Acupuncture and Infertility – Needle or Needless Therapy?

Acupuncture and Infertility – Tracing Its Roots

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese healing practice dating back over a thousand years.  Many people in the Western medical practice see it as an effective procedure to address a wide range of health problems.  It can help improve the skin, relieve muscle stress, and eliminate smoking habits, among many others.  Recent research findings show that acupuncture is beneficial to couples experiencing infertility.

The West’s Point Of View

There remain some Westerners who doubt acupuncture’s effectiveness, despite its popularity.  Very little scientific evidence is available to support acupuncture. As a result, many people shy away from using it.  A lot of studies are already being conducted on the matter, the National Institutes of Health in the US says.

Risks To Health

Acupuncture performed by a trained professional is generally painless.  Only a few suffer ill effects.  Puncturing of organs, spreading of infectious diseases, forgotten or broken needles and minimal bleeding are the usual risks infrequently associated with acupuncture.  These can be eliminated by having the treatment peformed by an experienced professional.  However, people who have bleeding disorders and those who use blood thinning agents should not use acupuncture.

A Solo or Complementary Procedure

Acupuncture may be used as a single procedure to complement fertility treatments.  It is also seen as therapy that can complement modern fertility treatments.  Acupuncture perhaps provides better results for couples experiencing functional problems, particularly when used by itself.  By itself, this practice may not work as effectively in fixing structural problems such as blockage of sperm ducts.

Some acupuncture experts encourage the use of Chinese herbs to complement acupuncture treatments.  Persons under medical care should check with their doctor before taking herbs.  There are certain herbs that may inhibit the action of fertility procedures and drugs.

Acupuncture for Fertility - Is It Truly Effective?

How acupuncture works as a infertility cure is still debatable.  Many practicing experts say that this ancient therapeutic procedure can help regulate the body’s system.  It increases blood flow into the vital organs and stabilizes hormonal activity.  As a result, ovarian function is improved among females and sperm production is increased among males.

Acupuncture has a positive effect on women who use it in combination with fertility boosting procedures.   Some also say that acupuncture, when incorporated with rather stressful fertility procedures, helps women relax.  Recent researches show that a woman undergoing in vitro fertilization has a higher chance of conception if acupuncture is introduced into therapy.

Selecting The Best Practitioner

In order to practice acupuncture, doctors are required to complete more or less 300 hours of special training before they are awarded a certification.  Anybody who would like to enter the field of acupuncture professionally must first go through 2000 to 3000 hours of training and pass the board examination.

The number of people who are practicing acupunture is continuously increasing.  To ensure that potential patients land in the hands of good practitioners, a few things must be considered.  Prior to undergoing acupuncture, patients must first check the background of the chosen therapist.  Any practitioner must be licensed in the state or town where he or she is providing services.Great recommendation sources for acupuncturists would be friends and family members who have tried the procedure.

Patients must always ask about the general cost total so they know how much needs to be set aside for the procedure.  It is good to know that certain insurance plans include acupuncture expenses in their roster.

Things You Should Expect

One has to go through several acupuncture sessions in order to attain the best results.  To get the most out of acupuncture, patients usually go through a series of visits that can run from several weeks to a few months.  Expect every visit to the acupuncturist to last about an hour, as the practitioner will be discussing your current health status in detail and entertain whatever queries you might have on the process.

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