M.Cristina Kell, L.Ac., LMT

Fertility 

Acupuncture's role in the journey from conception to delivery

Acupuncture can help to increase the chances of achieving pregnancy in the following ways:
* Regulate Menstruation - controlling irregular menstruation may enable couples to better predict the time of ovulation. It is important for a woman to ovulate at the optimal time so that the body is prepared to transport the egg and receive the embryo.
* Increase Uterine Lining - acupuncture may increase the blood flow to the uterus, resulting in a thicker uterine lining. This creates a more nurturing environment for an embryo to implant.
* Improve Sperm - studies have shown that acupuncture can increase sperm count, sperm motility, and the percentage of sperm that are normal within a given ejaculate. 

If you are going through ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology such as IUI, IVF, donor Cycle, etc), acupuncture can also help
* Regulate Hormones - this is important, because a woman's hormone levels must fall within a desired range in order to continue procedure.
* Increase the likelihood of Implantation - a study conducted in Germany showed that the addition of two acupuncture treatments increased the success rate of IVF from 26% to 43%. (This was done with two, standardized treatments; done on the day of transfer. Some experts assert that a more thorough course of customized treatments could increase the chances of success by up to 60%).
*Moderate the Side Effects of Hormone Therapy - the medications given during ART are very powerful and can cause unwanted side effects such as hotflashes irritability, and insomnia. Patients who have undergone ART with acupuncture report that the side effects were either minimized or eliminated.
* Increase and strengthen the immune system.
* Relieve Stress - IVF can be a very stressful course of events. Acupuncture has been shown to increase the level of Beta-Endorphins (the body's natural feel-good chemical) in blood.   A study done at the University of California in San Diego showed that high levels of stress can impair a woman’s fertility by as much as 93%.

Once a woman is pregnant, acupuncture may help:
*Relieve Morning Sickness
*Decrease the chances of miscarriage
*Alleviate back pain
*Correct a breech presentation
*Assist to induce labor (when the time is right)
*Help with post-partum pain and depression
*Regulate lactation

When should I start acupuncture for fertility? In order to maximize benefits acupuncture is commonly started three to four months before an insemination, in vitro fertilization (IVF), or donor-egg transfer. However, it is never too late to start!

How long should I continue treatment once I am pregnant? Acupuncture should continue, at a minimum, through week twelve of your pregnancy in order to help prevent the possibility of miscarriage.