Acupuncture for Fertility
Introduction:
Acupuncture has long been known to be beneficial for fertility. It is beneficial for natural conception and for all types of assisted reproduction(IVF, IUI, egg freezing etc.). This article will explain the benefits of acupuncture treatment when trying to conceive, some health conditions affecting fertility, and how acupuncture can help. This article will also cover optimum nutrition for fertility, an explanation of BBT(basal body temperature) charting and the benefits of using this method, acupuncture treatment and IVF, the importance of the male factor in fertility, and planning to utilise acupuncture to increase your fertility.
7 benefits of acupuncture treatment for fertility
- Acupuncture improves fertility by regulating reproductive hormones
- Acupuncture improves the menstrual cycle
- Acupuncture increases blood flow to the ovaries
- Acupuncture increases the number of good quality eggs
- Acupuncture optimises the uterine environment
- Acupuncture reduces stress and anxiety
- Acupuncture increases sperm quality and quantity
PCOS and fertility
PCOS is a complex endocrine and metabolic condition that affects fertility. The clinical features of PCOS can include irregular or no ovulation, irregular or no periods, acne, hirsutism(excess hair on face and body), insulin resistance, being a higher weight, hyperpigmentation of skin(this can be on underarms, under breasts, or in the groin area), and thinning hair on head. PCOS is diagnosed via blood tests and an ultrasound scan. Acupuncture treatment can help restore ovulation in people with PCOS.(1)
Read more HERE https://acuglowacupuncture.com/pcos/
on PCOS and how this condition can be managed.
Endometriosis and fertility
Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to endometrial tissue is found in other parts of the body, this condition can affect fertility. This tissue can appear anywhere in the body but it is more commonly found in the pelvic region. Endometriosis can cause severe pain but may also be present without the presence of pain. Symptoms of endometriosis include: very painful periods, very heavy periods, pelvic pain, pain during sex, bloating, digestive issues, painful urination, pain on defecation, infertility, and fatigue. Current literature suggests that acupuncture reduces pain and serum CA-125 levels,(2), and should be considered as part of an overall treatment plan in managing the condition.
Fertility Tests
Initial fertility tests should include the following: Hormone panel: FSH, LH, oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone, prolactin. Vitamins and minerals: iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D. A full thyroid panel and vaginal microbiome test are also recommended. A transvaginal scan will check the ovaries and uterus.
Fallopian tube patency and fertility
The patency of the fallopian tubes refers to the openness and absence of blockage of the tubes. If the fallopian tubes are patent(open), an ovulated egg can be fertilised within one of the tubes and it can travel from there to the uterus and implant. Impaired tubal patency accounts for up to 35% of cases of subfertility and infertility.(3) Treatment options will depend on the nature of the blockages; they may include surgery or IVF.
Weight and fertility
Being underweight is associated with an increased risk of anovulatory infertility. Chronic energy deficiency, usually caused by reduced food intake, strenuous exercise and/or stress, can disturb the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis resulting in hypothalamic anovulation mainly due to lack of sufficient leptin levels which serves as a signal of energy stores in adipose tissue(4).
While previous advice to people of higher weight trying to become pregnant was to lose weight, the researchers in a study published in 2022 noted that there was a lack of evidence to support this advice. From the study: ‘Our study supports other studies that have found no improved live birth or healthy live birth rates in women who were obese or overweight who participated in a preconception weight loss intervention prior to starting infertility therapy.
Further research will be needed to investigate potential harms and benefits of weight loss interventions that did not reach statistical significance in the present trial. There is not strong evidence to recommend weight loss prior to conception in women who are obese with unexplained infertility.’(5)
Nutrition for fertility
For optimum fertility, both partners need to nourish themselves well. This means eating in a balanced way, and eating the appropriate amount of protein, fats and carbohydrates for their needs. Food choices should also focus on obtaining sufficient vitamins and minerals. The optimum diet is as varied as possible and doesn’t exclude important food groups.
Important nutrients for fertility include: omega 3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin D, selenium, and folate.
BBT Charting
What is BBT charting?
BBT – basal body temperature – charting is the charting of the temperature from Day 1 of the menstrual cycle to the end of the cycle. It provides information about the menstrual cycle. The basal body temperature is the lowest temperature of the body in the day, which is early in the morning, before getting up out of bed.
