North Carolina
Natural Fertility Center
Natural Fertility Center
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Acupuncture
For Patients wanting to conceive naturally Acupuncture can:
- Increase blood flow to the reproductive organs to increase follicle maturation.
- Increase sperm production, motility, and morphology.
- Reduce stress and its debilitating effects on your Fertility Potential.
- Balance your emotions and anxiety.
For Patients doing Western therapies to increase their Fertility Potential Acupuncture can:
- Increase rates of implantation and success with IVFs and IUIs.
- Reduce costs associated with ART (Assisted Reproductive Therapies) by increasing odds of success and minimizing IUI
- and IVF attempts.
- Improve follicle quality and fertilization rates.
- Maximize results from IVF cycles with better quality embryos that will be transferred on Day 5 and have more to freeze
- for future FETs.
There have been many studies on the effects of acupuncture on fertility. There are some links at the bottom of the page for
you to explore on your own. Below is a link to several Articles about Acupuncture and Fertility.
Link to Acupuncture Article
Links to Research: Female Fertility Enhancement
Paulus W, Zhang M, Strehler E, El-Danasouri I, Sterzik K.
Influence of Acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproductive therapy.
Fertility and Sterility, Vol. 77, No. 4, April 2002
160 women with good embryo quality embryos having a 25 minute pre and post acupuncture session with embryo transfer and a
control group receiving embryo transfer only. After 6 weeks, (34 of the 80) 42.5% that received acupuncture had the presence of
a fetal sac during an ultrasound examination. Only (21 of the 80) 26.3% from the control group had the same positive result.
Link to Study.
Westergaard L, Mao Q, Krogslund M, Sandrini S, Lenz S, Grinsted J.
Acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer significantly improves the reproductive outcome in infertile
women: a prospective, randomized trial.
Fertility and Sterility, Vol. 85, No. 5, May 2006
The objective of this study was similar to the one above except the researchers added a study group that received acupuncture
2 days after IVF transfer(ICSI included in this protocol). Group 1 (n=95) received acupuncture the day of transfer, Group 2 (n=91)
received acupuncture 2 dayspost transfer, and Group 3 (n=87) was the control group. Group 1 had a clinical pregnancy rate of 37
of 95(39%), Group 2 had 28 of 91(31%), and Group 3 had 19 of 87(22%). Link to Study.
Stener-Victorin E, Waldenstrom U, Anderson S, Wikland M.
Reduction of blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries of infertile women with electro-acupuncture.
Human Reproduction, Vol. 11, No. 6, June 1996
The pulsatility index(PI) of infertile, but otherwise healthy women was the focus of this study. Electro-acupuncture(EA)
treatment was given to these women twice a week for 4 weeks.
(GnRha)Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog was used to exclude any fluctuating endogenous hormone effect on the PI.
Compared to the mean baseline PI, the PI shortly after the eighth EA treatment and 10-14 days after the EA period was
significantly reduced. This equates to more blood flow to the reproductive organs, which can yield better oocyte quantity and
quality before retrieval for IVF transfer. Link to Study.
Manheimer E, Zhang G, Udoff L, Haramati A, Langenberg P, Berman B, Bouter L.
Effects of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilization:
systematic review and meta-analysis.
British Medical Journal, Vol. 336, p. 545-9, March 2008
This research analysis collected data on previous studies on acupuncture used as an adjuvant to embryo transfer in women
undergoing in vitro fertilization. The meta-analysis viewed a total of seven trials including 1336 women undergoing IVF.
Conclusion: Current preliminary evidence suggests that acupuncture given with embryo transfer improves rates of pregnancy and
live birth among women undergoing IVF. Link to Study.
Links to Research: Male Fertility Enhancement
Pei J, Strehler E, Noss U, Abt M, Piomboni P, Baccetti B, Sterzik K.
Quantitative evaluation of spermatozoa ultra structure after treatment for idiopathic male infertility.
Fertility and Sterility, Vol. 84, No. 1, July 2005
Acupuncture was the only treatment allowed for subfertile men in Group 1 twice weekly for 5 weeks. Group 2 was the control
group with no treatment. Statistical evaluation using (TEM) Transmission Electron Microscopy after the series of acupuncture
treatments showed a significant increase in the percentage and number of sperm without ultra structural defects in the total
ejaculates. Improvements in acromosome position and shape, and accessory fibers of sperm organelles were significant.
Link to Study.
Fu B, Lun X, Gong Y.
Effects of the combined therapy of acupuncture with herbal drugs on male infertility.
Journal of TraditionBoldal Chinese Medicine, Vol. 25, No. 3, September 2005
The objective was to study the clinical effects of oral prednisone vs. acupuncture and herbal therapy in 100 men with positive
(AsAb) antisperm antibodies. The total effective rate was 64% with the oral prednisone and 90% for the acupuncture and herbal
therapy group. Link to Study.
Siterman S, Eltes F, Wolfson V, Zabludovsky N, Vartoov B.
Effects of acupuncture on sperm parameters of males suffering from subfertility related to low sperm quality.
Archives of Andrology, Vol. 39, No. 2, September 1997
A group of men had acupuncture treatments twice weekly for 5 weeks and their sperm was analyzed one month prior to treatment
and one month post treatment. The expanded semen analysis included routine and ultra morphological observations. The fertility
index was improved in total functional sperm fraction, percentage of viability, total motile spermatozoa per ejaculate, and integrity
of axonema. Link to Study.
Garfunkel E, Cedenho A, Yamamura Y, Srougi M.
Effects of acupuncture and moxa treatment in patients with sperm abnormalities.
Asian Journal of Andrology, Vol. 5, No. 4, December 2003
Men with semen abnormalities in concentration, morphology, and/or progressive motility without apparent cause were treated
for 10 weeks. Semen analysis was performed befroe and after the treatment course. The control group used sham acupuncture for
treatment. The study vs. sham group had a significant increase in normal shaped sperm, count, and a higher percentage of motility.
Link to Study.
