Acupuncture and Fertility
When the decision to get pregnant morphs into self-doubt and worries that a baby will never come, couples often feel betrayed by their own bodies. As each cycle passes without conception, making a baby can begin to feel impossible. In this moment of desperation, many couples look for help.
Fertility has become a major industry in the US. Medical technologies such as IVF and IUI can be a godsend when all else fails to produce a baby. Fertility treatments are a considerable investment of money, time and energy.
Before embarking upon the challenging approaches of IVF or IUI , it is sensible to try acupuncture. Acupuncture can gently restore hormonal balance and the overall health of both prospective parents. For women
Acupuncture is a cost effective approach that is well suited for fertility challenges. A series of treatments will have many benefits. A skilled acupuncturist assesses each partner’s hormonal function. Are the ovaries, uterus, thyroid, pituitary, adrenal and testes showing an imbalance? Vital information can be gathered about endocrine function through the palpation of hormonal reflexes. This method can reveal endocrine issues that are often at the root of infertility.
Acupuncture can be used to support one or both partners to:
- Balance the women’s hormonal function and restore a healthy menstrual cycle
- Balance the man’s hormonal function to support reproductive function
- Improve blood flow to reproductive organs
- Improve the flow of energy through the pelvis
- Manage stress and improve sleep
- Help maintain a healthy immune system
- Limit digestive and respiratory problems
- Improve libido
When IUI/IVF treatments are needed, acupuncture is commonly used to:
- Support the phases of treatment
- Increase blood flow to the ovaries to improve the quality of egg production
- Improve blood flow to the testes to improve sperm quality
- Maintain a healthy lining in the uterus
- Limit the stress and secondary side effects from hormonal therapies
During pregnancy, acupuncture
- Can help maintain a women’s health throughout pregnancy and support her to carrying the baby to term.
- Can help prepare the body for a smooth delivery with fewer interventions
After pregnancy, acupuncture
- Supports the endocrine system to find a new balance
- Supports nursing mother’s to fight off infections
- Helps treat post partum depression
Whether you are pursuing natural conception or receiving fertility treatments, trying to get pregnant can be a trying experience. Not only does acupuncture enhance fertility, it can help you stay sane while you are trying to conceive.
Also Read:
Reproductive health & fertility (Speciality)
Acupuncture for pregnancy and childbirth
Hormones and Men’s Health
We all know that men and women are biologically different, but perhaps less different than you think. While there is limited evidence for a male monthly cycle, a man’s hormonal balance changes greatly throughout the span of a lifetime. These hormonal changes can affect mental state, mood, muscle mass and sexual function. A couple of key hormones to watch in men are testosterone and cortisol.
Testosterone affects male fertility, libido and aggression. Testosterone also declines as we age. Normally, testosterone production peaks in adolescence and early adulthood. Starting at around age thirty, men’s testosterone diminishes by about one percent a year. Diminished testosterone may contribute to reduced energy, strength, endurance, sex drive, erectile function, enjoyment of life, and performance at work.
Cortisol is the stress hormone. In crisis situations, (when you are about to be eaten by a tiger,) cortisol and adrenaline help us to respond with the fight – flight response. If stress becomes constant, which seems all too common in our modern times, cortisol levels can become chronically elevated. As Cortisol becomes elevated, testosterone drops. And a drop in testosterone can cause other things to drop. According to experts at The Cleveland Clinic, erectile dysfunction affects over 40% of men over the age of 40 and 70% of men over the age of 70%.
Acupuncture can be highly effective in helping to regulate hormonal imbalances and maintain healthy testosterone levels in men. Hormonal reflexes are palpated to reveal which hormonal systems are out of balance. For example, someone who has chronic exhaustion may have an adrenal imbalance. Chronic exhaustion could also be due to a thyroid imbalance.
Through palpation, I can pinpoint where the problem is, and monitor how the patient is responding to treatment. It is particularly important to tease out and treat the underlying issues that are creating the patient’s symptoms. The reproductive system works in concert with the heart – on both physical and emotional levels. When men are plagued by erectile dysfunction, a successful treatment utilizes a holistic approach to address the overall health.
Treatment is focused on the underlying cause or fundamental weakness within your constitution (your unique energetic makeup.) In Five Element Acupuncture, we call this weakness the Causative Factor (the one element which is most out of balance).
Think of each of the Five Elements as a member of a team (wood, fire, earth, metal, water.) If one of the players has a problem, the whole team has a problem. If the team member or element is supported well, she can overcome her problems and become stronger. Everyone on the team benefits from the renewed health of this player. By providing the appropriate support to the weakest element the whole system improves.
So, if you are experiencing hormonal problems, fear not. Acupuncture can help to reduce these imbalances and improve your overall health. As your hormonal balance improves, you can develop more strength, energy, endurance and sex drive.
By David Frome • Acupuncture • • Tags: acupuncture, cortisol, erectile dysfunction, fertility, hormones, libido, male sexual function, stress, testosterone