Acupuncture for Fertility Issues

If you are trying to conceive, pregnancy doesn’t always happen right away. There are many factors that affect fertility, from the amount of stress in your life to the regularity of your menstrual periods. It’s not unusual for it to take several months to conceive once you start trying. If you are unable to conceive after one year, however, you might have a fertility problem that needs to be addressed by a professional. Acupuncture for fertility is a valuable treatment option.

Fallopian Tube Damage

The fallopian tubes carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. If one of these tubes is damaged or blocked, it can interfere with the release off eggs, making it harder to conceive a child. Blockages are caused by infections, scarring, and damage from endometriosis.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome makes it difficult to conceive because it results in a hormonal imbalance in your body. Many women with this condition grow tiny cysts on their ovaries, triggering acne, thinning hair on the head, weight gain, unwanted hair growth, menstrual irregularities, and depression.

Menstrual Irregularities

If you do not ovulate regularly, there will be fewer opportunities for you to conceive. Menstrual irregularities have many different causes, including the following:

  • Eating disorders
  • Ovarian tumors
  • Benign pituitary tumors
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome
  • Certain medications
  • Cushing syndrome
  • Endometriosis

Poor Egg Quality

If you have a good supply of high-quality eggs, you have a better chance of conceiving. High-quality eggs are capable of responding to the hormones responsible for ovulation, becoming fertilized, and dividing into an embryo. If you do not have enough of these eggs, you have an increased chance of fertility problems. Egg quality declines as you age, so keep this in mind when you are trying to decide the best time to conceive.

Infertility in Men

If you have trouble getting pregnant even though you have plenty of eggs and no problems ovulating, your partner might have fertility issues. The sperm must be healthy enough to travel to the egg and fertilize it, but some men have misshapen sperm that are unable to reach an egg in time to fertilize it. A man with low motility has sperm that are unable to swim to the egg. Some men also have very little sperm or no sperm at all. Smoking, drug use, heavy alcohol use, and the use of certain medications increase the risk for fertility problems in men. Physical problems, such as blockages in the ejaculatory duct, also make it harder for healthy sperm to reach a woman’s eggs.

Acupuncture and Herbal Medicines

Acupuncture is a complementary treatment, which means it is used in addition to Western treatment techniques. Experts from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine say acupuncture increases conception rates by 26 percent when used in combination with traditional Western treatments. Acupuncture helps with fertility by relieving stress, improving circulation to the reproductive system, and easing problems with the endocrine system.

Improve Your Chances of Conceiving

If you would like to improve your chances of conceiving, talk to one of our experienced practitioners about using acupuncture and other alternative treatments to relieve stress and make it easier to conceive a child.