A trip to my chiropractor’s office is a joy.
Why? The office walls are covered with baby pictures. Dr. Stefanie Sanger, DC,
uses chiropractic and acupuncture to help infertile couples. Sanger says many
couples have trouble conceiving because the woman has been on birth control
pills for many years. Acupuncture treatments can realign the energies waking up
and regulating ovary function.
A couple’s fertility issues are an extremely
complex problem. They must first be diagnosed and investigated by a physician. The emotional stresses on the couple’s relationship, as well as, the individual
partner's fears are great. When you add in the large financial cost the decisions are
nearly overwhelming. Before opting for extremely expensive, allopathic hormonal
treatments and invasive technologies you might consider a consultation with an
acupuncturist specializing in infertility treatment.
Acupuncture is the process of inserting an
ultra-thin, sterile needles into specific acupuncture points on the body. These
points reside on channels or meridians which are energy pathways in the exterior
and interior of the body. When these points are needled, they can influence body
functions. Acupuncture helps address infertility by helping to regulate
issues like under-active thyroid function (hypothyroidism) or over-active
thyroid (hyperthyroidism).
Fertility can be adversely effected by lifestyle
habits (which should be addressed) include:
•
Smoking
•
Excessive alcohol consumption
•
Drug use
•
Being overweight or obese
•
Poor diet
•
Over-exercise
•
Stress
Exposure to certain toxins, pesticides or
lead may cause male infertility. Cancer treatment (radiation and/or
chemotherapy) can be a significant risk to his sperm production. Having had a
vasectomy may create anti-sperm antibodies to form and attack sperm.
For centuries acupuncture has been used to treat certain
causes of infertility. However, acupuncture will not work for every issue, for
example tubal adhesions that are a result of endometriosis, or pelvic inflammatory disease. A benefit of acupuncture is an increase in blood flow to the
endometrium, which facilitates a thick, rich lining. A woman can also benefit
from acupuncture because of the potential for improved ovary and follicle
function.
Traditional, allopathic medicine views acupuncture
as potentially helpful. Acupuncture is a process-oriented method of medical
intervention in which more is better, meaning a series of treatment is more
effective at normalizing energy flow. When used in combination with in vitro
fertilization (IVF) or donor egg transfer, patients receive treatment for three
to four months before progressing to insemination.
The Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Fertility Centre, Scandinavia and University of Gothenburg, encourages women to
receive acupuncture treatments pre and post embryo transfer. The Berkley Center
for Reproductive Wellness has found that effective fertility treatments involve
a combination of acupuncture, herbal medicine, and traditional medicine.
Studies have found that conception can occur
when acupuncture and herbal medicines are used alone, without traditional allopathic
medical interventions. Typically, the risks are minimal when using acupuncture
for fertility treatment. However, the risk of miscarriage may increase if
incorrect acupuncture points are used during pregnancy. When choosing to
include an acupuncturist for fertility treatment, choose an individual who
specializes in treating fertility disorders.
Acupuncture can be beneficial for women who
experience spasm-ed tubes. Acupuncture can often de-spasm the fallopian tube.
Acupuncture combined with herbal remedies has been used to treat elevated
follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), repeated miscarriage, unexplained
(idiopathic) infertility, luteal phase defect, hyperprolactinemia (when not
caused by a prolactinoma), polycystic ovarian syndrome, with annovulatory
cycles, and male factor including men affected with sperm-DNA-fragmentation.
Researchers estimate that 10% of men are
infertile. Male partner infertility is a factor in up to 50% of infertile
couples and often the cause of male infertility is not known. WebMD Health News,
Aug. 3, 2005, tells us acupuncture may help some men with infertility issues improve the quality of their sperm.
A study of a group of men found the number of sperm structural abnormalities was
reduced and the number of normal sperm increased after five weeks of acupuncture treatment.
Acupuncture studies of male infertility
suggest that treatment can improve sperm production and motility (a measure of
sperm movement). Research results, in the July issue of Fertility and Sterility, found significant improvements in sperm quality in the acupuncture
group compared with the other group. Those treated displayed fewer structural
sperm defects and an increase in the number of normal sperm in the ejaculate.
An article by Catherine Donaldson-Evans (April 26, 2005 for Foxnews.com) tells the story
of Lucy Appert who at the age of 36, had suffered through two miscarriages, a
stillbirth at 8 1/2 months and, because of a rare pregnancy-related liver
dysfunction, intensive illness and surgery.
“Yet after enduring five painful years of
trying to have their own baby, Appert and her husband Edward finally saw their
dream come true last month when their son Henry was born — premature, but
healthy.” Appert credits acupuncture for the success of her pregnancy after
having tried all of the technologies western allopathic medicine had to offer.
Dr. Paul C. Magarelli told author Donaldson-Evans, “Do I believe in [acupuncture]? Absolutely,” he said. Magarelli is an
infertility doctor at the Reproductive Medicine & Fertility Center in
Colorado Springs, CO.
Magarelli is a co-author of an ongoing study
into the use of acupuncture with IVF with his associate Dr. Diane K. Cridennda,
a licensed acupuncturist with a master's degree in Oriental medicine from the International Institute of Chinese Medicine.
At first skeptical, Magarelli reported after reviewing the data he sees an improvement
and is now a convert.
Acupuncture helps women by improved blood
circulation to the ovaries and
to the uterus. This increased
circulation allows for more nourished eggs, as well as, increasing the
chances that the lining will be strong enough to hold those eggs to full-term.
Acupuncture is also a stress-reliever for women during an emotionally trying
time when the body is relaxed all systems function better.
Anyone who has researched infertility treatment
is aware of the emotional cost and the large financial price tag. In vitro
fertilization generally isn't covered by insurance and can cost anywhere from
$10,000 to $20,000 a cycle. Acupuncture treatment ranges from about $30 to over
$200 per treatment.
Research has revealed that acupuncture infertility treatment is most beneficial
when used in conjunction with herbs and traditional medicines. Some women using
only acupuncture treatment were able to get pregnant without other remedies.
The acupuncture infertility treatment consists of needling specific points in
the body, which connect to the ovarian and follicular regions. These are
stimulated boosting reproductive health by increasing blood flow to the uterus
lining making for a healthier pregnancy.
Other conditions that may benefit with acupuncture
infertility treatment include: Spasm-ed tubes, High follicle
stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, Abnormal luteal phase, Polycystic ovarian syndrome, and Recurrent miscarriage and infertility
with an unknown cause, Male factor infertility issues. The most common causes of
male infertility are sperm-related issues which make it harder for a couple to
get pregnant, including: Abnormally shaped sperm, Sperm with poor motility
(movement), Poor sperm quality, Sperm that cannot attach to egg, and Sperm that
cannot penetrate the egg.
Causes of male
infertility include: Hormonal disorders, Chromosomal defects, Deficient testosterone
production, Infection (Infection can cause inflammation of the male
testicles, urethra, or prostate, harming sperm production or movement), Sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs), A male birth defect called hypospadias where
the urinary opening is located on the underside of the penis, rather than the
tip, and Retrograde ejaculation where the sperm enters into the bladder rather
than out of the penis after ejaculation. The male’s testicles must be at the
proper temperature for sperm production to occur.
