Can acupuncture increase your chances of getting pregnant? In a word, yes! To be more accurate, acupuncture may not be able to cure your infertility problems, but it can reduce the stress associated with infertility, increase blood flow and sperm production, and even prime the body so that more traditional infertility treatments have a better chance at success.
The Chinese practice of acupuncture has been around for more than 3,000 years. It involves a practitioner placing very thin needles into specific areas of the body. Most of the time the needles don’t cause any discomfort.
How does acupuncture help infertility?
- Acupuncture reduces stress. Stress exacerbates infertility problems. Acupuncture has a unique way of bringing stress levels down for improved health and well-being.
- Acupuncture increases blood flow. Improved blood flow can help thicken the uterine lining, increasing the chances of successful implantation.
- Acupuncture releases healthy hormones. These include hormones related to reproduction, ovary stimulation and sperm production.
- Acupuncture seems to be particularly effective in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and during IVF fertilization.
In fact, two studies (one in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation and another in Acupuncture in Medicine) reported a benefit when acupuncture was used on the day of embryo transfer. The Journal of Endocrinological Investigation study also found that acupuncture benefitted women with PCOS and those with no known cause of infertility.
