Boosting Your Chances with Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been a primary method of medical care in China for over 3,000 years; however, it's only recently caught on in mainstream western practice. Acupuncture has been used by millions of Americans and performed by thousands of physicians, dentists, acupuncturists, and other practitioners for relief or prevention of pain and for a variety of health conditions. However, it is still somewhat controversial and the U.S. medical community is in disagreement regarding its efficacy.

Acupuncture is often used by itself as a treatment for infertility, as well as a complementary therapy to modern fertility treatment and has shown promise in treating elevated FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), repeated pregnancy loss, unexplained (idiopathic) infertility, luteal phase defect, hyperprolactinemia, PCOS, and male factor infertility. Most practitioners and experts agree that good candidates for acupuncture therapy are those who have a functional, rather than a structural, reason for infertility (damaged fallopian tubes is an example of a structural reason).

Although modern science has failed to explain how acupuncture works, Chinese practitioners believe that energy (qi, pronounced "chee") flows through the body along 20 major channels called meridians. When the flow of energy is obstructed, energy builds up in some areas of the body, while depriving other areas. These meridians are accessible through 400 different points and, based on the problem you're experiencing, different combinations of points are stimulated using thin, solid needles of varying lengths. The needles are inserted into the skin at certain areas on the body for 20 to 60 minutes during which time pulsating electrical current may be applied to the needles to enhance the treatment (called electro-acupuncture).

Acupuncture is a relatively painless procedure with minimal side effects when performed by a certified professional. Many people report feeling heaviness or tingling at the acupuncture site during the procedure and you may feel slightly sleepy, relaxed, or even energized afterwards. The most common risks associated with acupuncture include puncturing organs, transmitting infectious diseases, broken or forgotten needles and minor bleeding. You should not undergo acupuncture if you have a bleeding disorder or are using blood thinners.

Most practitioners recommend seeing a patient for one hour, once or twice a week for a series of weeks or months. Acupuncture ranges from about $30 to $200 per treatment and some insurance plans cover acupuncture.

Modern medical experts believe that the needles stimulate the nervous system to release chemicals in the muscles, spinal cord and brain, promoting the body to heal itself and reduce pain. Another hypothesis is that changes to the central nervous system during acupuncture alter the regulation of blood pressure and flow, as well as body temperature. Traditional practitioners believe that acupuncture is useful in treating infertility because it helps regulate your body's system, increases blood flow to the reproductive organs, and stabilizes pituitary and ovarian hormone levels, all of which increases ovarian function in women and sperm production and motility in men. The improved circulation to the ovaries means healthier eggs, and the increased blood flow to the uterus increases the health and thickness of the uterine lining, which can help it retain and nourish a fetus to full-term. It is also thought that acupuncture helps women to relax during modern fertility treatments.

Several studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of acupuncture. One such study, conducted in Germany by Dr. Wolfgang Paulus and published in ASRM's (American Society for Reproductive Medicine) "Fertility and Sterility" in April 2002, followed 80 women who underwent IVF and received acupuncture. Thirty-four of those women got pregnant (42.5 percent), while only 21 of those who received IVF and no acupuncture became pregnant (26.3 percent). In a similar study in the United States by Paul C. Magarelli, an infertility doctor at the Reproductive Medicine and Fertility Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Dr. Diane Cridennda, a licensed acupuncturist, followed 114 women who underwent IVF and acupuncture. Fifty-one percent of the women who received acupuncture became pregnant, compared with just 36 percent of those who received only IVF. This study also showed that 20 percent of the IVF-only women miscarried, as compare to only 8 percent from the acupuncture group. The women who received acupuncture also had lower rates of ectopic pregnancies.

A study by Dr. Stener-Victorin et al. at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Fertility Centre, Goteborg University, Sweden, showed that receiving acupuncture treatments before and after IVF embryo transfer may increase the chance that the embryo will be implanted successfully and reduce the chance of miscarriage. The effectiveness of IVF drugs and procedures may also improve if acupuncture is done about once a week in the month or two leading up to the start of IVF and then continued regularly during the cycle.

Acupuncture has also been successful in treating male infertility (due to low sperm counts, morphology problems (misshapen sperm) or sperm motility problems). Dr. Jian Pei, from Christian-Lauritzen-Institut in Ulm, Germany, and colleagues assessed the benefits of acupuncture therapy in 28 men with unexplained sperm abnormalities. They found acupuncture led to a significant increase in the percentage and number of sperm without structural defects.

If you are interested in trying acupuncture as part of your fertility treatment, see a traditional fertility specialist first to determine your underlying fertility issues. In addition, tell your fertility specialist that you are receiving acupuncture as part of your fertility treatment. And if you suspect you have conceived, stop acupuncture immediately. Some of the same points used to stimulate the uterus and increase fertility may also cause a miscarriage - your acupuncturist should not place needles in the abdominal area after insemination or transfer, or during pregnancy.

Different states require different levels of practitioner certification, so find out what level of training your state considers sufficient. The National Institutes of Health Website offers tips on finding a licensed acupuncturist. Many modern medical practices can refer you to a reputable acupuncturist in your area, or you can find one using The American Academy of Medical Acupuncture database of licensed acupuncturists around the country or on the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Website.