The short answer is yes; but the long answer is more nuanced given your specific circumstances.
Of course the ultimate result when seeking out acupuncture for fertility is achieving pregnancy and holding your tiny miracle in your hands. But what is acupuncture doing and how do we get to the desired outcome? While the overall mechanism of acupuncture – whether its for knee pain, insomnia, or fertility – is to optimize and move energy throughout the body to reach the goal of less pain, better sleep, or a baby.
However, specific to fertility, one way it increases and enhances outcomes is by supporting blood flow to and warming the uterus to make sure it is the perfect home for your future embryo to implant. An added bonus of acupuncture is that your sessions, while targeting fertility and supporting hormones, can serve to support your other needs, like calming your nervous system/anxiety, supporting digestion, or even some mental clarity.
When it comes to matters of fertility, there is a matter of ethics involved when presenting options to patients who are seeking it out as an option.
Some things to consider:
- How long you have already been trying to conceive.
- Whether or not you’ve met with a fertility clinic; and if this is something you even want to do.
- If you’ve met with a clinic, what was their determination?
These pieces of information will help me understand your needs and if and how I can meet them either exclusively with acupuncture or in conjunction with a team of reproductive endocrinologists. What I think is most important to understand is that when I ask these questions, they aren’t because I’m immediately suggesting you do or don’t seek out a fertility clinic; I’m here to support you in achieving your ultimate goal in the way you want.
What is also important is that the statistics your fertility clinic might give you are very different from what we will experience in my treatment room.
What does meeting with me for the first time look like?
One thing I have prided myself on was a medical clinic that didn’t have white walls or felt sterile and uncomfortable. That’s why you will find my walls adorned with a calming soft green hue; the exact name of which I don’t remember, despite the frequency at which people ask. You will also take your shoes off once you enter reception; comfort and cleanliness go hand-in-hand.
Once we sit down together, you will have ideally already completed my intake and other paperwork so we can really spend our time together discussing the matters at hand. We will discuss your goals and how you intend to achieve them. I will give you information from data and experience so that you can decide the best approach for yourself – this is especially true if you haven’t met with other providers just yet.
Now that we’re there, what does treatment with me look like?
Plan to spend one day per week meeting with me for a minimum of 3 months (or 3 cycles) – we will be best friends! As much as I will probably like you very much, I’m not choosing this plan because I selfishly want to hang out with you, but rather because we have to nourish every phase of your cycle to achieve optimal results.
In Chinese Medicine, there are four phases to a woman’s menstrual/ovulatory cycle: Blood, Yin, Qi, Yang.
The Blood Phase
This is associated with the menstrual, or bleeding, phase of the cycle. Due to the drop in hormones estrogen and progesterone in the absence of fertilization, the bleed is the result. Because of these low hormones, it is a time of deep introspection, so if you’re feeling the slow down, embrace it; don’t try to push past.
From an acupuncture standpoint, we are going to nourish and build blood (that is being lost) and to support the impending upswing of hormones that will trigger the next recruits as prospects for ovulation.
Some TCM patterns we may see during this phase:
- Blood Deficiency: light or scanty period; light in color
- Blood Stagnation: painful periods with clotting or dark-colored blood
The Yin Phase
The Western parallel to this phase is the follicular phase. After blood loss, estrogen will begin to rise again to build the lining of the endometrium. This is often a period of social desire and effervescence; if you’re feeling the want to go out and see friends, this is the perfect time to do so; energy is high as the budding follicles (with hopes of becoming eggs) are present.
For your acupuncture treatment this week, we will support estrogen’s rise to trigger Luteinizing Hormone (LH). If you’ve ever purchased “OPKs” or ovulation predictor kits, this is the hormone that is being detected in your urine to signify potential ovulation within the next 12-36 hours.
A TCM pattern we may see during this phase:
- Yin Deficiency: vaginal dryness, scanty cervical mucous, history of low follicle count on trans-vaginal ultrasound
The Qi Phase
This phase includes the immediate days leading up to ovulation, ovulation itself, and the days immediately following ovulation. This is especially true because it I can be difficult to predict ovulation or know exactly and precisely when it has happened. While we have clues that can help, it is always best to cast a little bit of a wider net.
At this time we are supporting the obvious: a healthy ovulation with copious amounts of cervical mucous to help support the sperm in its mission to fertilize the egg.
Some TCM patterns we may see during this phase:
- Liver Qi Stagnation: discomfort with ovulation, headaches around this time, ovulation that may be delated
- Qi Deficiency: weak ovulation, fatigue around this time
The Yang Phase
The Western parallel to this phase is the luteal one; where progesterone is the dominant hormone as a result of successful ovulation. This is the only way progesterone can be produced FYI. Ideally fertilization of the egg took place at ovulation and pregnancy is in its beginning stages.
The goals of treatment at this time are to support the implantation of the embryo into the uterine wall and ensure adequate warmth of the uterus; you are a human incubator after all!
Some TCM patterns we may see during this phase:
- Yang Deficiency: feelings of cold, spotting before periods, history of chemical pregnancies, short luteal phase, insomnia during this phase
- Spleen Qi Deficiency: fatigue, bloating, insomnia during this phase
If pregnancy was not achieved during this first round, we start all over again with the menstruation. Not to be disheartened, as a minimum of 3 months is required when making hormonal changes or any radical adjustments on a physiological level. Depending on your personal health history, one 3-month cycle may be insufficient, or it may be just right.
What if you’re using Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)?
Similar rules apply!
While the above is focused on your physiological, unmedicated cycle, acupuncture will work to support the endeavors of the medications being prescribed by the fertility clinic throughout the various phases. Instead of trying to support the natural rhythm your body has taken, we will work to support the medications in how they are looking to alter your physiology with your goals in mind.
Interested to know if acupuncture for fertility is for you? I’m happy to go over any questions you may have during a discovery call; however, I cannot give you medical advice specific to your needs.
