Acupuncture for Fertility: Boosting Your Chances of Conception

Using acupuncture as a form of treatment is still highly controversial in western medicine; however, its popularity is increasing, and it is becoming a recognized form of medicine to many doctors. While there is no substantial scientific evidence that acupuncture truly works, there are several schools, doctors, and patients that would speak to its effectiveness. A newer function of this is acupuncture for fertility. There have been a few studies done that show it is possible that acupuncture can be a treatment for infertility, or at least can be combined with more recognized forms of treatment to increase the chances of getting pregnant.

When used by itself, acupuncture is not a treatment for pregnancy issues related to more serious problems but is more useful with simpler issues like irregular ovulations. Some doctors believe that the reason acupuncture works for fertility problems by regulating the functions of the body to help increase the amount of blood getting to reproductive areas, and it also helps balance out hormone levels. This process is the same for men and women, but in men it increases the amount of sperm and in women it better regulates ovulation.

Acupuncture has also been proven highly effect when collaborating with other fertility treatments. One effect it may have is reducing stress in women that are using other forms of fertility treatment that can be very stressful. The calmer a woman remains, the easier it may be to conceive. There have also been definitive results showing it is highly useful in women that are doing in vitro fertilization. In 2002 there was a study in Germany that showed women who took acupuncture while undergoing in vitro fertilization were nearly 20 percent more likely to become pregnant than women who underwent in vitro fertilization on its own. An American study showed that benefits to acupuncture while doing in vitro fertilization reach beyond simply getting pregnant. Women that received acupuncture were 12 percent less likely to miscarry and had fewer ectopic pregnancies.

If acupuncture for fertility sounds like it may be a good treatment option for you, here is a little bit more information. Make sure the doctor you choose has all the training and certifications required to practice. It may benefit you to see a doctor that specializes only in acupuncture because they require more training than general practitioners. Also consider the cost, and find out if your insurance covers part or all of the cost of treatment. James Copper is a writer for Infertililty Solutions where you can find information on how acupuncture for fertility can improve your chances of getting pregnant