It is important to bear in mind:
- Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Therapy alone can significantly increase the natural pregnant rate among the infertile couples;
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Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Therapy can remarkably increase the success rate of IVF;
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Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Therapy can still be effective even if the IVF failed;
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Many infertility cases are due to functional causes, therefore being "curable";
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In many infertility cases there is no physical cause found. Instead, emotional and psychological status may be the key in these cases where acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine can be extremely useful and effective;
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Infertility is not a "womam's" problem. Male infertility is about one third of the total infertility.
What is infertility?
Infertility is a disease of the reproductive system that impairs one of the body's most basic
functions: the conception of children.
A couple is considered infertile if the woman does not conceive a child after one year of
unprotected, well-timed intercourse or she has been unable to carry a pregnancy to a live birth.
The diagnosis is sped up for women over 35--treatment is normally recommended after six months of
trying to conceive.
What are the causes of infertility?
Roughly one-third of infertility cases can be attributed to male factors and another one-third to
factors that affect women. For the remaining infertile couples, infertility is caused by a
combination of problems in both partners (about 13%) or is unexplained (about 10%).
The most common causes of male infertility include azoospermia (no sperm cells are produced) and
oligospermia (few sperm cells are produced). Sometimes, sperm cells are malformed or they die
before they can reach the egg. In rare cases, male infertility is caused by a genetic disease
such as cystic fibrosis or a chromosomal abnormality.
The most common cause of female infertility is an ovulation disorder. Other causes of female
infertility include blocked fallopian tubes, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis.
Repeated miscarriages may be caused by congenital anomalies (birth defects) involving the
structure of the uterus and uterine fibroids.
How can acupuncture heal infertility?
- Needles used to stimulate acupoints:
to get pregnant, it is necessary to be in properly balanced physical and
emotional conditions. In order to bring all aspects of the body into
balance, acupuncture
practitioners use needles to stimulate the selected acupuncture points
according to diagnosis of an individual case. The stimulation may
enhance general energy, improve reduced organ fundctions, harmonise the
reproductive system and other systems, and
subsequently alter blood pressure, body temperature and chemicals
(e.g. hormones required for pregnancy) flowing through the body.
- Improves blood flow to organs involved in pregnancy: helps improve blood flow in the ovaries and the uterine arteries to build a stronger uterine lining in infertile women.
- Acupuncture changes endorphin, pituitary, and ovarian hormone levels: these hormones impact the menstrual cycle to help regulate ovulation.
- Improve sperm production and quality: the
number and the quality of the sperm is crucial in male infertility. By
enhancing general well-being, relaxing emotion, improving blood flow to
testicule and altering the levels of relevant hormones, acupuncture is
particularly useful in treating male infertility.
- "Calming the spirit:
In addition to the chemical effects of acupuncture, the process can
also relax the abdominal muscles, which is sometimes a major cause of
the inability to fertilize an egg. More subjectively, acupuncture
patients often feel more relaxed and calmer after receiving the
treatment, which by itself can increase the flow of energy through the
body.
- Conbination of treatments:
Acupuncture is often coupled with Chinese herbal remedies, reflexology,
or Chinese massage (Tui Na) in order to tune body to an ideal status
ready for conseption in a relatively short period. Although it is
common that such treatments are applied as the preparation for In Vitro
Fertilization (IVF), these treatments can lead to successful natural
pregnancy alone. In some IVF failed cases, acupuncture still showed
extraordinary effects and succeeded in pregnancy.
Medical research on acupuncture for infertility
- Acupuncture is a holistic approach to medicine:
This means acupuncture treats illnesses by looking at many aspects of
an individual's life, and not only the illness in question. For
example, an acupuncture practitioner will likely ask you about your
environment, nutrition, emotional and psychological status, and medical
history before determining the most appropriate treatment.
- High success rate in some studies: Most
studies on acupuncture for infertility have been performed with groups
of women who are simultaneously undergoing In Vitro fertilization and
embryo transfer. This combination has shown to increase the success
rate for pregnancy, with up to 65% fertility rate compared with the
25-35% average success rate for patients who undergo In Vitro
fertilization without acupuncture.
- Main benefit relaxes uterine contractions: Studies
have shown that acupuncture doesn't seem to actually increase the
quality or quantity of eggs; rather, the therapy's primary advantage is
that it can relax uterus contractions, thereby increasing blood flow
and creating a more fertile environment.
- Reduces risk of miscarriage: Other
studies show that acupuncture may also reduce the risk of miscarriage
in women who undergo In Vitro with acupuncture by about half. A
possible reason for this benefit is that by increasing the absorption
of nutrients and hormones, acupuncture can help strengthen the lining
of the uterus. In addition, acupuncture can strengthen the immune
system, which also helps to prevent miscarriage.
- Side-effects: minimal.
Is acupuncture for infertility right for you?
- Have you been trying to become pregnant using Western medicine, and it still isn't working?
- Are you currently trying In Vitro fertilization and embryo transfer?
- Is the cause of your infertility problems functional?
If your answers are "yes" for above questions, it is very possible we can help you.
Other helpful tips for infertility
When trying acupuncture or any serious medical procedure try health and lifestyle changes that affect reproduction:
For example, decreasing your alcohol intake, eating organic as opposed
to processed foods, and taking vitamins may balance your hormones and
increase your fertility. Specific vitamins that you may be deficient
include Vitamin C (which keeps sperm from sticking together) and zinc
(increases sperm quality and motility). Also, try to lower stress
through lifestyle changes, relaxation techniques, exercise, or even
meditation.
Further reading follow the links
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/feb/08/health.healthandwellbeing
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1933901.stm
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