Women and problems getting pregnant!

Often the diagnosis of unexplained infertility is given to you after all the diagnostic tests but that doesn’t mean there is nothing that can be done when using acupuncture.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (the style of acupuncture I practice) looks at the body holistically and attempts to put right any imbalances you may have.   I do this by treating some of the signs and symptoms that Western Medicine doesn’t take into account. This list includes PMT, pain before or during the period, and factors about the blood itself – it makes for an interesting line of questioning!  

Acupuncture can have quite an affect on your periods, your mood and your feeling of well being. It is best if you can have a course of 9 treatments over 3 months before trying for a baby or starting assisted conception such as IVF. This gives time to correct any imbalances you may have from a Chinese Medicine perspective. You may find the first period you have after starting acupuncture is different from that which you are used to. The next will hopefully be an improvement on what you are used to then the third should be approaching a problem free period i.e. on time, reduced or absent PMT and pain, not too heavy or too light and no clots. Not everyone fits this pattern but many do.
If you are then undergoing assisted conception, it has been shown to be beneficial to have a session of acupuncture before egg collection and after embryo transfer. The former helps you through the process and should reduce discomfort and the latter raises the chances of your embryo staying in place.

Once you are pregnant (congratulations!) you can have acupuncture to help keep you fit and well. In Chinese Medicine there are points which are said to have a ‘lifting’ energy which aim to keep things in place so helping to prevent miscarriage - it is these points that I will use once you are pregnant. There are a few points which are forbidden during pregnancy as they are said to have a ‘downward’ moving energy – useful if you become overdue and want labour to start.

Men and problems with their sperm!

Chinese Medicine can be beneficial for you as well. In my practice I have seen patients present with test results showing a low sperm count or poor motility or ‘sticky’ fluid which stops the little chaps swimming effectively.   When another test is carried out after the course of acupuncture some or all of these factors have improved sometimes by significant amounts.   Acupuncture doesn’t work for everyone but in my experience about 75% make significant improvements. A course of acupuncture should be over a minimum of 3 months as it takes over 70 days for new sperm to be formed. Even if you are undergoing ICSI you want your sperm to be in tip top condition to give the best chance of the whole process working.