Acupuncture is a Traditional Chinese Medicine technique that involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body to promote balance. It has been used for centuries to treat a wide range of conditions, including infertility.
Infertility affects 1 in 6 couples trying to conceive. It is defined as the inability to conceive after one year of regular, unprotected intercourse. The causes of infertility can be complex and may be related to problems with ovulation, hormonal imbalances, poor sperm quality, and structural problems within reproductive organs.
Acupuncture is thought to help with infertility by increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs, reducing stress, and regulating hormones. It may also help to improve the thickness and quality of the endometrial lining, which is important for implantation of a fertilized egg.
Acupuncture and Infertility
There have been several studies conducted on the effectiveness of acupuncture for infertility. One study, published in the journal Fertility and Sterility in 2002, found that acupuncture improved pregnancy rates in women undergoing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
This study included 160 women who were randomly assigned to receive either acupuncture or sham acupuncture (where needles were inserted in non-acupuncture points or not as deeply inserted) before and after their IVF embryo transfer. The women who received acupuncture had a 42.5% pregnancy rate, compared to only 26.3% in the sham group. 1
In 2022, the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology looked into the benefits of acupuncture in people with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). One of the biggest problems in PCOS is a lack of monthly ovulation which means the egg and the sperm can’t meet to make a baby. We can see poorer egg quality from higher blood sugar and insulin levels and increased inflammation in the uterus which is associated with lower implantation rates and thus lower pregnancy rates.
The 2022 review looked at 9 studies that examined acupuncture combined with metformin and compared that to people just taking metformin over 3-6mo. Metformin is a common drug used in PCOS to help with ovulation, lower blood sugar levels, and support weight loss. When people with PCOS took both metformin and went to acupuncture they ovulated more, had lower blood sugar levels, less insulin resistance, and had higher pregnancy rates as compared to people just taking metformin. 2
Acupuncture and Sperm Quality
There are far less studies looking into the benefits of acupuncture on sperm quality. A 2009 Fertility and Sterility study of 29 patients who had a low number of sperm and less sperm moving found that after 6 weeks of acupuncture there was a bump up in the number of sperm moving but no change in the overall number of sperm.
A more recent 2021 review of 7 studies looking at acupuncture with or without conventional medications or comparing acupuncture to antioxidants, didn’t conclude there was a large benefit of acupuncture on its own. The 2021 review did note that the number of moving sperm was higher in those taking medications and doing acupuncture as compared to those just taking medications. The authors concluded more studies were needed to definitively say what benefit acupuncture might have on sperm.3,4
More research over time will help us drill down the exact timing and benefits that acupuncture can provide in people suffering from infertility. We know acupuncture does increase blood flow to the reproductive organs, calm the nervous system, and regulate hormonal imbalances which can improve the chances of conception.
It can be used in conjunction with other fertility treatments, such as IVF and various medications, to improve the chances of pregnancy. As with any intervention, it is important to consult with a qualified practitioner before starting acupuncture for infertility. Speak to a Conceive Health naturopath today.
References:
- Paulus, W. E., Zhang, M., Strehler, E., El-Danasouri, I., & Sterzik, K. (2002). Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy. Fertility and sterility, 77(4), 721–724. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(01)03273-3
- Chen, X., Lan, Y., Yang, L., Liu, Y., Li, H., Zhu, X., Zhao, Y., Long, C., Wang, M., Xie, Q., Li, Z., & Wu, J. (2022). Acupuncture combined with metformin versus metformin alone to improve pregnancy rate in polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in endocrinology, 13, 978280. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2022.978280
- Dieterle, S., Li, C., Greb, R., Bartzsch, F., Hatzmann, W., & Huang, D. (2009). A prospective randomized placebo-controlled study of the effect of acupuncture in infertile patients with severe oligoasthenozoospermia. Fertility and sterility, 92(4), 1340–1343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.02.041
- Jia, W., Wang, C., & Yin, Y. (2021). Acupuncture for oligospermia and asthenozoospermia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine, 100(48), e27816. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000027816
