Acupuncture for FERTILITY
Acupuncture may help female fertility by:
- Regulating fertility hormones, including gonadotrophin releasing hormone, oestrogen and progesterone
- Increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs, to the ovaries and the uterus, thereby increasing the thickness of the womb lining in preparation for embryo implantation
- Increasing egg production and improving oocyte quality
- Enhancing luteal function
- Countering the effects of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), regulating the menstrual cycle in women with PCOS, reducing the number of cysts, stimulating ovulation, enhancing blastocyst implantation. It may also help control secondary effects of PCOS such as obesity
- Promoting embryo implantation
Acupuncture may help male fertility by:
- Lowering scrotal temperature
- Enhancing local blood flow and circulation
- Reducing inflammation
- Improving sperm maturation
- Reducing stress
Acupuncture for IVF
In a study by Paulus (2002), 160 women undergoing IVF with good quality embryos were split into 2 groups. Women in the first group had acupuncture both before and after the embryo implantation. The other group had no supplementary therapy. The pregnancy rates for the two groups measured by ultrasound at 6 weeks were 42.3% and 26.3% respectively. The pregnancy rate was 62% higher in the acupuncture group than the control group.
