| Modern medicine has all the answers, right? Yes | | | | rates. |
| medical breakthroughs and the latest technologies | | | | Timing of acupuncture treatment is critical. It is most |
| have contributed greatly to our well-being. And | | | | effective when begun about three months before |
| assisted reproductive technologies (ART) such as in | | | | the first ART infertility procedure and continue for |
| vitro fertilization (IVF) have been a godsend for | | | | about three months after pregnancy begins to |
| many couples seeking treatment for infertility. But | | | | protect the fetus during the first trimester. |
| sometimes ART is not enough and prayers go | | | | Cost Savings Are Possible |
| unanswered. | | | | Infertility cost is an important consideration, especially |
| Acupuncture, a 2,500 year old Chinese medical | | | | because treatment is not covered by most group |
| science, has also been used to treat infertility. But | | | | medical insurance plans. Likewise, acupuncture for |
| how could poking with needles possibly help anyone | | | | infertility probably will be an additional out-of-pocket |
| conceive a child? It's nearly unexplainable and skeptics | | | | expense. But it could be money well spent as a |
| dismiss it, but acupuncture for infertility and other | | | | means of short-circuiting additional ART treatment |
| medical problems has been proven effective. And it is | | | | cycles. |
| now used widely in the US and Europe, together with | | | | Consider this example: Each IVF treatment will cost |
| ART, to treat infertility. Infertility clinics often provide | | | | the couple $10,000. And they've already been |
| referrals to acupuncturists specializing in infertility. | | | | advised that three or more cycles of IVF could be |
| How Infertility Acupuncture Works | | | | needed (typical for women over 35). If they decide |
| In acupuncture, a state-licensed specialist inserts | | | | to also spend $1,000 per cycle for acupuncture, that |
| ultra-thin needles into pressure points on the body. | | | | would seem to increase their cost by 10% to |
| Knowing where and how to apply the needles is the | | | | $33,000 for three cycles. |
| essence of the ancient science. The needle contacts | | | | But if the acupuncture treatment helps them become |
| control physical body problems such as infertility. | | | | pregnant after only two cycles, the net cost would |
| Acupuncture has been used, often combined with | | | | be $22,000, not $30,000, an $8,000 difference. And if |
| herbs, to treat elevated follicle stimulating hormone | | | | only one cycle is needed, the couple would spend |
| (FSH), polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and | | | | $11,000 rather than the $30,000 cost projected if no |
| multiple miscarriages. | | | | acupuncture was to be used, a $19,000 difference. |
| In many cases, acupuncture is applied in combination | | | | Of course it is impossible to predict outcomes with |
| with IVF, interuterine insemination (IUI) and | | | | certainty, but acupuncture is worthy of consideration |
| donor-egg transfers with demonstrable success. A | | | | on two counts: effectiveness and possible cost |
| recent study showed combining acupuncture with | | | | savings. |
| IVF resulted in 65 percent improvement in pregnant | | | | |