Fertility

Acupuncture for Fertility

Embarking on the journey to parenthood is often a complicated process, one fraught with unexpected challenges, heightened emotion and physical set backs. If you find yourself struggling to conceive, the chances are the addition of fertility acupuncture is already on your radar.

But what is acupuncture?

Put simply, acupuncture is the insertion of needles into a complex system of points on a network of channels on the body known as the Jing Luo Mai. But there is a little bit more to it than this. These channels correspond closely to ‘fascial planes’, the connective tissue that wraps around all our muscles and organs, including the uterus. By inserting a needle in very specific points along these facial planes, a bioelectrical current is created in the body, generating a healing effect and a healthy blood flow. Just what the uterus needs!

How can it help fertility?

The real beauty of acupuncture is its ability to help on a physical and emotional level. And the science? It’s there, and it’s robust. Firstly, clinical trials show us that where acupuncture was used, hormone levels were modulated and there was a higher level of ovulation frequency than in the control groups. (Johansson et al 2013 randomised controlled trial in women with PCOS). And its not just for women. Its worth remembering that sperm count has dropped over 50% in the last 50 years.

Anecdotally, in my experience of working with fertility patients, I see a regulation of their periods, a better quality and quantity of blood during their period, along with an improvement of their cervical mucus during ovulation. But thats not all. Emotionally I know that acupuncture can help my patients cope, to feel a bit less stressed and a bit more supported.

My take home advice to anyone TTC or about to embark on IVF is take some time to prepare. This isn’t always easy, it often feels like time is of the essence, but remember - it takes 3-5 months to bring an egg to maturity and 90 days to create a new batch of sperm. Everything you do in this time will help this process. Reduce your environmental toxic load, clean up your diet and nourish your body. Gentle movement, acupuncture, rest and time spent doing joyful things with loved ones. Surround yourself with people who get it and try to avoid the well meaning family or friends who ask ‘those’ questions.