Acupuncture for Fertility: Appropriate for You?

Acupuncture and Infertility – Tracing Its Roots

Acupuncture, which originated in China, is over a thousand years old.  In the West, many people in the field of medicine consider it a valid procedure for treating an array of ailments.  It can remedy muscle tension, improve skin condition and get rid of smoking, to name a few.  Researches show that acupuncture greatly helps couples who are having a hard time making a baby.

How The West Sees It

Although acupuncture is widely popular, there still are some Westerners who doubt it is effective.  Many consumers are reluctant to try acupuncture due to a lack of scientific validation.  The National Institutes of Health in the US says that researches are currently being conducted on the issue.

Health Risks

Acupuncture, when done by a trained acupuncturist, is normally painless.  Only a small few have reported adverse outcomes.  Organ puncturing, the spead of infection, or forgotten/broken needles are some of the risks that come with acupuncture.  You can do away with these if a professional practitioner does the job.  However, acupuncture is not recommended for individuals who use blood thinners or having bleeding disorders.

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.  Taken alone, it may not work as well in addressing structural issues, like a blockage in the sperm duct.

Some acupuncture experts encourage the use of Chinese herbs to complement acupuncture treatments.  Individuals undergoing medical treatments should consult their doctor if they are taking or intend to take herbs.  There are some herbs that interfere with the correct mechanism of certain fertility medications and procedures.

Acupuncture & Fertility - Effectiveness Factor?

How acupuncture works as a cure for infertility is still debatable.  However, many practicing acupuncturists assert that this ancient treatment normalizes the body’s system.  It increases blood flow into the vital organs and stabilizes hormonal activity.  Ovarian function is boosted and sperm production is enhanced, as a result.

Acupuncture has been found to benefit women who are using it in conjunction with therapies that aim to increase fertility.   Some say that the stress that comes with fertility procedures can also be lessened with acupuncture.  Women undergoing IVF, or in vitro fertilization, boost their conception rate with the introduction of acupuncture into the program.

Choosing the Right Practitioner

Doctors in the field of medicine who wish to practice acupuncture have to take nearly 300 hours of training before becoming certified.  Professionals in other fields who would like to specialize solely in acupuncture have to train for 2,000 to 3,000 hours and complete board examinations to qualify as acupuncturists.

More and more people are seeing the benefits and are now practicing acupuncture.  To ensure that potential patients land in the hands of good practitioners, a few things must be considered.  A background check on the selected acupuncture expert must be done prior to agreeing to any procedure.  Practitioners must be officially certified by the local authorities before he or she can practice in a particular area.  Good friends and relatives are excellent recommendation and feedback sources regarding potential acupuncturists.

Before jumping into the procedure, patients should always ask about the possible total costs to be prepared.  It’s great to know that some insurance providers will pay for acupuncture treatments.

Know What to Expect

To get the best results, one has to undergo more than one acupuncture treatment.  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.  Patients should expect each visit to their acupuncturist to be at least an hour long, with time for discussion of lifestyle and present health condition, as well as thoughts and queries about the process.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites