Can Acupuncture Treat Infertility?
Acupuncture is also one of the most popular alternative treatments used to help women conceive. Many women experiencing infertility opt to use acupuncture, either alone or in combination with IVF, in order to increase their reproductive health.
Men, too, seek out acupuncture treatments for help with their own fertility problems, including erectile dysfunction and poor sperm counts. And though it may surprise you, a number of studies have shown that acupuncture appears to be quite affective when it comes to promoting conception.
Study: Over 50% of Women Became Pregnant
A study presented in 2004 by the Reproductive Medicine and Fertility Center in Colorado, examined the effectiveness of acupuncture in combination with IVF treatments. The study involved 114 women, all of whom would be undergoing IVF treatments at a fertility clinic. Half of these 114 women received acupuncture treatments prior to and just after their IVF treatment. The remaining women received no acupuncture.
More than 51% of those women who did receive acupuncture became pregnant after IVF, compared to only 36% of the control group. Additionally, the control had higher rates of miscarriage and stillbirth (20%) than those who received acupuncture (8%).
Acupuncture Helps Men Too
Another study conducted in 2005 at Shanghai University in China also concluded that acupuncture appeared to work well when it comes to treating male fertility problems. 40 men experiencing unexplained sperm problems were analyzed. 28 of these men received acupuncture, twice a week for five weeks. After the treatments were completed, semen samples were collected from the men and their sperm were analyzed for count and motility.
Those men who had acupuncture performed had an increase in their percentage of sperm in their semen. They also had better sperm structure and morphology than their non-acupunctured counterparts.
Why Turn To Acupuncture for Infertility?
Many couples experiencing infertility opt for acupuncture for several reasons.
1. First and foremost, acupuncture is one of the only natural treatments that has been proven effective against infertility in clinical studies, which is why many mind/body courses include infertility in their workshops.
2. Acupuncture is much more affordable than traditional fertility treatments. As IUI and IVF prices become increasingly out of hand for most couples, many are now seeking alternative options, like acupuncture.
Depending upon the number of sessions you require, acupuncture can cost as little as $300 for a series of sessions.
| Table of Contents |
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| 1. Acupuncture |
| 2. Pass the needles: acupuncture works! |
| 3. How to find an acupuncturist |
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