Acupuncture and infertility

At Norris Associates we use acupuncture to treat a variety of women’s health problems, including infertility and menopausal symptoms. All treatments are performed after an in depth health evaluation and pre-sterilized disposable needles are used with strict hygiene control. We will keep in contact with your GP and / or gynecologist. The treatment techniques we use are evidence based, meaning that they have been proven in western scientific research papers and are accepted for use by the NHS.

Acupuncture theories and infertility

Acupuncture theory looks at the body differently than western medicine. It deals with energy (chi) and imbalances in this energy within key organs systems. These organs have the same name as those in the west, but different functions. Infertility is due to an imbalance in the Kidney, Liver, and Heart systems. The kidney is said to be the foundation of female energy and a busy stressful lifestyle can reduce kidney energy. The liver is said to be responsible for smooth blood flow, and where it is effected a women’s menstrual cycle will change. The heart deals with the emotions and this will be effected by stress, worry, and emotional issues.

Scientific basis for acupuncture treatment of infertility

Acupuncture has been shown to stimulate body tissues and change the concentration of nerve chemicals (neurotransmitters) and hormones. This takes place by impulses traveling from the skin via the spinal cord to a part of the brain called the hypothalamus which controls most major organ systems of the body. It is thought that a similar method is at work during infertility treatment with acupuncture effecting a body system called the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis a complex connection from centres in the brain (hypothalamus and pituitary gland) to the part of the reproductive organs responsible for starting pregnancy (ovaries). Research has shown for example that needling a point in the hand changes motility of the uterus, and needling points on the lower abdomen alters blood flow to the uterus.

Research studies

A major randomized controlled trial (RCT) from Germany in 2002⁽¹⁾ looked at 160 women undergoing IVF treatment. The group was divided into two, with half having acupuncture and IVF and half having IVF treatment alone. 42.5% of subjects in the acupuncture IVF group became pregnant while only 26.3% in the standard IVF group did. Higher pregnancy rates (51% vs 36%) and lower miscarriage rates (8% vs 20%) were reported for acupuncture combined with IVF in another paper⁽²⁾ and looking at 57 subjects classified as poor responders to IVF, a significant increase in pregnancy rates (53% vs 38%) was found⁽³⁾. A small crossover study of 17 subjects compared IVF with and without acupuncture, and although pregnancy rates in both studieswere similar, those in the acupuncture group required significantly less hormone during IVF⁽⁴⁾.

What’s involved

Acupuncture treatment for fertility is usually given twice each week and for a minimum of 6 weeks. Needles are put painlessly into the arms, legs, abdomen and low back, and 10-12 is a typical number used. All needles are disposable and simply thrown away after treatment. The needles will normally be stimulated with a mild electrical current (a scientific method called electroacupuncture) using the same hospital machine as used in most international research studies. It is common to feel very relaxed and you may be slightly sleepy after treatment. We will often support acupuncture treatment with advice on relaxation, lifestyle and nutrition.

References

1. Paulus et al (2002) Influence of acupuncture on pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy. Fertility and sterility 77(4): 721
2. Magarelli et al (2004) Acupuncture and good prognosis IVF patients: synergy. Fertility and Sterility 82:S80-1
3. Magarelli, PC and Cridenda, DK (2004) Acupuncture and IVF poor responders: a cure? Fertility and Sterility 81:S60
4. Quntero, R (2004) A randomised controlled double blind crossover study evaluating acupuncture as an adjunct to IVF Fertility and Sterility 81: S11-2