Acupuncture for Fertility at Inline Health Chiropractic
How Does it Work?
It is suggested by practitioners of Acupuncture that their treatment can stimulate blood flow to the uterus, assisting menstruation and ovulation and reducing stress.
Choosing to explore wellness and treatment options outside of traditional Western medicine treatments is rapidly becoming a much more viable and acceptable option for many singles and couples looking to start or grow a family.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine and a form of natural health care that takes a holistic approach to understanding, treating and preventing illness. Treatment is based on the theory that illness, disease and health problems stem from an interruption of the body’s natural flow of energy (called chi) in the body.
The practice involves stimulating the body’s chi with tiny needle insertions in different areas of the body depending on the particular issue and treatment goals.
An appointment usually lasts around one hour, and involves a thorough consultation before comfortably resting with the small needles inserted for 20-30 minutes. In most fertility cases, the needles are focused around the legs, lower back or lower abdomen.
How goes Acupuncture relate to fertility?
The aim of treatment while trying to increase fertility is to improve blood flow to the ovaries and endometrium. This may encourage the ovaries to function at their peak and may help to increase the lining thickness of the uterus.
Acupuncture is also often undertaken by women with PCOS, with a specific aim to induce ovulation and hormone formation.
What about Acupuncture and IVF?
When undertaking IVF, some acupuncturists suggest a short session prior to and immediately after an embryo transfer with a hope to increase the chances of implantation. This is because acupuncture may serve to relax the uterus at the time of transfer if undertaken at the correct time.
Because IVF treatments can be a stressful and emotional time for women and couples, acupuncture may assist in alleviating stress and allow your body to function at its best possible health.
If you are already going through IVF treatment, it is important to discuss any intention to also undertake acupuncture with your fertility specialist first. By keeping both your fertility specialist and acupuncturist in the loop, you will ensure both parties work together to provide you with the best possible care.
How does Acupuncture relate to male fertility?
Related Benefits of Acupuncture
Though there is limited research to suggest acupuncture can directly lead to fertility treatment success, the treatment has been proven to help reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Acupuncture is believed to increase quality of life and lower stress levels during clinical fertility treatments, which may in turn provide an ‘easier’ path to pregnancy.
When pregnant, acupuncture combined with good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle may assist in stress reduction, to minimize nausea, and to alleviate lower back pain or pressure that is common in the later stages of pregnancy.
Schedule Your Appointment
We look forward to working with couples of all walks of life who wish to learn more about acupuncture and fertility. We invite you to schedule an appointment today to get started. We can’t wait to meet you!
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*Info taken from Monash IVF
