Acupuncture can help people in ways that encompass and transcend the physical--it does not work on the body alone. Amazing things can happen when a person comes to the right acupuncturist (for that individual) with a strong intention and a heart with sincere need.

Don't misunderstand--acupuncture alleviates the infertility struggle on a physical level. It can give your body the resources it needs to be fertile. It can reduce, and even eliminate, inflammatory conditions such as endometriosis. It can give a body what it needs to produce

Let me tell you about some of the fertility research that's been happening in the last few years.

The latest acupuncture for fertility research shows that acupuncture increased fertility via IVF success rates by 29%. Twenty-nine women who became pregnant, wouldn't have if they hadn't received acupuncture treatment. That's huge.

The interesting thing about this study is that it only used women who had 2 previous IVF failures. These are the women who were not having success with conventional fertility treatment protocols and needed extra help.

Another recent study showed that acupuncture is significaly more effective for increasing fertility by inducing ovulation than Clomid (Clomifene, Omifin), the typical medication of choice for women undergoing a medicated cycle or an IUI (artificial insemination). Acupuncture proved to be 28.2% more effective. That's 28 women who ovulated that month--giving them greater fertility and the possibility of getting pregnant--that otherwise wouldn't have had a chance. (2)

In a third study, acupuncture increased fertility by inducing ovulation in women with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). In a related study, acupuncture was also shown to be effective for ovulation induction for women with PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome. Acupuncture balanced the study participants' hormones while increasing the rate at which they ovulated. (3)

An additional study demonstrated that acupuncture increases fertility by increasing the percentage of children who are born alive to women who have undergone IVF. The women in the study received acupuncture on the day of the embryo transfer before the transfer at the following acupuncture points: GV 20, CV 6, ST 29, SP 8, PC 6, and LR 2, auricular uterus, auricular endocrine, auricular shenmen, auricular brain. After the transfer, women were needled at LI 4, SP 10, ST 36, SP 6, KI 3, auricular uterus, auricular endocrine, auricular shenmen, and auricular brain. (4)

Not surprisingly, electroacupuncture proved its effectiveness at increasing fertility when it improved live birth rates for women receiving IVF. This study revealed that a special protein (HLA-G) increases in the blood after electroacupuncture. HLA-G is known to be directly correlated with higher live birth rates. Wow! (5)

Are you convinced that acupuncture increases fertility? I am. If you are looking for a way to increase your fertility with a side order of love and deep emotional support, give me a call.

(1) di Villahermosa, Daniela Isoyama Manca, Lara Guercio dos Santos, Mariana Balthazar Nogueira, Fabia Lima Vilarino, and Caio Parente Barbosa. "Influence of acupuncture on the outcomes of in vitro fertilisation when embryo implantation has failed: a prospective randomised controlled clinical trial." Acupuncture in Medicine (2013).

(2) Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science, 2012, 10(2), R246.3. Teng Hui, Liu Yu-lei, Wang Jun-ling, Xie Ying. Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital, Guangdong, China.

(3) Johansson, Julia, et al. "Acupuncture for ovulation induction in polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized controlled trial." American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology And Metabolism (2013).Hullender Rubin, Lee E., Michael S. Opsahl, Lisa Taylor-Swanson, and Deborah L. Ackerman.

(4) "Acupuncture and In Vitro Fertilization: A Retrospective Chart Review." The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (2013). Exploration of clinical regularities in acupuncture-moxibustion treatment for infertility.

(5) Qin-feng Huang. Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science, Volume 10, Number 2. (2012), 72-76, DOI: 10.1007/s11726-012-0574-0.

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