):9-15.
[6]Fu H1, He Y,Gao Y,Man Y,Liu W,Hao H.Acupuncture on the Endometrial Morphology, the Serum Estradiol and Progesterone Levels, and the Expression of Endometrial Leukaemia-inhibitor Factor and Osteopontin in Rats. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.2011;2011:606514.
[7]Stener-Victorin E1, Waldenström U, Andersson SA, Reduction of blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries of infertile women with electro-acupuncture.Wikland M.Hum Reprod. 1996 Jun;11(6):1314-7.
[8]Gui J1, Xiong F, Li J, Huang G. Effects of acupuncture on Th1, th2 cytokines in rats of implantation failure.Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2012;2012:893023.
[9]Sinclair S. Altern Med Rev. Male infertility: nutritional and environmental considerations.
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[10]Harlow CR1, Fahy UM, Talbot WM, Wardle PG,Stress and stress-related hormones during in-vitro fertilization treatment.Hull MG.Hum Reprod. 1996 Feb;11(2):274-9.