As acupuncture becomes more and more visible in the West, we are recognizing just how many conditions it can successfully treat. Research has shown how effective acupuncture can be in treating various types of chronic pain, stress, and other issues. There is also an emerging body of evidence showing how helpful acupuncture can be for improving fertility and for treating different types of infertility. But just how does this work? And how much acupuncture do you need to improve fertility? Let’s dive in and find out.
“Does that acupuncture actually help fertility?”
That’s a resounding YES from the research community. No two cases of infertility are alike, and many different factors can be at play when people are struggling to conceive. For instance: in cases of poor egg quality, thin uterine lining, painful periods, and sperm issues, improving blood flow to the pelvic cavity through acupuncture often causes marked improvement. If the painful periods are caused by endometriosis, acupuncture can help fertility through a combination of that improved blood flow, coupled with decreasing inflammation in the body and helping the body increase production of endorphins to relieve pain. If there are irregular periods, such as we see in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), acupuncture’s action on the sympathetic nervous system can alter the way the brain governs hormone production, helping to regulate the menstrual cycle and increasing chances of conception in the process. Even actions of acupuncture that seem unrelated to fertility can help, as improved digestion and decreased stress send signals to the nervous system that the body is ready to accept a pregnancy.
How much treatment do I need?
While I love the one-treatment success stories, for most people acupuncture and its actions are dose-dependent. With fertility, we tend to see the best results with at least three months of regular treatment. Why is this?
In terms of sperm health, it takes about 70-90 days for a new cohort of sperm to fully mature. With eggs, the journey from dormant follicle to ovulated egg takes about a year (cue the mind blown emoji). It’s only in the final 90 days of that journey that the growing follicle gets hormone receptors and a blood supply, so it needs all of that time to receive the benefit of acupuncture, herbs, supplements, or any other therapeutic modality. This is regardless of whether or not someone is trying on their own or going through IUI/IVF. Indeed, research from IVF cycles and acupuncture confirms the best outcomes with those three months of treatment prior to the actual egg retrieval. If you’re late to the party getting started, fear not. Any treatment is better than none, and the second-best time to plant a tree is now.
So, where are you in your fertility journey? Whether you’re looking to improve your health before getting started or you’ve been at it a while and need some more support, Chinese medicine is a great addition to your treatment plan.
Click here and schedule a free 15-minute consult with one of our experienced acupuncture providers in St. Paul today, and let’s talk about how we can help you reach your goals.
Molly
