Fertility acupuncture is becoming a popular choice for those seeking assistance with trying to start a family.

Acupuncture can help you prepare for natural conception, or as an adjunct to IVF and other assisted reproduction technology (ART) techniques, such as assisted cycles or IUI. 

By working with the twelve main meridian and eight extraordinary meridians, acupuncture works by regulating the parasympathetic nervous system (the ‘rest/ digest’ aspect of the nervous system) therefore reducing stress levels, drawing Qi, blood and oxygen to the reproductive organs and helping your body move towards homeostasis, or ‘balance’.

Acupuncturists work with each individual holistically, based on their presenting issue, constitution and many other co-factors.

For example if someone has PCOS, we consider this to be a ‘damp’ condition, so part of the treatment may be aimed at resolving damp alongside stimulating the liver Qi in order for it to flow more freely, therefore relieving symptom. We do this by selecting acupuncture points which relate to the various channels/meridians that are involved in the disharmony. 

For approximately 30% of couples, the label ‘unknown infertility’. It’s important to remember this simply means the doctors don’t know, and is used when Western medicine can’t offer a diagnosis.

However from a Chinese medicine perspective, we may easily recognise that there is blood stasis, or blood deficiency, Kidney yin or yang deficiency and so on. Things that won’t be picked up on by a blood test or ultrasound (unless looked at by a Chinese medicine practitioner). In clinic, I will consider any tests already performed by your doctor or specialist, alongside the diagnostic tools of Chinese medicine, such as pulse and tongue diagnosis. A woman’s menstrual cycle reveals a lot of information about the quality of her health, both general and reproductive. I will collate this information and much more in order to diagnose and treat my patients. 

You may find acupuncture helpful if you and/or your partner are:

• Starting to think about your fertile health and want to get in shape to give yourselves the best chance.
• Have started trying to conceive and would like support.
• You are in a same sex relationship or have decided to conceive with a sperm donor and would like emotional and practical support.
• Have experienced a miscarriage or repeated miscarriages. 
• Are embarking on IVF or IUI.
• You are expecting.