It is probably one of the worst things in the world when a woman cannot conceive. It can cause significant mental and emotional distress to a couple. There are conventional treatments out there but success rates are not good. This article will look at how acupuncture can help with the problems and make conceiving easier.
If you are unable to conceive then the obvious treatment is IVF however this can be a very expensive process and the success rates can be very low leading to a large number of attempts before conception. It is not widely known but acupuncture can be a very valuable compliment to IVF and so could be worth trying.
The Evidence
This is one area of alternative therapies where a large amount of research has been done and has shown the effectiveness of acupuncture. In Germany in 2002 a study was done where 160 women were undergoing IVF were split into two with 80 receiving acupuncture alongside their IVF and the other 80 receiving just IVF. The results were very conclusive with 42.5 per cent of those receiving acupuncture conceiving where as only 26.3 per cent of the other group conceived. The results were similar for a study done in America on a group of 114 women. The group that receive acupuncture had a 51 per cent conception rate where as only 36 per cent of those without acupuncture conceived. In other studies there has also been evidence to show that acupuncture reduced the rate of miscarriage as well.
The Reasons
So why is acupuncture so successful for people who are undergoing IVF? The Chinese theory is that the process balances the Chi or the energy flowing round the body. This balancing eliminates the problems with conception and so making it easier.
However western medicine has other theories based on the physiology of the body that could help to explain it. The theory is that the process of acupuncture actually results in the release of endorphins in the brain. These are hormones that make people feel happy and can give that feeling of elation however this chemical also helps in regulating the menstrual cycle and egg production. So not only does it have an effect on the important parts of the body but the feel good factor may help to keep women relaxed and so making things easier.
In addition studies have also shown that acupuncture can increase the flow of blood to the reproductive organs. This can a twofold benefit, the first one being that it can help to make the lining of the uterus thinker. This can aid with the attachment of an egg and can also help to explain why the miscarriage rate is reduced as it is easier for the uterus to maintain the implanted embryo. In addition theory also believes that the increased blood flow also leads to increased egg follicles and hormone levels around the ovaries. These two things together can help to increase the chance of conception.
Conclusion
Based on the above evidence it is definitely worth considering acupuncture as complimentary treatment to your IVF. Anything that could potentially increase the chance of success can be useful to any woman. In addition even if a woman does not need IVF acupuncture could be something you undergo while attempting to get pregnant and during pregnancy just to support the natural workings of the body.
