To insure the best possible chance for pregnancy and reduce complications imbalance in the body must be addressed prior to conception. Applying TCM principles can help prepare both men and women for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). Acupuncture and Chinese medicine have been shown to enhance Western–based reproductive procedures in the following areas:

• Produce higher quality eggs
• Produce a larger number of follicles
• Increase thickness of the uterine lining
• Regulate hormone levels
• Reduce the side-effects of IVF medications
• Prevent uterine contraction
• Improve sperm count, motility, morphology
• Relax and mitigate stress
• Decrease miscarriage rates

Clinical studies have also demonstrated higher success rates when using acupuncture and herbs in conjunction with IVF and other assisted reproductive techniques. According to a German study (Paulus and Zhang, et al1), the group that received acupuncture before and after embryo transfer showed a 42.5% pregnancy rate, while the in-vitro group without treatment had a 26.3% pregnancy rate. A second study that used the same protocol also found that miscarriage and tubal pregnancy rates were lower in the group that received acupuncture treatments (American Society for Reproductive Medicine, October 2004).

Patients normally begin treatment sessions 1-2 times per week for at least 3 months prior to ART procedure. Nutritional and lifestyle changes should also be incorporated into their daily routine for optimal results. Herbal medicine can be prescribed on an individual basis. If undergoing IVF, pre- and post- transfer acupuncture sessions are recommended as well as once weekly treatments throughout the entire cycle.

To see a recent video on Channel 4 news about acupuncture and infertility, click HERE