Our fertility is a very emotionally charged subject, which may affect how we feel about ourselves and our lives on a very fundamental level. A couple experiencing fertility issues or worrying about their fertility may often find this a very challenging time, and information on this subject from multiple sources may seem quite confusing. I hope the following information helps to clarify certain concepts and defines the role of acupuncture in this field.

 

What is fertility? What does “infertility” mean?

Fertility refers to a couple’s ability to conceive and stay pregnant.

The term “infertility” is a very broad one, and in itself is simply an observation: it means that a couple hasn’t conceived despite regular intercourse over a set period of time, (usually defined as between 1 and 2 years, or 6 months if the woman is over 35). It doesn’t imply any particular cause explaining the infertility, or any medical condition linked to it, nor does it imply any particular outcome for the future.

 

What are the causes of infertility?

About 1/3 of infertility can be linked to a physiological cause in the woman (eg anovulation, or blocked tubes), about 1/3 to a physiological cause in the man (eg sperm morphology), and about 1/3 of infertility is unexplained. Some of the issues, like hormonal factors leading to ovulation problems, can be helped with acupuncture, whereas others, like blocked tubes, are more difficult to treat. Chinese Medicine also holds that mental-emotional factors (eg stress), which would not show up on any particular conventional medical tests, have a very strong influence over a woman’s cycle and her fertility. In Chinese medicine, the best preparation a woman can do to fall pregnant is to have a strong, relaxed mind and a strong, relaxed body.

 

What do we mean by “fertility treatment”?

If the definition of infertility is simply the fact that a couple hasn’t conceived over the last year, the definition of fertility treatment is any treatment that will help this couple to do so. Modern Western medicine has many ways of doing this, from drugs that induce ovulation (eg Clomid) to surgery (eg laparoscopy) or assisted reproductive therapy (eg IVF). It relies on an accurate medical diagnosis, and you will usually know within a cycle whether the treatment was successful or not. 

Chinese Medicine also has a long history of helping women to conceive. Its aim is not to affect one particular cycle, but to coax a woman’s body into a generally healthier, more relaxed, and more fertile state. Acupuncture is known to regulate the menstrual cycle, promote ovulation, and improve blood flow to the uterus. A Western diagnosis may help, but is not strictly necessary as the principles of Chinese Medicine are consistent enough to inform treatment. The effect of the treatment are not immediate -we usually schedule 3 months of regular treatment for any gynaecological issues, though of course we cannot predict particular outcomes when dealing with fertility.

Sperm issues may also be treated effectively with a look at a man’s lifestyle and acupuncture treatment. Three months of treatment are needed as this is how long it takes for sperm to be produced.

 

Acupuncture as support for assisted reproductive therapy (IUI, IVF, ICSI)

Assisted reproductive therapy (ART) is in itself a relatively new medical field, and the Chinese classics that acupuncture is based on obviously do not have any references to it. However we can use the principles of Chinese Medicine to analyse how ART may affect a woman’s body and use acupuncture treatment to enhance its effect and support the woman as she undergoes the procedures.

Acupuncture may be used in the cycle leading up to egg collection to both improve the body’s response physically and help a woman to stay relaxed at this pressured time. It can also be used after the embryo transfer and in early pregnancy to help maintain the pregnancy.

In particular, research has shown that 2 treatments, one done within the 24 hours before embryo transfer, and one within the 24 hours after, may help implantation rates and lead to a higher number of successful pregnancies.

Should the cycle not be successful, some women choose to have acupuncture treatments in order to deal with any emotions that may come up at this stage. This is an important phase that should not be overlooked, as allowing sad or angry emotions to clear as much as possible is important to allow the woman to start afresh, whichever way this may be.

 

 

 

Contact Conny on 07796 478 946 or info@connyduxbury.com