How Fertility Acupuncture Can Help During Your Fertility Treatment Process
By Michelle Kapler R.TCMP R.Ac
With over 13 years of clinical experience as a fertility-focused acupuncturist, I often encounter people who are curious, if not skeptical, about the role of acupuncture in conception and fertility. In this blog post, I’ll demystify this ancient Chinese practice, revealing how it can optimize your fertility treatment plan, help regulate your nervous system, and even alleviate common side effects associated with fertility treatment.
Whether you’re in the beginning stages of an IVF treatment plan or have a few treatments in your history, this article will serve as a guiding resource helping you to understand how acupuncture can be a beneficial and instrumental tool in your fertility treatment plan, how to know when it’s working, and what to look for in an acupuncture practitioner. Let’s begin.
What is Acupuncture?
One of the most frequently posed questions in my practice centers around the definition of acupuncture. So, before diving into my fertility-focused practice, let’s start with a broad definition.
Simply put, acupuncture is a practice within the broader medical system known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It involves the precise insertion of ultra-fine needles into specific points on the body, known in TCM as meridian channels, to achieve targeted health outcomes.
Traditional Chinese Medicine is a respected medical system that has been passed down through generations. Apart from acupuncture, TCM encompasses a variety of therapeutic approaches, including herbal medicine, dietary guidelines, and bodywork techniques like massage, cupping, and gua sha (scraping therapy).
In a standard acupuncture session, the practitioner first establishes a diagnosis. Once the practitioner has identified the problem, they can begin treating it with a series of hair-thin needles strategically placed at designated points on the body to facilitate the desired physiological change.
While acupuncture is perhaps most renowned for its efficacy in alleviating pain, its applications are far more expansive. It has been successfully utilized in the treatment of a diverse range of conditions, such as facial rejuvenation, eye disorders, nerve damage, and digestive health issues. In my own clinical experience, I have specialized in applying acupuncture to the fields of fertility and gynecology.
How Does Acupuncture Work for Fertility?
When it comes to boosting fertility, acupuncture offers a variety of ways to help you get the results you're after. First, let's understand how acupuncture fits into your overall fertility treatment plan.
Many of my patients are also using other medical treatments for fertility. In this case, your acupuncturist acts as an allied health provider, offering extra help throughout your fertility journey. There are three main goals your acupuncturist typically focuses on during treatment.
Boosting Pelvic Blood Flow - There's solid research showing that better blood flow in the pelvic area helps improve egg quality, follicle growth, and ovulation. Simply put, better blood flow means that key areas get the nutrients and oxygen they need, making it easier for you to conceive.
Balancing the Nervous System - Acupuncture is great at this. When your nervous system is in balance, your hormones are too. Hormones affect your whole body, so keeping stress hormones in check helps your reproductive hormones do their job better.
Easing Pain and Side Effects - If you're using fertility meds, you might experience side effects like mood swings, insomnia, and headaches. Acupuncture can help treat these symptoms, making them either go away or become much easier to handle.
Acupuncture can be a supportive part of your fertility treatment plan. It offers a range of benefits, from improving blood flow and balancing your nervous system to making medication side effects easier to deal with.
How Often Should You Schedule Acupuncture Treatments?
When it comes to how often you should schedule acupuncture sessions, once a week is usually a good starting point. Some people wonder if they should come more often. While you might come across information online suggesting multiple visits per week, remember that acupuncture is a personalized treatment. What works for one person may not apply to you, so your acupuncturist will help tailor your plan based on your specific needs.
Others think once a week sounds like a lot. Maybe acupuncture doesn’t fit your budget or lifestyle right now, and that's okay. What's important is having a discussion with your practitioner to find a frequency that makes sense for you. Even occasional treatments can be better than none at all.
How Do You Know Acupuncture is Working?
The question of acupuncture's effectiveness often arises after someone has begun their treatment plan. When it comes to fertility issues, evaluating effectiveness isn’t as straightforward as it is for conditions like pain relief.
You might measure success by asking, "Am I pregnant yet?" But this shouldn't be the only yardstick. A skilled practitioner will look for other indicators of progress, like changes in your menstrual cycle, a reduction in period discomfort, or shifts in hormonal levels. For example, I monitor levels of follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) and often see reductions in this hormone with ongoing treatment.
That said, treatments aren’t universally effective. Just as no single medical or physical therapy approach works for everyone, the same is true for acupuncture. An experienced practitioner should also be able to identify when the treatment isn't yielding results, helping you make informed decisions moving forward.
Is it Safe to Combine Acupuncture with Fertility Treatments?
Yes, it is safe to combine acupuncture with fertility treatments. Acupuncture is often safely practiced in combination with IUI, IVF, FET, and other common fertility treatments.
However, there is a major caveat to this answer. I practice in a jurisdiction where acupuncturists need a license to operate, ensuring they meet educational and practical standards. This is the case in many Canadian provinces and U.S. states as well.
When considering acupuncture as a complement to other medical fertility treatments, it’s important that you choose a practitioner who has experience in integrative healthcare. These professionals are best equipped to ensure that your acupuncture treatments align well with your other medical treatments, avoiding any adverse interactions.
What Should I Look For in an Acupuncturist?
If you're wondering how to select the right acupuncturist, several resources can help. Some jurisdictions have regulatory bodies with directories of certified practitioners. For instance, the Acupuncture and TCM Board of Reproductive Medicine (ABORM) offers certifications for those specializing in fertility and reproductive healthcare. Certification involves passing a comprehensive exam that gauges expertise in the interaction between fertility treatments and acupuncture.
If local options are limited, don't worry. You can still find qualified professionals by asking specific questions:
Have you treated my specific condition before?
Have you had clinical success treating individuals with my condition?
Are you experienced in working with patients who are undergoing similar fertility treatments?
Have you worked with people who are on the same medications as me?
What is your history of working with fertility and gynecology?
A licensed practitioner should be able to offer safe treatments, but it’s a plus if they have experience with cases similar to yours.
Didn’t see one of your burning questions in this blog post? Send it to me on Instagram @michellekapler! Future questions may be addressed in upcoming blog posts or podcast episodes.