Dr. Amanda Capasso, ND – Women's Health and Hormones

By: Amanda Capasso  |  April 2, 2018  | Hormones, Acupuncture, Reproductive Health

Approximately 1 in 6 couples in Canada experience infertility at some point in their reproductive lives and the number is increasing. Acupuncture is a relatively safe and non-invasive way to improve your fertility outcomes. An irregular menstrual cycle is a common reason why a woman may run into trouble conceiving because she is not ovulating consistently. Your menstrual cycle is considered to be irregular if it is shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days. Acupuncture is a great tool naturopaths use to regulate a female’s menstrual cycle. Treatments occur weekly and while improvements may be seen after one cycle, weekly acupuncture throughout three menstrual cycles is recommended for optimal results.

Acupuncture is also an excellent option for couples looking to increase their chances of achieving pregnancy while undergoing treatments at a fertility clinic like in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI). Studies show that acupuncture can double your chances of becoming pregnant when used concurrently with IVF by increasing blood flow to the uterus and promoting implantation¹. It doesn’t interact with any pharmaceutical hormones your fertility clinic may have you on making it an ideal form of adjunctive care. For optimal results, it is suggested you come in before and after (within 24 hours) an embryo transfer. If you have any questions or concerns regarding acupuncture book an appointment with a naturopath to learn your options.

References

1) Dieterle S, Ying G, Hatzmann W, Neuer A. Effect of acupuncture on the outcome of in vitro fertilization and incracytoplasmic sperm injection: a randomized, prospective, controlled clinical study. Fertility and Sterility. 2006 May 5; 85(5): 1347-1351.