How can acupuncture support you with your fertility?

Fertility issues can be among the most challenging experiences for individuals and couples. Navigating the emotional, physical and often financial stress of trying to conceive can be overwhelming. You begin the journey with hope and excitement, often believing that getting pregnant will be easy—after all, many of us spend much of our lives trying to avoid it. When conception proves more difficult than anticipated, it can feel like falling into a rabbit hole of information, tests and conflicting opinions. To make matters more challenging, it often seems like everyone around you is getting pregnant effortlessly. This can leave you feeling uncertain about which direction to take.

In this context, I want to highlight how acupuncture can support you on this journey. Acupuncture is not only beneficial during the process of trying to conceive but also an excellent treatment to begin in preparation for pregnancy. If you are looking for acupuncture for fertility and IVF support in Blackheath, treatment can be tailored around where you are now, whether that means trying naturally, preparing for IVF, or navigating next steps.

The Modern Approach

While acupuncture has been practised for thousands of years, modern research is beginning to uncover how it may benefit fertility, including:

1. Regulating Hormones

Hormonal imbalances are a common cause of infertility. In Chinese medicine theory, acupuncture is understood to support the body’s hormonal systems, and many women find regular treatment helps them feel more in tune with their cycle. People may come for support with irregular cycles, ovulation and overall reproductive health (1,2).

2. Improving Blood Flow

Adequate blood flow to the reproductive organs is crucial for fertility. Improving circulation to the uterus is a real focus of acupuncture treatment for fertility, drawing on centuries of traditional practice and a growing body of early research. It’s one of the reasons many people find acupuncture a valuable part of their fertility journey (3).

3. Reducing Stress

The stress of dealing with infertility is common and understandable. Acupuncture is known for its calming effects, helping to reduce stress and anxiety. Lower stress levels can positively impact overall health, including hormonal health, as chronic stress can interfere with hormone production and ovulation (4).

4. Enhancing Sperm Quality

Unfortunetely fertility is often only spoken about in relation to women’s health but 30-40% of infertility cases are due to male factor. Some early studies have looked at acupuncture’s effect on sperm parameters, with encouraging findings (5,6).

5. Complementing Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)

If you have chosen to undergo treatments like in vitro fertilisation (IVF), acupuncture can be a supportive adjunct therapy. Many people choose to add acupuncture alongside IVF, and a number of clinics offer it as an additional support. Some research suggests that acupuncture before and after embryo transfer can improve implantation rates and overall success rates of ART. I’d always encourage you to discuss this with your fertility clinic as well. (7,8).

The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Approach

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views the body as an interconnected system where balance and harmony are key to health. The following reflects how fertility is traditionally understood within Chinese medicine:

1. Balancing Yin and Yang

According to TCM, fertility issues can arise from imbalances between Yin and Yang. Yin is associated with nourishment and growth, while Yang relates to activity and warmth. Acupuncture aims to restore this balance.

2. Strengthening the Kidney Energy

The Kidneys are considered the foundation of reproductive health in TCM. Strengthening Kidney Qi is crucial in both male and female fertility.

3. Regulating the Menstrual Cycle

A well-regulated menstrual cycle is essential for conception. Regular acupuncture sessions can help ensure the smooth flow of Qi and Blood, regulate menstrual cycles, and address issues such as irregular periods, heavy bleeding, amenorrhea (absence of menstruation), painful periods, PMOS and endometriosis.

4. Supporting the Spleen and Liver

The Spleen is responsible for digestion and nutrient absorption, which are vital for nourishing the reproductive organs. The Liver regulates the flow of Qi and blood. TCM treatments aim to strengthen the Spleen and ensure the Liver’s function is optimal to support a healthy reproductive system. Digestion, sleep and energy are the foundations of better health and will always be a key part of a treatment.

Personalising Your Acupuncture Treatment

Every individual’s fertility journey is unique, and acupuncture treatments are tailored to meet different needs. Here’s what you can typically expect:

1. Initial Consultation

I will conduct a thorough consultation, including your medical history, lifestyle, and fertility challenges. This helps in creating a personalised treatment plan and identifying any underlying imbalances.

2. Treatment Plan

Based on the initial assessment, I will determine the points to use during your sessions. These will vary each time, depending on where you are in your cycle and how you are feeling. Treatments often involve regular sessions, typically once a week, depending on your individual needs and the stage of your fertility journey.

3. Holistic Approach

In addition to acupuncture, I may recommend lifestyle changes, such as dietary adjustments, stress management techniques and supplements, to enhance your fertility naturally.

4. Referrals

You may or may not have already had tests and investigations. Either way, I’m happy to look through any test results with you and talk about what they might mean, alongside guidance from your GP or fertility specialist. Sometimes results can be ‘within range,’ which suggests the absence of illness but not always within the context of fertility. I can also guide you on other tests that could be done or specialists that I think could support you.

I offer free 20-minute discovery calls for you to ask any questions and understand whether I am the right acupuncturist for you.

Resources

1. Cochrane, S., Smith, C., Possamai-Inesedy, A., & Bensoussan, A. (2014). Acupuncture and women’s health: An overview of the role of acupuncture and its clinical management in Women’s Reproductive Health. International Journal of Women’s Health, 313. https://doi.org/10.2147/ijwh.s38969
2. Armour, M., Dahlen, H. G., Zhu, X., Farquhar, C., & Smith, C. A. (2017). The role of treatment timing and mode of stimulation in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea with acupuncture: An exploratory randomised controlled trial. PLOS ONE, 12(7), e0180177. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0180177
3. Choi, Y. J., Lee, H. K., & Kim, S. K. (2023). Doppler Ultrasound Investigation of Female Infertility. Obstetrics & Gynecology Science. https://doi.org/10.5468/ogs.22131
4. Acupuncture as a Therapeutic Treatment for Anxiety. (n.d.). Evidence Based Acupuncture. https://www.evidencebasedacupuncture.org/acupuncture-anxiety/
5. Feng, J., He, H., Wang, Y., Zhang, X., Zhang, X., Zhang, T., Zhu, M., Wu, X., & Zhang, Y. (2022). The efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of male infertility: A literature review. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2022.1009537
6. Sherman, S., Eltes, F., Wolfson, V., Zabludovsky, N., & Bartoov, B. (1997). Effect of Acupuncture on Sperm Parameters of Males Suffering from Subfertility Related to Low Sperm Quality. Archives of Andrology, 39(2), 155–161. https://doi.org/10.3109/01485019708987914
7. Dehghani AS, Homayouni K, Kanannejad Z, Kanannejad Z. The effect of acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer on the in vitro fertilization outcomes: An RCT. Int J Reprod Biomed. 2020 Mar 29;18(3):209-214. doi: 10.18502/ijrm.v18i3.6719. PMID: 32309770; PMCID: PMC7142313.
8. Guven, P. G., Cayir, Y., & Borekci, B. (2020). Effectiveness of acupuncture on pregnancy success rates for women undergoing in vitro fertilization: A randomized controlled trial. Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 59(2), 282–286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjog.2020.01.018