More than six million, or about 10 percent of women in the United States, have trouble getting pregnant. Infertility is medically defined as not being able to get pregnant after one year of trying (or six months if a woman is 35 or older).
Modern medicine has extended infertility treatment choices immensely. Simultaneously, an increasing number of Americans are turning to alternative and complementary medicine, instead of or in addition to these options.
The practice of traditional Chinese Medicine is thousands of years old and includes many techniques and practices, including acupuncture.
Acupuncture, which uses tiny needles to stimulate the body’s natural healing abilities, is commonly used to treat infertility. Dr. Lana Moshkovich, DACM, LAc, a doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine with Nirvana Naturopathics in Deerfield, IL, explains how this works.
Hormones play a vital role in infertility, and when they’re out of balance, it can negatively impact your ability to become pregnant. Your likely already know that unbalanced hormones can cause mood swings, fatigue, and weight gain. It can also affect fertility.
Acupuncture can help regulate your hormones. In combination with diet, exercise, sleep, and proper hydration, it can body regulate levels of the vital reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone that are key to fertility.
Acupuncture is frequently used to help regulate menstrual cycles by improving blood flow to the pelvic area and uterine lining. Once placed in strategic energy points, the ultra-thin acupuncture needles can free up blocked and stagnant blood flow. so that nourishing, oxygenated blood better flows throughout your body. Improving the flow of nourishing, oxygenated blood through your body, can help regulate important functions, such as your menstrual cycle.
Acupuncture can remedy underlying issues such as under-functioning and over-functioning thyroid that can influence fertility. Dr. Moshkovich inserts tiny needles in specific points of your body to stimulate the body to balance itself.
Studies show that acupuncture is effective at improving thyroid function.
With hypothyroidism, a common condition where the thyroid doesn't create and release enough thyroid hormone, and interferes with the release of an egg from your ovary, impairing fertility.
Undergoing acupuncture prior to, during, and after in vitro fertilization may improve your chances of becoming pregnant. In vitro fertilization (IVF) involves extracting eggs and combining an egg with a sperm sample before transferring the embryo to the uterus. Acupuncture may contribute to a successful IVF outcome by increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs.
Trying unsuccessfully to conceive can be extremely stressful on couples hoping to start or expand their family. Given that the body and brain are intimately connected, high-stress levels can further negatively impact fertility. Acupuncture stimulates the central nervous system, which plays a part in releasing chemicals that improve mood and help you feel an improved sense of wellbeing. Women struggling with infertility recieved acupuncture treatments for more than three months, report feeling better about coping with thier delayed pregnancy.
Dr. Moshkovich has extensive experience helping women address fertility issues with the use of alternative medicine, alone or in combination with traditional therapy. If you’re struggling with infertility, call Nirvana Naturopathics or request an appointment online today.
