Women who are struggling with infertility have many different types of treatments at their disposal. While some of these treatments can be very costly, invasive and time consuming, acupuncture is an option that may be helpful without having some of the same drawbacks that other infertility treatments do. Here are some of the pros and cons of choosing acupuncture for infertility treatment.
Pro: No Damaging Side Effects
Acupuncture is a type of fertility treatment in which very fine needles are inserted into the body in an effort to bring about changes that increase fertility. Women who are suffering from Amenorrhea, elevated FSH levels, endometriosis, dysmennorhea, erratic menstrual cycles, ovulation issues, egg quality issues or thin uterine lining can be helped with acupuncture. While the medications and procedures that are often used to treat such conditions can have very severe side effects, including nausea, weight gain, hormonal problems, hot flashes, mood swings and abdominal discomfort or pain, acupuncture does not typically have any of these side effects. Since it does not put any drugs into the body, it is normally very well tolerated by all patients.?
Pro: Helps Follicle Production and Blood Flow
Acupuncture may help women to conceive in a number of different ways. Some of the most dramatic changes that it brings about are to thicken the uterine lining, help to urge production of more follicles and to increase the flow of blood to the female reproductive system. Since the best chance of implantation occurs with a high number of follicles and a thick uterine lining, acupuncture can be a valuable help in this.
Pro: May Help Male Fertility
Fertility problems are sometimes due to male issues such as low sperm count and low motility. Acupuncture has been shown to help increase both sperm count and motility in some cases, which can potentially make the difference that will allow a couple to conceive.
Con: Some Problems Can't Be Resolved
Not every fertility problem can be helped with acupuncture. In some cases, such as serious structural abnormalities of the uterus or the ovaries, or severe internal adhesions, acupuncture will not be able to make significant changes. In cases where adhesions or other internal scarring is preventing pregnancy, the patient will typically need to undergo a surgical procedure to remove them so that the organs are functioning properly.
Con: Definitive Proof Does Not Exist
While many women and men have stated that acupuncture made a difference in their ability to conceive and helped them to increase their fertility, there are no studies at this time that prove acupuncture is a valid infertility treatment. Since many acupuncturists practice different methods and use other therapies in combination with acupuncture, assembling results can be difficult.
Con: Other Lifestyle Changes May Be Required
Acupuncture is often combined with other types of therapy to maximize the chance of effectiveness. Patients may need to take daily herbal supplements or change their diet, according to what their acupuncture practitioner advises. Typically, acupuncture is not the kind of treatment that will work with no input from the patient at all.
