Can acupuncture help me get pregnant?

If you are trying to get pregnant, you may have tried a few things to increase your chances of conceiving successfully. An approach to consider in your fertility journey is acupuncture.

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a practice rooted in the philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate various physiological responses. Sometimes, the therapeutic actions of acupuncture are enhanced by manual stimulation by the practitioner or electric stimulation (e.g. electroacupuncture, laser acupuncture).

Does acupuncture really work?

While acupuncture has been used for a wide range of health conditions, including fertility issues, it is important to note that its effectiveness in this area is a subject of ongoing research.

Acupuncture’s role in fertility support is contested because of conflicting conclusions by different studies – presumably and most notably because studies that center acupuncture tend to have smaller sample sizes. As well, acupuncture treatments are intended to be personalized according to patients’ unique clinical presentation, e.g. people who have a history of miscarriage or even a designated diagnosis for infertility are not usually reported. Thus, designing studies that reflect acupuncture’s potential can a challenge when it comes to randomization.

With the above points in consideration, acupuncture may assist in supporting people going through fertility challenges via the following:

1. Stress Reduction: Acupuncture can help promote relaxation and reduce stress levels. High stress levels can interfere with reproductive function by disrupting hormonal regulation and menstrual cycles. By reducing stress, acupuncture may indirectly improve fertility outcomes.
2. Hormonal Regulation: Acupuncture has been notably observed to influence the release of certain hormones, including those related to the reproductive system. In addition to stress reduction, acupuncture may help to regulate menstrual cycles, improve ovulation timing, improve semen analysis parameters (such as sperm quality, sperm motility, and concentration), and enhance the production of hormones such as follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), which play key roles in fertility.
3. Improved Blood Flow: Acupuncture can increase blood circulation to the reproductive organs. Improving circulation within the reproductive tract may help to promote a more favorable environment for conception and embryo implantation.
4. Enhanced Egg Quality: Some proponents of acupuncture suggest that it may enhance the quality of eggs by improving ovarian function (as is the case for acupuncture’s role in hormonal regulation) This, in turn, may potentially aid in successful fertilization and a healthy pregnancy.
5. Improving Energy: The principles in which acupuncture originate addresses the need to balance the body’s energy or “Qi” (pronounced “chee”) in order to promote good health and vitality. In traditional practices, any imbalance in the body’s energy or Qi is believed to contribute to various health issues, including fertility problems, and acupuncture is one of many tools that can help restore this.
6. Reduced Inflammation: Acupuncture can help reduce inflammation in the body. Inflammatory conditions such as endometriosis, autoimmune disorders, and infections can negatively impact fertility.
7. Supportive Therapy for those going through Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) such as IVF and IUI: Acupuncture is often used as an adjunctive therapy alongside conventional fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI). Some studies suggest that acupuncture may improve the success rates of these procedures by promoting relaxation and reducing side effects. (Smith)

How many sessions of acupuncture do I need for fertility?

The number of acupuncture treatment sessions you will need will depend on your medical history and your current stage of your fertility journey (e.g. embryo transfer scheduled vs. menstrual cycle regulation). The number and rate of sessions you may need may vary. On average, acupuncture treatments are done 1 to 3 times per week for 4 to 6 weeks. Acupuncture is usually suggested to be done more frequently (especially around procedure days) if you are going through ART, i.e. pre- and post-embryo transfer acupuncture sessions.

Can I use acupuncture with other forms of fertility support?

Yes, you can combine other methods to improve your fertility. You can incorporate regular exercise, eating balanced nutrient-dense meals, taking nutritional supplements appropriate to your unique state of health (e.g. coenzyme Q10 for egg or sperm quality, prenatal vitamins, vitamin D3), ongoing stress management, and monitoring other health markers (e.g. metabolic health markers).

Recap

Acupuncture can be a valuable tool in supporting people going through fertility challenges as it can assist in promoting relaxation, hormonal regulation, improving circulation in the reproductive tract, improving IVF and IUI outcomes, reducing inflammation, and more.

Remember that fertility is a complex issue influenced by various factors, including age, underlying medical conditions, lifestyle, stress, and accessibility to resources. If you’re considering acupuncture as a part of your fertility journey, it is important that you consult with a qualified acupuncture provider (such as a Registered Acupuncturist or Naturopathic Doctor) who specializes in reproductive health to ensure that you are provided a thorough and supportive reproductive care plan.

References

1. Allameh, F., Razzaghi, M., Hosseini, S., Barati, M., Razzaghi, Z., Salehi, S., Ghahestani, S. M., & Shahabi, V. (2021). The Effect of Laser Acupuncture on Semen Parameters in Infertile Men With Oligospermia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of lasers in medical sciences, 12, e84. https://doi.org/10.34172/jlms.2021.84
2. Franconi, G., Manni, L., Aloe, L., Mazzilli, F., Giambalvo Dal Ben, G., Lenzi, A., & Fabbri, A. (2011). Acupuncture in clinical and experimental reproductive medicine: a review. Journal of endocrinological investigation, 34(4), 307–311. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03347091
3. 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 & gynecology, 59(2), 282–286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjog.2020.01.018
4. Lin, G., Liu, X., Cong, C., Chen, S., & Xu, L. (2023). Clinical efficacy of acupuncture for diminished ovarian reserve: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Frontiers in endocrinology, 14, 1136121. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2023.1136121
5. Smith, C. A., de Lacey, S., Chapman, M., Ratcliffe, J., Norman, R. J., Johnson, N. P., & Fahey, P. (2019). The effects of acupuncture on the secondary outcomes of anxiety and quality of life for women undergoing IVF: A randomized controlled trial. Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica, 98(4), 460–469. https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.13528
6. Tang, W. L., Hu, Y. H., & He, X. H. (2015). Zhen ci yan jiu = Acupuncture research, 40(6), 479–488.
7. Wang, R. R., Su, M. H., Liu, L. Y., Lai, Y. Y., Guo, X. L., Gan, D., Zheng, X. Y., Yang, H., Yu, S. Y., Liang, F. R., Wei, W., Zhong, Y., & Yang, J. (2023). Systematic review of acupuncture to improve ovarian function in women with poor ovarian response. Frontiers in endocrinology, 14, 1028853. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2023.1028853
8. Wang, X., Wang, Y., Wei, S., He, B., Cao, Y., Zhang, N., & Li, M. (2021). An Overview of Systematic Reviews of Acupuncture for Infertile Women Undergoing in vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer. Frontiers in public health, 9, 651811. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2021.651811
9. Wu, J., Chen, D., & Liu, N. (2020). Effectiveness of acupuncture in polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Medicine, 99(22), e20441. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000020441