A diagnosis of infertility may have you going through a gauntlet of emotions. You may not know where to turn. Your journey may eventually lead you to a fertility specialist. Infertility is an emotional and traumatic experience. You are not alone on this path. 

Just because you are dealing with infertility doesn’t mean you won’t grow your family. There are many options and treatments available. While you are going through your infertility journey, you may try a variety of treatments, including acupuncture.

What is infertility?

Infertility is trying to conceive without success for 12 months or more. Infertility in women under the age of 35 is considered after 12 months and women aged 35 or older after six months of unsuccessful conception. In fact, 1 in 7 couples experience infertility, specifically 9% of men and 11% of women in the United States. Infertility can be a devastating diagnosis, but shouldn’t cause you to lose hope of one day growing your family. 

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a technique where certified practitioners insert fine needles into the skin at different points of the body to treat certain health conditions. In the United States, it is most frequently used for pain. Acupuncture can also be used to help treat infertility. It may help provide some benefits for those dealing with infertility. 

Does acupuncture work for infertility?

Acupuncture can be a proactive approach to fertility. With or without facing infertility, the decision to grow your family can be stressful. The good news is acupuncture can be considered a successful treatment for boosting fertility. It can improve sperm quality and ovarian function, and help balance the endocrine system and hormones.

How can acupuncture benefit people with infertility issues?

The body is affected by blood flow and hormones, including the reproductive systems. To help potentially boost fertility, the body’s whole health needs to be in balance. While some medical treatments include the stimulation of hormone production, acupuncture can work by naturally supporting systems. 

Acupuncture assists in having the body relax. This relaxing state helps lower cortisol and adrenaline, which in turn helps lower stress. It also helps increase blood flow and regulate sex hormones. 

Conditions affecting fertility that acupuncture can help treat

Acupuncture can help increase blood flow and reduce stress and anxiety. It can also help other conditions that can affect infertility:

• Endometriosis — Acupuncture can help relieve the pain experienced from endometriosis. It may also help prevent endometrial tissue growth.

• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) — Acupuncture can help regulate hormone levels, promote ovulation and lower insulin resistance, which can all be complications from PCOS. 

• Low sperm count — Acupuncture has been used to help treat elevated scrotal temperature, which can lead to a reduced sperm count. It can also help boost sperm structure and motility. 

• Thyroid conditions — Thyroid conditions such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can affect fertility. Acupuncture has been used to treat thyroid conditions. It can help balance hormones by increasing levels for hypothyroidism or lowering levels for hyperthyroidism.

• Stress levels — Stress can have a physical impact on the body. The pituitary gland controls several hormones. Some of the hormones tell eggs when to grow and ovulate.

Acupuncture may also help with other conditions of infertility such as repeated pregnancy loss, luteal phase defects and fibroids. If the woman uses medical methods such as contraceptives for controlling her menstrual cycle and cycle pain, acupuncture may also help those issues when use of medications is ceased for attempting conception. 

When to try acupuncture for infertility

You can have a proactive approach on your infertility journey and try acupuncture before seeking out a fertility specialist. You may be able to conceive without any further interventions. You should still give any acupuncture treatments time so your body can adjust to them. 

When you begin your acupuncture treatments, you should plan on attending a 30-minute to one-hour session to start. After the first session, you may have further sessions one to three times a week with needles inserted for 20 to 40 minutes at a time.

If using acupuncture in conjunction with other interventions, you should plan on beginning acupuncture at least three months before your planned intervention. These interventions include in vitro fertilization (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI) or donor egg transfers.

Continuing acupuncture after successful conception typically has minimal risks. However, there is a small risk of miscarriage if acupuncture is done improperly or used in the abdominopelvic area. 

When is it time to see an infertility specialist?

Acupuncture can be used before or after seeking the help of a fertility specialist. If you have been trying to conceive and are still unsuccessful, it may be time to see a specialist. It is beneficial if both partners see the infertility specialist. Male infertility leads to difficulty getting pregnant in about 30% of couples. Ovulatory defects in women cause approximately 40% of infertility issues of couples. 

A fertility specialist can help determine the cause of your infertility and create the path that can help you start your family. 

Fertility Cloud is ready to help you in your conception journey

An infertility diagnosis doesn’t have to be a dead end, only a roadblock on your conception journey. Our team at Fertility Cloud has firsthand experience with the stress and uncertainty of dealing with infertility. 

Fertility Cloud offers innovative telehealth care supported by our team of reproductive specialists. Our at-home care offers, on your schedule, video appointments and home testing abilities. 

Our goal is to help you achieve your dream of growing your family and to provide you with the individualized care you deserve.

Contact our team by phone today for more information or book an initial appointment online with a fertility specialist.