Acupuncture and Infertility
Sometimes the most natural things in the world aren’t easy, and starting a family definitely falls into that category. When a couple has been trying to get pregnant yet has not been successful after a year, they may be considered infertile. The underlying cause for infertility may not be known. The father may have issues with sperm motility, quality, or mobility. Infertility issues may also be complicated by endometriosis, fibroids, PCOS, or other issues specific to the mother.
Acupuncture helps fertility issues by first regulating the menstrual cycle. There are a number of health issues women are generally confronted with when it comes to the menstrual cycle. From PMS, irregular menstruation, cramping, and heavy periods to fibroids, endometriosis, and PCOS, the list goes on and on. Nearly every woman at some point finds herself struggling with one or more of these conditions, regardless of if they are trying to conceive or not.
In this article, we will first review “conventional” or “western medicine” treatments; then we will take a look at how acupuncture can help ease issues like endometriosis, fibroids, and PCOS to regulate the menstrual cycle and help a woman with her fertility issues.
Western Medical Strategies
Western medicine has two main treatment strategies in the realm of menstrual cycle regulation: hormonal regulation and surgery.
Hormonal Regulation
Hormonal regulation through hormonal birth control is the most common answer from western medicine. Options include birth control pills, skin patches, vaginal rings, implants, and injections. These can offer solutions to many of the menstrual conditions we listed earlier, and help create a better quality of life for many women. Hormonal birth control works because the body’s natural signaling is taken over by these artificial hormones; they impose a new monthly pattern.
The underlying issue is barely addressed by this approach. The drugs just take over your regulation using louder instructions to your body. It is like turning up your radio to drown out the noise coming from your neighbors. Whether you like it or not, the neighbors are still just as noisy as before. Additionally, the side effects of hormonal birth control can be unpleasant. They include weight gain, reduced libido (decreased desire for sex), nausea, mood swings, and breast tenderness as well as other, more serious symptoms.
For fertility purposes, doctors might prescribe Clomid or other similar drugs to increase follicle and egg count. While sometimes helpful, in Chinese medicine, some patients’ body types might do even worse with these medications.
Surgery
In cases of endometriosis, cysts or fibroids, surgery might be used for removal of the fibroid, cysts, or scraping out the endometriosis. In this process, the lining of the uterus is removed either using a suction tool or a sharp scraping tool with the expectation that future menstrual bleeding will be more regular, and the lining will reform in a more ordered manner.
Acupuncture for Menstrual Regulation and Fertility
Acupuncture provides more customized treatment strategies than those accessible from the west for menstrual issues and fertility. Licensed acupuncturists consult with their patients for health improvement and channel an individualized wellness plan through acupuncture, cupping, herbal remedies and nutritional advice.
Reestablishing the Rhythm
Acupuncture is extremely effective in reestablishing and reinstating a regular cycle. With acupuncture, the body receives signals that inform all the body systems to work in a coordinated, synchronized manner and create a healthy regular period. The body’s systems are reminded of the best way to work collectively to create and improve health.
When there is a consistent imbalance in the body, acupuncture offers a potent method to set it right. You should not experience debilitating symptoms like cramps, backache, and emotional issues from your period. These are regarded as being abnormal, and the suffering that comes with it should not be part of your life. After about three months of weekly acupuncture treatments, most women begin to see a difference in their menstrual cycle.
- Your cycle should be around 28 – 30 days in length, including 4 – 7 days of bleeding and normal flow.
- With the help of acupuncture, your hormones and blood flow are regulated, including relieving stress and several other factors that contribute to irregular periods.
- Acupuncture and Chinese herbal teas help regulate your progesterone, LH, FSH, and other hormone levels as well.
Acupuncture with IUI and IVF
Pearl Acupuncture recommends starting acupuncture treatments as soon as you know you’re going to do IUI and IVF. The work leading up to the transfer can be as important as the implantation procedures themselves. For IUI, acupuncture helps ensure the follicles and hormone levels are good. With IVF, acupuncture helps the follicles and hormone levels, as well as the egg quality.
Not only does acupuncture help with the stress and anxiety associated with infertility, it also assists the body in working the best it can with other special treatments like in-vitro fertilization [IVF] and hormone therapy. (Infertility treatment isn’t just for women; men can benefit from acupuncture to assist with fertility as well.)
Pearl Acupuncture Can Help
If you are interested in alternative remedies to conventional medicine or are looking for ways to supplement your IUI or IVF procedures, contact Pearl at info@pearlacu.com or 972-813-9414. Or, book an appointment today.
Pearl Chang Russell practices as a licensed acupuncturist in Richardson (a suburb of Dallas, Texas) and is a Master of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Pearl’s source of inspiration is her grandmother, whose wealth of experience spans more than 50 years in acupuncture and Chinese medicine.