Acupuncture & Fertility Support

By Michaela Storer

Statistics first:

• Acupuncture can play an important role in supporting conventional medical treatments for infertility.Currently, about 17% couples in industrialised countries seek medical advice for infertility (Cahill 2002). 
• The definition of infertility is usually the failure to conceive after 1 year of unprotected intercourse (European Society 1996). 
• Infertility can be primary, in women who have never conceived, or secondary, in women who have previously conceived. In the UK, about 10-20% of infertility cases are unexplained (Isaksson 2004). 
• The rest are the result of ovulatory failure (27%), tubal damage (14%), endometriosis (5%), low sperm count or quality (19%), or other causes (5%) (Effective Health Care 1992).

Acupuncture can play an important role in supporting conventional medical treatments for infertility.

The aims of infertility treatment in conventional medicine are to achieve the delivery of one healthy baby, and to reduce the distress associated with infertility, with minimal adverse effects. Interventions include intrauterine insemination plus controlled ovarian stimulation, in vitro fertilisation, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonists, clomifene and tamoxifen, laparoscopic ovarian drilling, tubal flushing and laparoscopic ablation of endometrial deposits, depending on the cause of the infertility (Al-Inany 2004).

Most clinical data to date shows that Acupuncture can help fertility in both men and women, and in my experience as an acupuncturist it is particularly successful when the cause of infertility is unexplained. In addition to this Acupuncture can also play an important role in supporting conventional medical treatments for infertility. For more details on this and related research, please visit the British Acupuncture Council website www.acupuncture.org.uk

At Woolpit Complementary we have two experienced Acupuncturists available to help with fertility problems; we can also offer nutritional advice, counselling and other therapies such as Reproflexology, to support you through what can be a very stressful time.

If you would like more information please feel free to email at m.storer.acupuncture@gmail.com

Click below to find out more about our Acupuncturists:
Michaela Storer BA(Hons), Lic Ac, MBAcC.
Pamela D’Alberto BS(Hons), TCM, MBAcC.

Both acupuncturists currently offer  Free Fertility Support Consultations, please contact direct or call 01359 408 011 for more information or to book an appointment.