According to statistics from the NHS around 1 in 7 couples may have difficulty conceiving naturally. People are now turning to more traditional methods to help them have a child and over the years acupuncture has been used to treat some of the causes of infertility.
In-vitro fertilisation (IVF) is the mainstay of infertility treatment and world-wide demand is increasing by 5-10% per annum. Despite technological advances, we appear to have reached a threshold for success and the current live birth rate in the UK is approximately 25% and decreases with increasing age of the woman. Successful IVF outcome is limited by a lack of understanding in the key areas of embryo selection and implantation.
WHAT CAUSES INFERTILITY IN WOMEN?
Disorders of the reproductive and endocrinal systems are common causes of female infertility. These disorders can be either structural or dysfunctional. Problems with ovulation account for most cases of infertility in women.
The common reasons include:
- Long-term stress/depression affecting the ovarian function to cause ovarian mal-development, or early failure. Some young females suffer from amenorrhea when they undergo PHD study, or high degree courses, or after a severe accident.
- Excessive physical work or training during· puberty causes mal development in the ovaries or uterus resulting in rnenoxenia, often seen in some athletes and dancers.
- Excessive use of the contraceptive pill causes imbalance of Oestrogen & Progesterone causing their ovarian activity decreased.
- Marriage or pregnancy in later ages.
- Taking drugs, or excessive alcohol intake.
We will use the TCM diagnostic criteria of history, looking at the character of your periods since puberty, including your contraceptive and conception history, as well as any assisted treatment you may be having/had, all taken in the context of your medical history. Then in combination with your signs and symptoms (in particular, how your period is behaving now), and in combination with our Chinese diagnostics of pulse and tongue and palpation, we will determine how to treat you to improve ovulation.
WHAT CAUSES INFERTILITY IN MEN?
Infertility is not always a woman’s problem. In about one-third of cases infertility due to the men (male factors). Infertility in men is most often caused by:
- problems making sperm — producing too few sperm or none at all.
- problems with the sperm’s ability to reach the egg and fertilize it — abnormal sperm shape or structure prevent it from moving correctly.
CAN ACUPUNCTURE HELP IVF ?
A study carried out in London in 2016 involved 160 couples suffering from fertility problems. Half of these couples were given acupuncture during their IVF cycle. One year on, those who underwent the ancient practice had achieved pregnancy rates of 46.2%. Among those who had not been given the acupuncture, pregnancy rates were 21.7%.
A report published in the journal Fertility and Sterility found the pregnancy rate in the group receiving acupuncture was 42.5%, compared to 26.3% in the group which did not. The German research team, led by Dr. Wolfgang Paulus and colleagues at the Christian-Lauritzen-Institut in Ulm, said they have increased success rates with acupuncture by almost 50% in women having in vitro fertilisation (IVF).
The complimentary therapy, acupuncture, is rapidly gaining popularity as an adjunctive therapy to IVF. It is very benign, minimally invasive and has virtually no adverse side-effects.
HOW CAN ACUPUNCTURE HELP?
Acupuncture uses the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine as well as herbal prescriptions to maintain a balanced system. In Traditional Chinese Medicine the basic theory is that only when the body is balanced will it function at its optimal level. By strengthening the patient’s health, it improves both the ability to conceive and to maintain pregnancy to full term.
By using acupuncture we aim to:
- Improve ovarian function, resulting in the production of more follicles and good quality eggs.
- Regulate oestrogen and progesterone levels, thickening the lining of the uterus for proper implantation
Blood Flow to Reproductive Organs
Acupuncture treatment is said to improve blood flow to reproductive organs, subsequently leading to increased chances of conception. For example, studies show how it can improve ovarian blood supply and pregnancy rates in those receiving IVF treatment.
- Strengthen the immune system
- Reduce stress and relax the patient to prevent the uterus from contracting and ultimately help to prevent miscarriage
- Alleviate the side effect of IVF drugs
- Improve semen quality and quantity