Acupuncture and infertility

One of Elliot Wagner's specialties is the treatment of infertility using acupuncture and herbs. His first successful assisted pregnancy was more than fifteen years ago.  He is happy to assist with couples who are trying to conceive naturally or with the help of medical technology such as in-vitro fertilization or other assisted fertility procedures

For centuries acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have been used to improve fertility for millions of couples. Acupuncture and herbs are appropriate for women and men with the following conditions:

• Hormonal imbalances (clinical and subclinical)
• Unexplained infertility
• Anovulation
• Amenorrhea
• Endometriosis
• Recurrent miscarriage
• Irregular menstruation
• Low sperm count
• Impotence
• Low motility

How does Chinese Medicine treat infertility?:

Traditional Chinese medicine views the reproductive system as a network of channels and vessels which deliver Qi (energy) and blood to the internal organs keeping hormonal activity balanced and functioning normally. This network can become damaged by stress, poor diet and exercise habits and toxins in the environment, all of which can throw the body and it’s systems out of balance.

The reproductive process is so delicate that in some cases even a slight imbalance can throw the system off enough that it becomes difficult to conceive. Chinese medicine uses acupuncture and herbs along with diet and lifestyle changes to gently direct the whole body back into balance, thereby enabling conception to happen naturally.

Are acupuncture and herbs compatible with western fertility treatments?:

Yes, for those couples who have had trouble conceiving and have chosen to use assisted fertility treatments, including acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy has proven to significantly increase the odds of success.

IVF is statistically more effective when combined with acupuncture

Acupuncture is a proven method for increasing the odds of conception for couples going though assisted fertility. Recently there was a study that was published in western medical journals which showed that acupuncture can increase the odds of success during assisted fertility treatments by over 40%. 

Click on the links below to view research on acupuncture and fertility.

• Acupuncture 'boosts IVF success' [BBC News]
• Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy [National Center for Biotechnology Information]
• Study on relationship between ovulation inducing effect of drug-acupuncture and endometrial contents of estradiol receptor and progesterone receptor [National Center for Biotechnology Information]
• Does acupuncture treatment affect sperm density in males with very low sperm count? A pilot study. [National Center for Biotechnology Information]
• Effect of acupuncture on sperm parameters of males suffering from subfertility related to low sperm quality. [National Center for Biotechnology Information]

Related conditions which for which acupuncture and herbs are appropriate:

Elliot Wagner has enjoyed excellent success in treating the following conditions:

• Morning sickness
• Stimulating the onset of labor in full term pregnancies
• Post natal difficulties including fatigue, anemia, low milk production and vaginal dryness
• Post partum depression
• Menstrual difficulties including cramping and pain, migraines, nausea, heavy bleeding, mid cycle bleeding, amenorrhea (no period).
• Menopausal problems including hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, depression and low sex drive
• Other gynecological problems such as chronic yeast infections, pain during intercourse and herpes simplex.