Infertility, or not getting pregnant after 6 months of trying, is something that affects 1 in 10 Americans. When confronted with this many women consider Acupuncture. This article answers the questions of who should consider Fertility acupuncture and why?
Infertility is all too common today and may have a specific cause such as; endometriosis, PCOS, diminished ovarian reserve, abnormal sperm production or function, or it may be due to an unknown cause. In all of these cases Acupuncture, and Chinese Herbal medicine can help. Fertility and reproductive health was actually one of the most common uses for Chinese herbal medicine for much of the last millennia. In ancient times, the emperor and ruling class would have multiple wives in hopes of having many sons. The Chinese physicians’ job was to keep the women fertile and having many healthy children.
Acupuncture is a natural, effective way to improve fertility so that you have a much better chance of becoming pregnant. Below is some specific information about some of the more common causes of infertility that we see in the clinic. This non-invasive, holistic treatment has helped countless families overcome fertility problems.
In cases of unknown infertility stress and environmental factors are thought to play the biggest role. Acupuncture has been shown to reduce symptoms of stress by creating specific physiologic changes in our nervous system. Regardless of any other specific issues you may have, fertility acupuncture reduces feelings of stress and anxiety, which can have a direct impact on your ability to conceive. Most women who are trying to become pregnant experience high levels of stress, understandable when you want nothing more than to grow your family.
Women with PCOS or polycystic ovarian syndrome often undergo acupuncture treatments to enhance fertility. Acupuncture has been shown to reduce the symptoms of PCOS and can result in less painful, and more regular menstrual cycles. Acupuncture restores hormonal balance and improves blood flow to the ovaries and uterus, helping to reduce PCOS at the source. Chinese herbal medicine can also be used to speed up the healing process.
Endometriosis can also be a cause of infertility. Unfortunately it is often treated with therapies and drugs that have a tremendous impact on the ability to become pregnant. Hormonal contraceptives and progestin therapy can disrupt menstrual cycles, and make problems with infertility worse. Acupuncture can be used to treat endometriosis as it not only helps regulate menstrual cycles, it also reduces the pain most women experience with this condition.
Diminished ovarian reserve, is another factor for many women who desire to have a baby. As you age, egg quality declines. Not only does this make it more difficult to conceive, it also puts you at greater risk of having a miscarriage. Chinese herbal therapy can be very helpful to minimize the effects of low ovarian reserve. In these cases getting pregnant is only part of the program, because 2 in 10 women will suffer a miscarriage if they become pregnant at 35 years old. Unfortunately this rate increases the older you get. Acupuncture improves blood flow, nourishing the reproductive environment while optimizing the quality of eggs to increase the likelihood of a healthy pregnancy, and reduce the chance of miscarriage.
Frequent miscarriage can be a concern for women of any age. If you have suffered two or more miscarriages fertility acupuncture may help to improve the chances of maintaining a healthy pregnancy. This is because acupuncture can nourish embryos and follicles by increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs and ovaries. In early pregnancy acupuncture can reduce uterine contractions; it can also regulate hormones and increases the quality and thickness of the endometrial lining which helps prevent miscarriage.
Male infertility, most often related to abnormal sperm production or function is also treated well with acupuncture and Chinese medicine. Sperm testing is the most reliable diagnostic to determine if this may be part of an infertility case. Most couples come in for treatment together, and both can benefit from acupuncture even if no specific sperm issues are discovered. Sperm quality can also be greatly influenced by diet.
Fertility acupuncture is beneficial for couples with fertility issues because it helps to address the most common causes of infertility. When used with other treatments, whether traditional or holistic, acupuncture supports and enhances reproductive health. Stress is reduced, hormonal balance improves, and improved blood flow provides nourishment to every part of the reproductive system. All of the balancing effects of acupuncture are beneficial when trying to conceive.
The effectiveness of fertility acupuncture for women with PCOS, endometriosis, or frequent miscarriage cannot be stressed enough! Whatever the specifics of your case, we are available to provide you with compassionate, caring treatment and therapy along your journey to pregnancy. Contact Orlando Acupuncture in Winter Park today to learn more about acupuncture and how it could be helpful to your reproductive health and wellness.