What is Fertility Acupuncture?

You may have heard about fertility acupuncture and how it benefits the body in preparing for IVF and/or assisting in natural conception. I am a fertility acupuncturist who specialises in natural conception, IVF and emotional healing.

 But how exactly does fertility acupuncture work and why is it beneficial?

An Ancient Method of Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture involves needles being placed at certain points on the body that correspond with meridians that pass through the body, and works by stimulating these different points. 

These meridians or channels are associated with organs in your body. You might have heard of the Spleen, Liver, Heart, Kidney channels. There are more, but these four are especially linked to a woman’s fertility. Some start at the feet, and the heart meridian which passes through the hand.

There are also other meridians known as ‘extra-ordinary vessels’. One in particular is often utilised in fertility acupuncture: the Ren channel, which travels down the midline of the body on the front. Most of the points for fertility in this vessel (Ren channel) are concentrated on the abdomen.

if you have fertility acupuncture at my clinic in Wolverhampton, you can expect to have needles placed these locations: the lower abdomen, wrists, feet and hands, legs, and the face and ears.

How Can Fertility Aupuncture Help Me?

1.  Acupuncture Supports Natural Conception

Fertility acupuncture increases blood flow to the ovaries which, in Chinese Medicine theory, enhances follicle development. This can result in a higher chance of conception. Increased blood flow to the uterus can thicken the lining of the endometrium, increasing the success of embryo implantation.

2.  It Treats Specific Gynaecological Conditions

Acupuncture can treat conditions such as endometriosis and PCOS. I regularly help women who struggle with these conditions at my clinic in Wolverhampton. 

Endometriosis is classed as blood stasis in traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncturists can resolve masses, moving the blood and reducing painful and heavy periods. 

PCOS is often an accumulation of something we call ‘Damp’. It is similar to fatty or phlegm deposits that stagnate. Sometimes a deficiency of the blood can be involved. Acupuncturists can use needles to resolve damp and to nourish the blood in order to support the cycle and promote ovulation. 

3.  Acupuncture Regulates the Cycle and improves egg quality

Acupuncture rebalances the hormones and thus can work to regulate the cycle. There is a specific acupuncture point which works on the pituitary gland in the brain and affects the production of FSH and LH to support the follicular stage, helping the follicles to develop normally and produce an egg. Supporting egg quality involves strengthening the Kidney energy and this takes 3 months of weekly sessions. This is because an egg takes 3 months to develop and mature naturally in the body before it is ovulated.

4.  Acupuncture Helps to Diagnose Unexplained Fertility 

Women are often diagnosed in Western Medicine with unexplained fertility. In acupuncture, patients always exhibit symptoms that fit into a Chinese Medicine diagnosis.

Some of these diagnoses are Liver Qi stagnation, Kidney deficiency, Blood Deficiency, Spleen Qi Deficiency, Damp Stagnation, Blood Stasis and Cold Stasis in the Uterus. 

Patients usually have more than one diagnosis although one of two are often pre-dominant. In this way, we always have a diagnosis for you, even if medical advice cannot identify the source of your fertility problems.

5.  Acupuncture Relieves Stress and Helps with Emotions

Acupuncture supports emotional health, reducing the stress often involved with trying to become pregnant. 

Each organ in Chinese Medicine has a corresponding emotion. For example, the Spleen relates to overthinking and anxiety, the Liver to frustration and anger. 

At different stages of your cycle and the fertility process you will naturally experience a rollercoaster of emotions. By supporting these corresponding organs, acupuncture can relieve some of this stress.

In addition, in Chinese Medicine you also need to work on your emotional state to support your fertility organs. I show you how to do this in the Creation Fertility Healing Programme through a series of modules and at home exercises, including energy clearing, meditations and affirmations which are free as a Creation Acupuncture patient.

6.   Acupuncture Supports the Immune System

In fertility acupuncture, we support the immune system, particularly in the case of reproductive immunology such as elevated Natural Killer cells, TH1:TH2 cytokine response, KIR -HLA and APS (sticky blood). We do this by moving the bloods stasis, strengthening the Lung energy and removing blockages in the Liver energy which all contribute to an overactive immune system which is less likely to tolerate implantation of an embryo.

We work to modulate and balance the immune system. I can also refer you for immunological testing if this is indicated.

7. Acupuncture Supports IVF

In fertility acupuncture, we have set protocols (a specific treatment plan) for different stages of the IVF cycles. You may have heard of the protocol given to patients 24 hours before and 24 hours after embryo transfer. 

Acupuncture also counter-acts the side effects of IVF medications and works with the IVF clinics to support you at each stage with a corresponding treatment plan. 

Acupuncture also works with your body when trying to conceive naturally. For example, in the follicular phase, we nourish Blood, at the luteal phase we strengthen the Kidney energy.

 If you would like to know how to support each stage of your cycle from the period, follicular phase, ovulation, luteal and pre-menstrual using acupuncture, find out more about Creation Acupuncture or book an appointment.

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