What are the Benefits of Acupuncture for Infertility?

Men who use acupuncture for infertility reap such benefits as increased sperm motility and higher sperm counts. Woman employing acupuncture for infertility generally experience better-functioning ovaries. By using warm needles to activate energy points in the body, acupuncture purportedly makes sperm cells more active, causing them to move faster and further, some acupuncturists claim. The stimulation of the ovaries by acupuncture allegedly cause the ovaries to produce not only more eggs, but also eggs of higher quality, even in older women. The egg improvement results from acupuncture’s ability to balance the functions of the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, which work together to guide egg production and ovarian release of eggs.

Acupuncture for infertility can also benefit women by creating a richer uterine lining. This benefit is a result of acupuncture’s power to boost blood circulation. The thicker, more nutritive lining can potentially hold on to a fertilized egg more easily, boosting chances of implantation. If a zygote successfully implants, the richer endometrium also creates a stronger womb that can properly nourish the zygote and possibly prevent miscarriage.

The hormonal balancing which results from acupuncture for infertility is one of the most highly sought-after benefits of this holistic treatment. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), progesterone, estradiol (E2), and luteinizing hormone (LH) are all fertility hormones; the production of each of these is purportedly increased by acupuncture. Holistic therapists also claim that the production of endorphins is also spiked which, in turn, leads to a spike in a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) that aids in fertility. Stress hormones are allegedly reduced through acupuncture for infertility. A positive side effect of the wide-ranging hormonal impact of acupuncture for infertility is that those suffering from polycystic ovarian syndrome tend to find relief for their condition because hormone ratios are no longer faulty.

Couples wanting to increase the possibility of success with in vitro fertilization (IVF) often gravitate to acupuncture. Some studies suggest that acupuncture can reduce chances of a woman’s uterus contracting after an embryo has been transferred to the uterus during an IVF treatment. These studies claim that IVF becomes 40 percent more effective when performed in combination with acupuncture for infertility. The acupuncture also dulls the side effects of IVF drug medication, acupuncturists claim.

A final benefit of acupuncture for infertility is that qi, the Chinese word for creative energy, is expanded. This creative energy is believed to affect not only artistic endeavors, but also reproduction. Some spiritualists believe that infertility is caused by faulty qi. Strategic acupuncture can allegedly stimulate the flow of qi throughout the body, particularly in the pelvis region.

During acupuncture for infertility, thin needles made of metal are placed into a variety of acupoints mostly located in the arms, legs, and feet. These acupoints correspond to activities in the ovaries and testes. Treatment typically lasts 20 minutes and is done twice weekly. Some people experience success with acupuncture for infertility after having weekly treatments for three consecutive months.