Fertility and Acupuncture

There are many research studies that suggest that acupuncture may help in various areas relating to fertility, conception and pregnancy.

Acupuncture is also successfully used to induce childbirth and to turn breach babies. In addition to helping couples with fertility and conception, acupuncture helps the patient feeling relaxed in a very stressful situation.

The patient is treated on an individual basis and we look at the individual needs and circumstances, as described above. We take a detailed medical history and look at the lifestyle and form a diagnosis from a Chinese medical point of view.

How can acupuncture help with fertility

Acupuncturists aim to rebalance your energy flow and prime your body for fertility. The British Acupuncture Council believes acupuncture may boost female fertility by doing four key things:

• Regulating hormone function and periods
• Increasing blood flow to the ovaries and uterus and helping to relax your muscles which can improve the chance of an embryo implanting.
• Tackling the causes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) – a common cause of infertility
• Generally helping to relieve stress and make you feel more relaxed

Male fertility

The British Acupuncture Council claims there’s evidence to show acupuncture increases sperm motility, as well as increasing levels of the male sex hormone testosterone and lowering the temperature of the scrotum, where sperm are stored, creating a better environment for keeping them healthy.

Infertility is the inability of a couple to get pregnant despite having regular unprotected sex. A couple is regarded as infertile if, after regular sexual intercourse, they have not conceived in two years. It is estimated that one in seven UK couples has difficulty conceiving (HFEA, 2006).

Identifiable causes of infertility include: ovulatory disorders in 27% of couples; tubal damage in 14% of couples; low sperm count or low sperm quality in 19% of couples. In 30% of couples the cause of infertility remains unexplained (NCCWCH, 2004). Female fertility declines with age, but the effect of age on male fertility is less clear (NICE, 2004). The difficulties couples encounter when facing fertility problems can lead to stress, which may further decrease chances of conception (Eugster & Vingerhoets, 1999). Acupuncture is a popular treatment choice for infertility (Smith 2010).

BAcC website