Infertility Rate in the United States
About 9% of men and 11% of women of reproductive age in the US have experienced fertility problems.
Causes of Infertility
- Lifestyle factors, i.e., cigarette, alcohol, caffeine, drugs, nutrition imbalance, over or underweight, excessive or little exercise, and stress.
- Environmental factors, i.e., exposure to toxins and pollutants reduce quality and quantity of eggs and sperms
- Social factors, i.e., long-distance relationship, wait longer to start families, poor access or culture barrier to fertility care.
- Health factors, i.e., fibroid, fallopian tube blockage, low ovary reserve, low sperm counts, and abnormal shape and motility of sperm.
The Process of Fertility Acupuncture
If you try to conceive naturally, I recommend starting acupuncture three to six months in advance. We will focus on supporting healthy follicles, balancing hormones, and regulating the menstrual cycle. For the IVF and IUI, start treatment at least one month ahead to increase blood circulation and relieve stress. It takes about 120 days for eggs to go through their maturation process and sperm roughly 90 days. Starting fertility acupuncture early on should increase the quality of egg and sperm. While this may seem like a lengthy process, it is no doubt that it will be worthwhile. In addition, acupuncture improves the blood flow to the uterus, and increases the uterine lining. Acupuncture reduces stress by regulating the sympathetic nervous system (aka “fight or flight”). This is particularly important because it is known that stress plays an important role in the failure to conceive. Acupuncture balances the endocrine system by calming down the adrenals and helps the root causes that are associated with infertility conditions such as high FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone), PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), endometriosis, reoccurring miscarriage, and luteal phase defect. Studies have shown that fertility acupuncture improves IVF/IUI success rates by almost 20%.
Conditions Treated With Fertility Acupuncture
- PCOS
- Endometriosis
- High FSH
- Reoccurring Miscarriages
- Luteal Phase Defect
- IVF Support
- Stress Reduction
Fertility Acupuncture Combines With Healthy Lifestyle
While fertility acupuncture provides great benefits, we believe a healthy diet and lifestyle are equally important. Thus, nutrition optimization via dietary modification, herbs, and supplements. Stress reduction via breathing, meditation, 528 Hz relaxation music, and foot soaking are often recommended during your fertility journey.