Answering FAQs on Fertility Treatments
How can acupuncture help in treating infertility? First, acupuncture enhances endocrine function. It helps the body become more sensitive to its own hormone secretions. Second, it helps reduce inflammatory activities and promotes self-healing.
Third, acupuncture also helps improve and increase blood flow in targeted organs such as, the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes. Subsequently, this helps with nutrient uptake of the ovaries so that they produce better quality eggs. Enhanced blood flow also helps thicken and strengthen the uterine lining, which results in improved uterine receptivity of an embryo. Acupuncture treatment also releases endorphins and serotonin. This helps make the body relax, which, in turn, will help a woman get pregnant easier since stress is one of the major factors in infertility.
How many acupuncture sessions will I need?
On average, it usually takes a minimum of three months of weekly treatments.
Can I take herbal supplements and Western fertility drugs together?
Yes, as long as we know which drugs a patient is taking so that an appropriate and safe formula is prepared.
Do I have to take herbs?
In addition to prenatal vitamins, we recommend taking customized Chinese herbs because they contain specific nutrients that help improve egg quality and strengthen uterine lining.
Can you help treat male infertility?
We use acupuncture and Chinese herbs to help improve sperm motility, count, and morphology. Sperm analysis helps monitor and validate our progress.
Can acupuncture help treat infertility if I am over 40?
Many of our patients are in the over-40 category. Acupuncture appears to improve their chances of success in terms of increasing implantation rate, improving egg quality, reducing stress, and enhancing the uterine lining.
How soon should I come in before my IVF or IUI procedure?
Anytime is a good time to start. However, if you have a set start date for your IVF or IUI procedure, you should begin acupuncture treatment one month before your procedure.