In this study, researchers investigated how acupuncture influenced ovarian reserve in women who had low ovarian reserve or “very few eggs left”. They used a kind of acupuncture with no needles, where very gentle electric impulses are used to stimulate acupuncture points. This study has shown improved the hormone levels including Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH). AMH […]
Hyperprolactinemia can be a significant obstacle for women trying to get pregnant, and reproductive acupuncture may be one way to address the condition in some women. Previous research has shown that acupuncture influences prolactin levels in women undergoing IVF. We have studies showing acupuncture can reduce prolactin levels (auricular acupuncture using NADA protocol). This study […]
Can acupuncture help 35+ year old pregnant women reduce pregnancy risks? Women of this age, are a high risk for developing stillbirth and fetal growth restriction among other complications. This study, published in journal of Physiology, researchers from University of Manchester, UK concluded that the blood flow to placenta may be the reason for increased […]
Acupuncture helps to normalise both ovarian volume and AMH in PCOS patients. These changes are beneficial for fertility. Both acupuncture and exercise help to normalise overactive sympathetic nervous system in PCOS patients. Acupuncture, however, is much more effective. Furthermore, as shown by this study, exercise has no effect on AMH nor ovarian volume.
PCOS can improve with acupuncture treatment. More research looks into the mechanism of it. One of the lead researchers in PCOS and acupuncture Dr Elisabet Stener-Victorin from Sweden has long suspected that acupuncture may play a role in regulating blood glucose levels and helping with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is one of the features of PCOS. This […]
This study shows acupuncture in IVF patients decreases the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation. And while it has some limitations, we need to take the results into account while choosing the right acupuncture protocol for each IVF patient. The study was published in Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine. [Effect of electro-acupuncture on clinical […]
IVF Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) patients benefit from Acupuncture. This helps us understand how Acupuncture benefits fertility. Electro stimulation on acupuncture points leading to the IVF transfer improves the quality/receptivity of the uterine lining. A study published in the latest issue of peer-reviewed British Medical Journal (Acupuncture in Medicine) found the rates of embryo implantation, clinical pregnancy […]
Impact of stress on female infertility and pregnancy has been well documented. Below study, published in journal of Fertility and Sterility, shows shows male reproductive health is similarly affected by it. The researchers are confident the correlation between stress and sperm parameters is clear. Acupuncture has been shown to improve sperm quality, it has also […]
Too much stress is a serious factor affecting your fertility. The study published in the Journal of Human Reproduction found that stress can lead to two-fold increase in infertility among women trying to conceive for one year. Are you trying to conceive and are stressed? Perhaps it’s a good idea to consider acupuncture. It interferes […]
Acupuncture has been shown to increase the uterine blood flow (decrease uterine blood impedance). But does the uterine blood flow really matter when you’re having an IVF? This study provides the answer. The researchers used special ultrasound technique to measure uterine blood flow. They found that it had an immense effect on both pregnancy and […]
Yet another study shows that acupuncture does quite a bit more in the abdominal cavity than just increasing the blood flow to ovaries and uterus. Obviously, the study doesn’t directly link with treatment of infertility, but the promise is there. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2014 Apr;39(2):156-63. [A meta-analysis on effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion for […]
Successful implantation is an absolute prerequisite for a successful pregnancy. The process by which a blastocyst is accepted by endometrium is involved and requires interplay of many systems. The researchers of this study have discovered acupuncture can optimise this subtle uterine environment by modulating cytokines; and therefore it can increase the implantation rate. Abstract: J […]
This study by Beijing Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology has shown acupuncture to be superior to clomophene on ovulation and pregnancy rates in treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome. Other studies have shown that unlike Clomophene, acupuncture can have long term effect on PCOS by reducing the sympathetic nervous tonus. Apart from study methodology issues, another […]
A very thourough, well refferenced study exploring the mechanism and effects of acupuncture on PCOS. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013; 2013: 762615. Published online Sep 2, 2013. doi: 10.1155/2013/762615 PMCID: PMC3773899 Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Effect and Mechanisms of Acupuncture for Ovulation Induction Julia Johansson 1 and Elisabet Stener-Victorin 1 , 2 ,* Author information […]
Acupuncture showed considerable advantages over the metformin for obese PCOS patients. Acupuncture was shown to be more effective then metformin at improving menstrual freqency, reducing body mass index and waist to hip ratio. It also had fewer side-effects. Effectiveness of Abdominal Acupuncture for Patients with Obesity-Type Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial To cite […]
This study shows that there is a significant benefit to integrate acupuncture with IVF treatment for patients with two or more failed IVF cycles. It is one of the few studies using sham acupuncture to ensure that the effect of acupuncture is real, not just a placebo. The study was published in a reputable, pier-reviewed […]
This study demonstrates that acupuncture has a synergystic effect with Chinese Herbal medicine in treatment of Endometriosis. Furthermore the effect of acupuncture and herbal medicine was found to be superior to a pharmaceutical medicine Danazol. The abstract of the study is below. Acupuncture enhances the effects of Chinese herbal Medicine in treatment of Endometriosis J. […]
Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2012 Dec;18(12):1105-7. [Compound Xuanju Capsule combined with vitamin E improves sperm chromatin integrity]. [Article in Chinese] Song B1, He XJ, Jiang HH, Peng YW, Wu H, Cao YX. Abstract OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effects of the combined therapy of the Chinese medicine Compound Xuanju Capsule and vitamin E on sperm […]
This systematic review on Acupuncture and IVF is especially interesting. The studies of the well researched German protocol show acupuncture to be effective on the day of embryo replacement. This systematic review shows that acupuncture during ovarian stimulation also plays significant role in increasing the pregnancy outcomes of IVF. The role of acupuncture in assisted […]
Advanced maternal age and increased risk of hypertensive disorders, a small-for-gestational-age infant and gestational diabetes? This study shows that it is all about the blood flow, not about age. Early uterine artery Doppler velocimetry and the outcome of pregnancy in women aged 35 years and older H. J. van den Elzen1, T. E. Cohen-Overbeek1, D. […]