Written by: Amanda Csolak
Learn how you can increase the chance you’ll get pregnant and finally have that baby you always wanted.
According to the NCHS (National Center for Health Statistics), approximately 13.1% of women in the United States alone experience fertility problems while trying to conceive. The idea that the female often causes the fertility issues is a common misconception. In fact, in 30% of infertility cases across the United States, it's the male who is the one dealing with fertility issues, not the female.
Here we will dive into the most common reasons why some couples deal with infertility, and we will discuss why acupuncture for fertility has been proven to be an effective and completely safe modality that has helped many couples increase their chances of having a baby.
Common Causes of Infertility: Understanding the Primary Factors
Surprisingly, one out of every six couples reportedly struggles to get pregnant naturally, and this has been shown to be attributed to many various factors, including:
Hormonal disorders - These may include an irregular cycle, PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), loss of periods, diabetes, endometriosis, and hypo or hyperthyroidism.
Ovulatory complications - Problems with the ovaries, such as cysts on the ovaries or premature ovarian failure (this is when the ovaries stop working before forty years of age).
Sperm anomalies - Several issues can arise with the male’s sperm. They include a low sperm count, problems with motility (their ability to move properly), and morphology (their shape, which helps with their motility).
Damage to the uterus or the fallopian tubes - any damage to these organs, whether congenital or resulting from serious injury, may prevent fertilization and the implantation of an embryo.
Immunological issues - Sometimes, there are immunological problems that inhibit fertility. These include autoimmune disorders, which means the immune system attacks its own body’s cells, and sperm antibodies, which is when the woman’s immune system develops antibodies that attack and kill any sperm cells that enter her body. The last immunological problem known to prevent successful fertilization is tissue type compatibility. This is when the female's immune system responds negatively to the male’s tissues.
Lifestyle and dietary factors - There are many factors involving our diet and lifestyle that can impact fertility, including:
Chronic stress
Insomnia or general poor or lack of sleep
Obesity
Caffeine consumption
Smoking cigarettes, drugs/ certain medications, and excessive alcohol consumption
A diet high in refined sugar or junk and fast food.
Lack of physical exercise
Toxicity and exposure to radiation, chemicals, or heavy metals.
How Acupuncture Helps With Fertility
Considered painless by most, acupuncture is an ancient practice that is a safe and effective modality involving the work of a licensed practitioner who carefully inserts small, thin needles into very specific areas called acupuncture points. These acupuncture points are located all over the body and correspond with various organs within the body. The application of acupuncture needles helps to stimulate the thousands of nerve endings located just below the surface of the skin and by manipulating these needles in such a specific way that elicits a positive response from the body and the targeted organs during the acupuncture session.
For the purpose of increasing fertility, the Acupuncturist stimulates the acupuncture points associated with both the nervous system and the reproductive organs.
Studies show that fertility acupuncture improves blood flow to the female’s ovaries by inhibiting the sympathetic nervous system, which can be triggered by stress. When our bodies are stressed, the sympathetic nervous system is activated. The SNS (or flight or fight response) which can disrupt the main endocrine glands, the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, which are associated with our reproductive health. Stress has even been shown to cause your ovarian arteries to constrict, which reduces the supply of blood to the ovaries.
Acupuncture has been shown to increase the thickness of the endometrial lining by bringing more blood flow to the female reproductive organs. The endometrial lining, which lines the uterus, assists with successful implantation.
The Benefits of Fertility Acupuncture
Acupuncture for fertility can assist with the following:
Balancing hormone levels - acupuncture can help balance both female and male hormone levels, allowing the body to produce the reproductive hormones necessary for conception.
Enhancing blood flow to the ovaries and uterus - acupuncture therapy has been shown to bring more blood to the reproductive organs when targeted. This can improve the chances of successful implantation.
Regulating the menstrual cycle of a female - by enhancing communication between the ovaries and the brain, acupuncture helps promote the normal production of hormones.
Optimizing the health of sperm - acupuncture helps keep the male’s sperm healthy by increasing overall sperm count and improving motility.
Promoting relaxation and reducing stress and anxiety - For couples trying to conceive, stress can impact their ability to conceive naturally. The fact is when we are stressed; our bodies produce cortisol and adrenaline, hormones that are known to negatively impact the body’s reproductive hormones.
What Is The Recommended Number of Acupuncture Sessions for Improving Fertility?
As we have previously discussed, using acupuncture to boost your fertility can be highly beneficial and lead to you having the baby you always wanted. But just how many acupuncture sessions do you need? That depends on several factors, including your medical history, personal constitution, your individual needs, and how you respond to the treatment. For most, ten to twelve sessions are recommended, but some require more. Your acupuncturist will be able to determine how many sessions could be required once they have assessed your overall health history and needs during your first session.
Give Your Fertility a Boost with Acupuncture
Complications in fertility can surface due to numerous factors in both females and males. Issues ranging from irregular menstrual cycles and poor-quality sperm to lifestyle and dietary issues, like stress or a poor diet, play an important role in fertility. Fertility Acupuncture is shown to be effective in reducing anxiety and stress, bringing more blood flow to the reproductive organs, and even balancing the body’s hormone levels.
Dr. Krystal Kinnunen, DAOM, L. AC, is certified through the National Certification Commission For Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) in Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, and Traditional Oriental Medicine. She has been practicing acupuncture for 12 years, and in addition to infertility, she treats various other issues, including maternity and postpartum care, chronic pain, mental health, digestive health, and women’s health.
Call (or text) 828-739-0345 to contact us today to schedule your acupuncture appointment and get started on your path to wellness and fertility. You can also book an appointment directly or use the contact form to reach us.
