Chinese Medicine and Fertility
Your body and any symptoms you experience tell a story. In Chinese medicine, the energetic forces within the body are the key players in this story. The Chinese medical view of the menstrual cycle is complementary to the Western view. Two phases, Yin and Yang, correspond with the follicular and luteal phases. Just as you may have heard acupuncture described in terms of the movement of “Qi” energy, the Yin and Yang are also energetic in nature, meaning they can fall out of balance with one another (12). Acupuncture and other Chinese medicine techniques such as the use of herbs, work to rebalance or build certain energies that your symptoms may point to. We will not only work to resolve these imbalances, but will also look at what may have caused them in the first place, including stress levels, sleep habits, diet and environmental exposure to toxins.
Acupuncture and IVF
Infertility can be devastating to deal with, and deciding to engage in IVF is a significant commitment. We can help support you in this process. Numerous studies have produced clear support for the role acupuncture can play when dealing with infertility, often showing 60-80% increases in rates of pregnancy as compared to control (1, 3). Incorporating acupuncture treatments on the day of an embryo transfer, in addition to pre and post transfer, can increase your chances of success. Acupuncture can relax the uterus, increase blood flow to the reproductive system, stabilize hormones, reduce stress and promote calm, increase the uterine lining thickness, and improve egg quality (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). It has also been shown to improve sperm quality in men (8). Complementing acupuncture with Chinese herbal medicine and additional lifestyle interventions is proving to be an even stronger recipe for success (6).
