Treating infertility with acupuncture

Over the past 20 years, there has been a great deal of progress in treating infertility in the Western world, but it is only in recent years that more attention has been paid to alternative treatment methods such as acupuncture.

For thousands of years, acupuncture has been used as an important element in Chinese treatment of infertility, and it is because of this knowledge that acupuncture is being increasingly used today as a supplement to established infertility treatment, IVF treatment and IUI treatment.

This is based on Swedish and German studies which both demonstrate that acupuncture has a physiological effect and suggest that acupuncture can increase the success rate of IVF. The figures from a German trial show an increase from 26.3% to 42.5% in the number of registered pregnancies when IVF treatment is supplemented with acupuncture. These figures were later confirmed in Denmark.

Acupuncture can optimise fertility treatment by:

• Increasing blood circulation in the uterus and improving the condition of the uterus lining so that the egg can attach itself more firmly

• Reducing the side effects of hormonal intake (such as headaches, feeling unwell, etc.)

• Balancing the body and relaxing the uterus

• Strengthening the immune system

• De-stressing the body