Acupuncture and Infertility

What Does Acupuncture Actually Mean?neurotransmitters and neurohormones, which some
Acupuncture involves inserting and sometimessay encourage the body to heal itself.
manipulating very thin needles into very specificA few studies have suggested acupuncture's benefits
points in the body. It's similar to physical therapy inspecifically when used in conjunction with IVF. A small
that it is a process-oriented (i.e. ongoing) method ofGerman study in 2002 demonstrated a near doubling
intervention. The insertion of the various needles areof pregnancy rates for women who received
said to stimulate energy flow "Qi" (tee). Treatmentsacupuncture both shortly before and shortly after
for women with infertility commonly last three toembryo transfer. Another study in Great Britain
four months spanning the time prior to inseminationproduced similar results -- this study showed the
and after IVF. It's important to note that aodds of conceiving increased by about 65 percent
commitment to acupuncture treatment means morefor women who received acupuncture shortly before
than turning yourself over for needle manipulation.and after IVF procedures. Dr. Paul C. Magarelli, an
Most practitioners trained in Chinese medicine willinfertility doctor at the Reproductive Medicine &
conduct a complete physical workup that includesFertility Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., is co-author
examination of the color of the tongue and taking ofof an ongoing study into the use of acupuncture with
the pulse. The information from these preliminaryIVF with Dr. Diane K. Cridennda, a licensed
activities helps the practitioner to understand theacupuncturist. While Magarelli was initially skeptical, he
blood flow, body fluid balance and energy levels ofsays he has been convinced by the data in his study
the particular patient.that acupuncture improves a woman's chances of
How Could Acupuncture Help a Woman Getgetting pregnant with IVF, and holding that
Pregnant?pregnancy to term.
Because acupuncture appears to increase blood flowAll of these studies were small in scale. One
to vital organs, it may help in the regulation ofboard-certified endocrinologist with the Reproductive
hormone levels, and even improve ovarian andMedicine Group in Tampa, Florida, Samuel Tarantino,
follicular function, making for healthier eggs. Also,acknowledges that existing studies have yielded good
blood flow to the uterus may increase, permitting forinformation, but the evidence is not yet sufficient to
a thick lining of the endometrium that increases thesupport a claim that acupuncture is a proven
chances that the uterus will hold implanted eggs totreatment for infertility. He attributes some of the
term with no miscarriage. For these reasons, it is notreported success to a placebo effect. In other
unrealistic to assume (and a few studies even seemwords, "if a patient believes it will work, it will work
to suggest) that acupuncture may improve thebecause of that. The brain has an intense power to
success rate of medical interventions such as in vitroheal itself." "It's impossible to say at this point," said
fertilization (IVF).Dr. Robert Schenken, president of the American
Acupuncture is not going to help a woman getSociety for Reproductive Medicine, is another fertility
pregnant if her problem stems from something thatspecialist who feels that not enough controlled data
needs surgical correction, such as a blockage in herfrom human clinical studies has been produced to
fallopian tubes. But, in the special case of spasmeddraw any conclusions about acupuncture's
fallopian tubes (as opposed to blocked tubes) thereeffectiveness with infertile women.
may be some relief through acupuncture -- thereIf I want to use Acupuncture as Part of my
have been cases in which spasmed tubes areTreatment, How Do I Go About It?
de-spasmed (and therefore opened up) withAn increasing number of fertility centers have begun
acupuncture. That can be critical, because fallopianto offer acupuncture as an option as part of an IVF
tubes must be open to permit an egg to travel pasttreatment protocol (bear in mind that even if your
the cervix where it can be either inseminated orclinic offers it or gives you a referral, Insurance
harvested.usually doesn't cover the cost of acupuncture, and a
Further, sometimes Acupuncture is combined withsingle treatment can cost anywhere from $75 up to
herbal medicine to treat hormonal imbalances,$90). If you plan to use acupuncture as part of your
irregularities in a woman's menstrual cycle, and evenoverall treatment plan, consider beginning treatment
some male factor infertility.three to four months before a medical procedure like
What do the Studies Really Say?artificial insemination or (IVF). Then, continue
While many advocates claim that acupuncture cantreatments both before and after insemination or
relieve almost any medical condition, it is nowembryo transfer. Do be sure to use an licensed
somewhat accepted that acupuncture can at leastacupuncturist with experience treating fertility. Your
temporarily relieve pain and even regulate bloodacupuncturist should not place needles in the
pressure by stimulating the central nervous system.abdomino-pelvic area after insemination or
These effects are achieved because the use oftransfer.There is some risk that inadvertent mistakes
acupuncture causes the body to release endorphinsin the placement of the needles by an acupuncturist
which inhibit pain and gives the body the feeling ofwho has not studied fertility could contribute to a
wellness. Endorphins may also release certainmiscarriage.