Becoming a mother is a rite of passage for women. While creating, carrying, and birthing babies are what women were designed to do, unfortunately, for many, getting pregnant is no easy task. Sadly, infertility is commonplace these days. If you want to become a mom and you’ve tried everything you can think of to increase your chances, from tracking your ovulation schedule to fertility treatment and changing your diet, you’re still struggling with infertility, no matter the cause, the stress can further complicate your chances of conceiving. Don’t give up hope just yet because there’s something that just may be able to help in conjunction with fertility treatment: acupuncture.

Can Acupuncture Enhance Fertility Treatment Outcomes?

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient form of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that’s been used for more than 3,000 years. Acupuncture treatment involves placing very fine needles into strategic points across the body, which is said to balance your life force or flow of energy, called “Qi “(pronounced “chi” in English) throughout pathways (or meridians) within the body. When Qi is balanced, it is believed that your health and overall well-being are restored.

How Acupuncture Helps Fertility

There are several reasons why it is believed that acupuncture can increase fertility. Some of the most notable reasons include:

Reduced stress

Stress impacts the body in a number of ways, and not just mentally; it takes a serious toll on your physical health, as well. It’s a known fact that heightened stress can inhibit a woman’s ability to conceive. When you’re struggling with infertility, stress levels will only increase, which can further reduce your chances of getting pregnant.

Acupuncture is said to increase endorphins, the neurotransmitters that promote relaxation, which in turn, promotes relaxation. Lower stress can increase your chances of conceiving.

Improved blood flow

Acupuncture may be able to improve blood flow to a woman’s reproductive organs; specifically, the uterus. It’s believed that increased blood flow to the uterus thickens the uterine lining, which can increase the chances that a fertilized egg will become implanted, resulting in a positive pregnancy.

Enhanced hormone levels

It’s also believed that acupuncture can regulate a woman’s hormone levels. Clearly, hormones play a key role in a woman’s ability to conceive, so it stands to reason that dysregulated hormone levels will negatively impact the ability to become pregnant.

When female hormones are regulated, the key parts of the reproductive system, such as the ovaries, can be stimulated. This stimulation may help aid in the release of an egg that can then become fertilized, implant into the uterine wall, and result in a successful pregnancy.

Does acupuncture enhance fertility treatment?

So, does acupuncture increase fertility outcomes? While the results aren’t conclusive, there is ample evidence that does show acupuncture can improve a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant. While there is no guarantee of success with any type of fertility treatment, if you are struggling with getting pregnant, acupuncture may be an option worth considering.

Additional Information: Effects of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilisation: systematic review and meta-analysis

Southlake Natural Family Wellness

Our mission is to support the health and well-being of our patients by offering individualized, comprehensive holistic care including acupuncture, herbal recommendations, customized nutritional counseling, allergy elimination (NAET), whole food supplements, lifestyle suggestions, moxibustion, and cupping, as well as helping couples get pregnant and STAY pregnant by supporting all the paths to conception.

About Farrah Hamraie

Farrah Hamraie, L.Ac, MOM, Dipl.OM (NCCAOM), is licensed and board-certified in Acupuncture and Herbal medicine in the State of Texas with a Masters of Oriental Medicine from the Dallas College of Oriental Medicine. She is also a Diplomat of NCCAOM (the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine), a Board Certified Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist, and a member of the American Association of Oriental Medicine.