Acupuncture and IVF
Posted by Admin
Acupuncture can improve the results of couples undergoing IVF. One well known study with a positive outcome is 2002 German study. This study tested a group of women undergoing IVF with acupuncture versus a group without acupuncture.
The results were very positive:
“Clinical pregnancies were documented in 34 of 80 patients (42.5%) in the acupuncture group, whereas pregnancy rate was only 26.3% (21 out of 80 patients) in the control group (those who did not receive acupuncture).”
Well known author of “The Infertility Cure,” and acupuncturist Dr. Randine Lewis, offers three main points:
“The most important for older women–those over 35–is that there are acupuncture treatments that improve blood flow to the uterus that almost nothing else can do.” Secondly, explains Lewis, a little needling can help balance hormones by stimulating acupuncture points that moderate beta endorphins in the brain. Lastly, acupuncture reduces stress. “Basically,” says Lewis, “the body does not want you to get pregnant when you are under stress.”
We treat many women undergoing IVF, and have found this to consistently be true. I have said this many times, when there is war and famine, birth rates drop, meaning having a lot of stress in your life makes it difficult to conceive, which is why we usually recommend weekly treatment for three months leading up to the embryo transfer, increasing the frequency of treatments just before the embryo transfer.
This frequency is what is required in order to maintain stress reduction, increased blood flow, and improve the overall health of your body, this makes a big difference in the outcome of IVF.
