Using Acupuncture for Fertility
The journey to building a family is different for everyone who struggles with infertility. For some, it involves medical treatments or surgery and for most some element of stress or uncertainty.
Dealing with these challenges can be hard. Many women preparing to be pregnant want to focus on wellness and try to be as natural as possible. Acupuncture is a great way to improve wellbeing while minimizing the risk of potential side effects seen with some medications. Many aspects of the family building journey can be addressed with acupuncture for fertility. Treatments can assist with ovulation problems, miscarriage, as well as stress and anxiety to name a few. Often it can be an adjunct to fertility treatments and may improve the body’s ability to respond to medications if needed.
Dr. Jill Blakeway, the founder of the Yinova Center, believes that acupuncture can help optimize the ability to conceive naturally or in conjunction with medical treatments.
Acupuncture for fertility can be used to treat patients with the following conditions:
- Amenorrhea
- Decreased Ovarian Reserve
- Elevated FSH
- Endometriosis
- Immunological Factors
- Irregular Menses
- IVF Support
- IUI Support
- Luteal Phase Defect
- Male Factor Infertility
- Ovarian Cysts
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
- Recurrent Miscarriage
- Stress-Related Hormone Imbalances
- Unexplained Infertility
It is important to find an acupuncture provider that is adequately trained and licensed to treat the conditions you have. Much like medical doctors, some acupuncturists specialize in particular areas like fertility or stress management. Discuss with your provider their experience with your situation and make sure they are a good fit for what you need. Often Chinese herbs are used with acupuncture for fertility treatments. These can be hard to know if they are safe or not especially if the herbs are grown in areas of the world with poor environmental standards. Always talk freely with your providers about herbs and supplements and ask about safety.
Ultimately your goals and your acupuncture providers’ goals should be aligned and focused on helping you achieve a healthy and happy pregnancy. Incorporating healthy eating, exercise, sleep, and behaviors in your journey is so important. Acupuncture for fertility is an additional component to consider that can be helpful and more natural than some medical treatments.