Although there is no precise answer as to how acupuncture works, recent studies in the U.S. and Europe indicate that acupuncture can improve fertility when combined with Western treatments. These studies show that acupuncture increases blood flow to the uterus, as well as helps release the body’s endorphins, which play a critical role in overall balance and feeling of well-being.

A fundamental therapy in Chinese medicine, acupuncture has been used for more than 3,500 years. By monitoring blood flow, researchers have shown that applying acupuncture to the points specified for female infertility does increase the blood supply to the uterus. This is important because the increased blood supply can increase the endometrial lining of the uterus. The endometrial lining is the part of the uterus that receives and nourishes the fertilized egg, the fundamental first step to establishing a pregnancy. Similar results were found when the endometrial lining was monitored by ultrasound. In fact, the studies show that acupuncture fertility therapy increases the endometrial lining to a similar degree as traditional estrogen therapy—the standard treatment for a thin endometrial lining in Western medicine.

In a large, very well-designed study in Germany, fertility acupuncture therapy was shown to nearly double the clinical pregnancy rates for the IVF fertility patients involved. In that study, the baseline pregnancy rate without acupuncture was below the baseline of the best U.S. IVF centers, while all other aspects of the German and U.S. treatments and procedures were similar. The dramatic increase in the pregnancy rate may indicate a powerful additive effect when acupuncture is used to complement IVF treatments.
There is additional scientific literature that suggests that acupuncture may also increase (but not normalize) low sperm counts, indicating that acupuncture may also play a positive role in the treatment of male infertility.

Fertility Acupuncture Therapy at SCRC

Led by Dr. Martin Cousineau, fertility acupuncture at SCRC offers a complete program of acupuncture support treatment for fertility, wellness, gynecological disorders, and pain. Dr. Cousineau has long been interested in combining effective Eastern and Western medical traditions, culminating in his creation of SCRC’s acupuncture program. In addition to being a certified acupuncturist, Dr. Cousineau is a diplomate of both the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Anesthesiology, and has served as the Director of Anesthesia Services at the Roxbury Surgery Center since the inception of the Southern California Reproductive Center.

Fertility Acupuncture Therapy Could Be Right for You

For couples seeking to create a family, both the female and male partner can use acupuncture as a cost-effective adjunct to fertility treatments. Acupuncture has no or very minor side effects. When you are considering whether acupuncture is right for you, it is important to note that acupuncture needles are very small and cause less discomfort than a simple blood draw or IV start.

The positive effects of acupuncture can vastly outweigh any concerns over the procedure. Even those who have a fear of needles should ask their SCRC physician about whether acupuncture could be an effective addition to their fertility treatment program. If you suffer from infertility, the ancient treatment of acupuncture could be very beneficial to a positive fertility treatment outcome. Contact us at SCRC to find out more about fertility acupuncture at our Los Angeles-area offices.