- 03
- Apr
- 2018
Acupuncture For Infertility
Infertility is a common problem affecting many Americans, often with devastating emotional consequences for those affected. Infertility is defined as not being able to get pregnant after one year of trying, or after six months if the woman is over 35 years old. Women who get pregnant but cannot stay pregnant are also considered infertile. About 10 percent of women (6.1 million) in the United States ages 15-44 have difficulty getting pregnant or staying pregnant, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Why is it so difficult for some people to get pregnant? Pregnancy results from a process that has many steps. To get pregnant:
- A woman’s body must release an egg from one of her ovaries (ovulation).
- The egg must go through a fallopian tube toward the uterus (womb).
- A man’s sperm must join with (fertilize) the egg along the way.
- The fertilized egg must attach to the inside of the uterus (implantation).
Infertility can happen if there are problems with any of these steps.
Women are not the only ones who can be infertile. Only one-third of infertility cases are female related. One-third of cases are linked to the man. The rest of the cases are linked to some mixture of both the man and woman, or are unknown.
What can make a man infertile? Sperm fertility can be lowered by overall health and lifestyle factors. Factors that can reduce the health or number of sperm include:
- Heavy alcohol use
- Drugs
- Smoking
- Age
- Environmental toxins, such as pesticides and lead
- Illnesses like mumps, medical conditions like kidney disease, or hormone issues
- Medicines
- Cancer treatment (chemotherapy, radiation)
Factors that can impair a woman’s ability to have a baby include:
- Age
- Smoking
- Heavy alcohol use
- Stress
- Poor diet
- Athletic training
- Being overweight or underweight
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Medical conditions that cause hormonal changes, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome and primary ovarian insufficiency.
Many female infertility cases are due to ovulation disorders. Without ovulation, there are no eggs to fertilize. Some signs of ovulation issues can include irregular or absent menstrual periods, but these disorders are not always obvious.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common cause of female infertility. PCOS is an imbalance of reproductive hormones metabolism. The good news is that PCOS is usually treatable naturally through diet, nutritional supplements and acupuncture. Treating PCOS not only enhances fertility, it also improves a woman’s overall health.
At the Acupuncture & Holistic Health Center, we use state-of-the-art salivary lab testing to evaluate hormone balance and ovulation. Our Male and expanded Female Hormone Panel take-home kits detect possible hormonal imbalances. We provide several natural supplements and herbal therapies to balance hormones and enhance fertility.
There is a growing awareness among couples about the benefits of acupuncture for fertility. Research proves that acupuncture promotes fertility, and successful couples are sharing how acupuncture helped them to get pregnant. At the Acupuncture & Holistic Health Center, we combine acupuncture treatment with natural supplements, which has helped most of our infertile couples achieve and maintain pregnancy naturally. We also use acupuncture to complement assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). Acupuncture before and after IVF transfer has been shown in scientific studies to double the success rate of IVF.
Our acupuncture-assisted IVF success rates are much higher than the national average. This is because we integrate best practices in modern acupuncture fertility treatment with traditional acupuncture methods that balance the whole person and restore overall health. Our gentle Five Element Acupuncture style treats the unique root cause of each person’s energy imbalance, which helps reduce the anxiety and stress associated with infertility. Being more relaxed and less stressed enhances fertility and makes the treatment process much easier.
We love helping our infertile patients realize their dreams of parenthood! To schedule a fertility consultation, or if you have any questions, please call us at the Acupuncture & Holistic Health Center (904) 296-9545. We are here for you. And remember, refer us to a friend.