HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE HELP WITH FERTILITY TREATMENTS?

Acupuncture increases blood flow to the ovaries and uterus to increase fertility with IVF.

Reduction of blood flow impedance in uterine arteries of infertile women with electro-acupuncture. Stonier-Victorin E, etal Human Reproduction 1996; 11:1314-1317. This study showed that blood flow to the uterine arteries was significantly increased not only during the time of treatments, but for up to 14 days after. This study shows that acupuncture can be particularly useful to women that have known blood flow issues to the uterus and ovaries, but it can help all women going through IVF. A series of acupuncture treatments are given preceding the IVF cycle 6-12 weeks prior to increase blood flow, balance hormones and reduce stress hormones that can have a negative impact on fertility rates during IVF. These treatments can assist in creating a thicker uterine lining and increased follicular maturation leading up to and during an IVF cycle. When women are injecting Follicle Stimulating Hormone medications like (Gonal-F, Menopur, Bravelle, Follistem, etc.), the increased blood flow can increase the efficacy of these drugs and decrease the cost associated with these expensive medications during an IVF cycle.