Acupuncture for pregnancy: what you need to know
Is Acupuncture Effective for Getting Pregnant?
Some decide to treat their infertility problems with conventional and unconventional therapies like acupuncture.
Infertility is defined by medical authorities as not being able to conceive after a year of unprotected sex. Infertility can also affect women who are unable to maintain their pregnancy. Roughly 12 percent of women between the ages of 15 and 44 experience infertility, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Both a male and a female factor may be involved in 35 percent of couples who are having fertility problems. About 8% of cases of infertility in couples who are actively attempting to conceive are diagnosed by doctors as being solely due to male causes.
Some people utilise acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medicine, to treat a range of ailments. Acupuncturists use extremely thin, tiny needles inserted into predetermined body sites to increase blood flow to those areas.
Acupuncture supporters claim that when used as a treatment for infertility, it can assist by:
• increasing the blood supply to the reproductive system
• regulating hormones
• reducing tension
Does the use of acupuncture enhance fertility?
The benefits of acupuncture for fertility have not been demonstrated by research.
As of right now, there is insufficient data to say whether or not acupuncture increases fertility.
According to research from 2017, acupuncture treatment for infertility in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome was not supported by sufficient evidence. A 2016 analysis discovered that when researchers examined the use of acupuncture for male infertility issues, they either conducted trials with inadequate design or reached no firm results.
A 2018 study evaluated the impact of acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture on live births among women undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF).
Acupuncture treatments were administered to half of the patients throughout IVF, beginning on days 6 and 8 of follicular stimulation. Acupuncturists used noninvasive needles, positioned away from the trigger points, to treat the other half.
18.3% of the women who received acupuncture gave birth live, compared to 17.8% of the women in the sham control group.
The researchers came to the conclusion that there was little to no difference and that live birth rates are unaffected by acupuncture during follicle stimulation and embryo transfer. This study, which involved more than 800 women, disproves the notion that acupuncture can be used as an adjunctive treatment for infertility.
Security
Acupuncture is safe when performed by qualified practitioners with sterile, appropriate equipment, according to the National Centre for Complementary and Integrative Health.
Acupuncture needles are classified as medical devices by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States. According to these rules, the needles must be labelled for single use, nontoxic, and sterile.
When thinking about getting acupuncture, a prospective patient should find a licenced and properly trained practitioner. State-by-state differences may exist in licencing requirements.
Is it safe to have acupuncture while attempting to conceive?
To put it succinctly, sure. Considered to be extremely safe, acupuncture is a common, widely used, and ancient method that can be used in conjunction with almost any conventional therapy.
Acupuncture is used in traditional Chinese medicine to help balance qi, or "chi," an energy force that is said to move via meridians, or channels in the body. To stimulate your body's healing process, your acupuncturist will insert tiny, sterile steel needles into several "acupoints" on your skin. These acupoints, which target your reproductive organs, are frequently found in your belly when acupuncture is used for fertility.
According to some researchers, acupuncture may have the following advantages for fertility:
• Regulating your menstrual cycle.
• increasing the motility and count of sperm.
• Increasing blood flow to your reproductive organs.
• lowering anxiety and tension.
Consult your health care physician, an obstetrician/ gynaecologist, or a reproductive endocrinologist/ fertility specialist if you're interested in trying acupuncture.
Is acupuncture a good option for fertility?
When attempting to conceive, acupuncture has one important advantage: stress reduction. Stress has been demonstrated to be effectively relieved by acupuncture, and those who are infertile may be under a lot of stress.
In fact, according to one study, women and those who were born with a female gender assignment who are diagnosed with infertility experience stress levels comparable to those who are diagnosed with breast cancer.
According to them, it is difficult to bear the emotional and mental stress of infertility and its treatment. Acupuncture can be a very effective tool for comfort and stress relief.
Some researchers always advise their patients to pursue a safe method of reducing their stress if they are experiencing a significant amount of anxiety or stress in their lives.
When to visit an acupuncturist in order to try to conceive:
The majority of fertility experts advise scheduling a consultation with them after you have been trying for a child for six months to a year without success. However, you can begin visiting an acupuncturist much earlier. Whether you plan to conceive naturally or with IVF or IUI (intrauterine insemination), many acupuncturists advise scheduling an appointment many months in advance so they may evaluate your body's reaction over the course of several menstrual cycles.
“We’ll do a thorough review of your health and reproductive history and create a plan that best supports you,” They continue. "When managing infertility, weekly acupuncture is commonly recommended; however, the specifics of your plan will vary."
Risks and side effects
Selecting a licenced acupuncturist is crucial to the healing process.
Acupuncture carries little dangers and negative effects when performed correctly. But there's a chance the acupuncturist will insert a needle too deeply, which might cause harm or even pierce a lung. Additional dangers may consist of:
• bleeding or bruises at the injection locations.
• infection from dirty needles.
• heavy bleeding in those with clotting disorders or blood thinner users.
A person should always choose a licenced acupuncturist in order to reduce the hazards.
Acupuncture is one complementary or alternative treatment that some infertile individuals may think about trying to conceive.
But researchers haven't been able to establish beyond a reasonable doubt if acupuncture helps treat infertility.
Research:
The incapacity of a sexually active couple to conceive after a year of trying is known as infertility. Infertility affects 8–12% of married couples worldwide; in the present era, this percentage is rising, with 20% of instances being caused by a combination of male and female factors. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) holds that blood circulation obstructions and disturbed vital balances are the main causes of infertility.
CASE REPORT: In this case study, a 28-year-old man and woman who had been trying for a year were unable to conceive. In a TCM and acupuncture centre in Skopje, Macedonia, both received acupuncture treatment.
The treatments lasted for thirty to forty minutes on each side of the body. For three months, treatments were administered once a week, indoors, at room temperature. The man has undergone four procedures to raise the sperm quality. After undergoing seven treatments, the woman's ovarian cysts disappeared, enabling her to become pregnant. HN1 (SiShenCong), LI4 (HeGu), ST36 (ZuSanLi), GB34 (YangLingQuan), SP9 (YinLingQuan), SP6 (SanYinJiao), LR3 (TaiChong), RN13 (ZhongWan), RN7 (QiHai), RN4 (GuanYuan), RN2 (QuGu), ST29 (GuiLai), ST25 (TianShu), GB20 (FengChi), DU14 (DaZhui), BL18 (GanShu), BL19 (DanShu), BL20 (PiShu), BL21 (WeiShu), BL25 DaChangShu), and BL32 (CiLiao).
Conclusion:
Both men and women respond well to acupuncture as a treatment for infertility. Acupuncture has been shown to be effective in restoring patients' fertility by enhancing the quality of their sperm and the function of their ovaries, as well as by balancing their hormones and endocrine system.