The benefits of BBT charting
BBT charting gives you lots of information about your menstrual cycle including whether the cycle is ovulatory, the fertile window, if the cycle needs improvement, and if hormones need to be regulated. Having BBT charts prior to starting acupuncture treatment also allows us to see the improvements we are making to the cycle with the acupuncture treatments. Once the fertile window is established, it allows for timing of intercourse to maximise the chances of conception.
How to do BBT charting
To do BBT charting you will need: a digital thermometer that records temperature to two decimal places and graph paper.
Starting on day 1 of the menstrual cycle(the first full day of bleeding), take the temperature upon waking, around the same time each day if possible.
There will be a temperature shift after ovulation of at least 0.3 degrees celsius and there will also need to be 3 days of uninterrupted high temperature directly following 6 days of uninterrupted lower temperature. This will confirm that ovulation has occurred. The ovulation window is most likely between 2 days before the temperature shift and the day of the shift. More information about the cycle and likely ovulation time can be gathered by checking for clear, sticky cervical mucus and for cervical changes.
Acupuncture and IVF
IVF – in vitro fertilisation, is increasingly becoming an option for those who have not been able to conceive naturally. IVF involves a complex sequence of procedures.
IVF success rates are improved when patients undergo a course of acupuncture treatments before and during the course of IVF treatment.(6)
Another study reported that the number of retrieved oocytes, number of fertilisation and number of high quality embryos were all increased in the acupuncture group. Also, the implantation rate and the clinical pregnancy rate were improved, and cycle cancellation rate was reduced.(7)
The male factor in fertility
When a couple is trying to conceive, the male factor should always be investigated. 40-50% of infertility is caused by male factor infertility.(8) Semen parameters that are checked include pH, volume, concentration, total count, forward progressive, normal forms and vitality. Other tests recommended are oxidative stress and DNA fragmentation. A physical check for varicocele is also advised. Some of the key terms related to male sub-fertility include: oligozoospermia(low sperm concentration), asthenozoospermia(reduced sperm motility), teratozoospermia(reduced level of normally shaped sperm), and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia(reduced concentration, motility and normally shaped sperm). Acupuncture has been shown to improve sperm count and motility(9) and percentage of normal form sperm.(10) See also this case report of a man with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia who was successfully treated with acupuncture.(11)
Managing stress and supporting your mental health when trying to conceive
The fertility journey can be a challenging time for individuals and for couples. It can take a long time to become pregnant and there can be pregnancy losses and other health issues. Ways to manage stress include planning ahead and not taking on too much. For supporting your mental health, acupuncture, meditation, mindfulness, fertility counselling and getting enough sleep are all helpful.
Your acupuncture treatment plan for fertility
Regular acupuncture treatments for 3 months is the recommended treatment plan for people trying to conceive. Some individuals may require less time than this, and in more complex cases, they may require more time. Both partners can be treated for optimum results. A plan for optimising fertility will consider nutrition, lifestyle and overall health. To find out more, reach out to book a consultation today.
Helpful Resources:
The Irish Fertility Counsellors Association https://fertilitycounsellors.ie/
Podcasts:
Don’t tell me to RELAX – The Fertility Podcast – Hannah Pearn
Conscious Fertility – Lorne Brown
(1) Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Effect and Mechanisms of Acupuncture for Ovulation Induction https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2013/762615/
(2) Effects of acupuncture for the treatment of endometriosis-related pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0186616
(3) Evaluating Fallopian Tube Patency: What the Radiologist Needs to Know
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34597232/
(4) The effect of underweight on female and male reproduction:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0026049520300937
(5) Effects of preconception lifestyle intervention in infertile women with obesity: The FIT-PLESE randomised controlled trial. PLoS Med 19(1): e1003883. https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1003883
(6) Effects of acupuncture on pregnancy rates in women undergoing in vitro fertilisation: a systematic review and meta-analysis https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0015028211028597
(7) Effects of “menstrual cycle-based acupuncture therapy” on IVF-ET in patients with decline in ovarian reserve https://europepmc.org/article/med/26946729
(8) Trends of male factor infertility, an important cause of infertility: A review of literature https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4691969/
(9) Effects and mechanism of action of transcutaneous electrical acupuncture point stimulation in patients with abnormal semen parameters https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1136/acupmed-2017-011365
(10) Effects of acupuncture and moxa treatment in patients with semen abnormalities https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=6bcbf97d1a8c18ef2545ad55d22a03ae661bba71
(11) Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia treatment with acupuncture (case report) https://core.ac.uk/reader/35343430
