The role of acupuncture as a method of natural fertility support

The role of acupuncture as a method of natural fertility support

A Question & Answer session with Sue Whalley-Lloyd

Q: Can Acupuncture support my natural fertility journey?

A: This is a great question and can be answered on many different levels. If you are already on that journey, then your interest in Acupuncture may be because things are taking longer than expected. From a Western medicine perspective, it is said that most healthy couples who are actively trying to conceive will become pregnant within two years (90%)1 and that the majority will do so within 12 months (about 80%)1.  These timescales can be compromised by e.g., age, shiftwork, individual health- such as PCOS, lifestyle, and the big one -stress….

The NHS suggest seeing a GP after a year – sooner if over 36 or you are aware of potential fertility issues (male or female)1.

Acupuncture for natural fertility can be started as soon as you know you are ready to conceive, particularly if you are over 36yrs or your partner is over 40 yrs.

Be aware that if you are over 36yrs then acupuncture can still support you, but I would also recommend that you start researching IVF options if you have not considered this so far. The main reason for this is that access to IVF via the NHS can be limited by your age, weight, previous pregnancies and local demand2.

Acupuncturists trained in fertility acupuncture (for example those who are members of the Acupuncture Fertility Network)3 can help you to prepare your body and mind for conception and pregnancy.  Your acupuncture treatments will be based on your current health and emotional situation.  You will also receive dietary and lifestyle advice as required.  The fundamental approach of Acupuncture is to treat you holistically based on your individual needs.4 

 

Q: So how does this work?

A: I like to think of Acupuncture as a way of nudging you towards the best version of yourself within the constraints of real life (e.g. your needs are likely to be different if you are working full time or you have a very physical job or you have to work nightshifts or you are struggling with secondary infertility, or you are supporting family members with health issues etc). Acupuncture has been shown to; influence hormones, encourage blood supply to the womb, improve egg quality, lower inflammation, reduce the stress response3.

The selection of specific acupuncture points for you will be determined by your needs including the qualities of your monthly cycle and where you are within it.  It may be that your cycle is the difficulty; for some women this can be an ongoing challenge due to PCOS or endometriosis, for others their cycle may appear completely normal despite a hormone imbalance or other health and wellbeing issues.4  For example, Stress is known to have a major negative impact on fertility and pregnancy. If the external situation cannot be changed, then Acupuncture provides a natural way of reducing the impact of stressors by calming and lowering the stress response.5

 

Q: Is Acupuncture just for Women?

A: We shouldn’t forget that it ‘takes two to tango’ and supporting male fertility is also an important consideration (e.g. low sperm count, motility or atypical morphology are some of the things that can reduce male fertility) this is an increasing concern in western countries. It is worth understanding that what is considered ‘normal’ in terms of sperm profile today is significantly worse than it was 20 years ago! Quality of sperm also starts to decline once the man is in his early 40s6– it isn’t just women who suffer from reducing egg quality and quantity with age, sperm quality changes too, though sperm quality is far easier to improve than egg quality6.

 

 

Q: So what should I do next?

A: It is always worth having an up-to-date review of your fertility i.e. within the last 6 months. For women this means a blood test for day 3-5 hormone levels plus Day 21 level of progesterone. It is also useful to have a scan to determine AFC (Antral Follicle Count) to assess egg reserve and to check that tubes and uterus are normal7.  For men this means a sperm assessment plus hormone blood tests.7  Based on this information plus a full traditional diagnosis – preferably for both of you, it is possible to create a personalised acupuncture support package.

From experience, the best opportunity for natural fertility success would be to follow a 12-week programme of acupuncture including lifestyle support*.  What this would look like depends on your diagnosis.  The reason for 12 weeks is that it takes roughly this amount of time to influence menstrual cycle, improve sperm quality8 if required and balance hormones. Female egg quality can also be improved but it is now thought that this takes longer, possibly up to 9 months when based on lifestyle and diet changes6.  This doesn’t mean that you should avoid pregnancy during this time – a healthy sex life is always a good thing!

 

Q: What should I do if I am interested in knowing more?

A: Before deciding whether Acupuncture is for you, I recommend that you text me/WhatsApp me or call the clinic and I can arrange an initial free WhatsApp appointment to review your fertility journey so far and answer any questions you may have. If it looks as though acupuncture may be a good support system for you, then my next suggestion would be that you, and if appropriate your partner, come to the clinic for a more detailed discussion. Following this I would book one or both of you in for a Full Diagnosis with first treatment. This would lead to a personalised plan of acupuncture and lifestyle support.

 

Please note that a Full Diagnosis appointment is 90 minutes £100 per person.  Follow up appointments are usually 45-50 mins at £63.

Sue Whalley-Lloyd (Mob: 07929 846399)

LicAc, BScHons (Acupuncture), PhD, MBAcC, MAFN

 

*Please note that a successful pregnancy can never be guaranteed due to the large range of external influences each person will be experiencing

 

References

  1. Infertility | Health topics A to Z | CKS | NICE
  2. Recommendations | Fertility problems: assessment and treatment | Guidance | NICE
  3. Acupuncture Fertility Network – network of fertility acupuncturists
  4. D’Alberto A (2019) My Fertility Guide – how to get pregnant naturally
  5. Wild B, Brenner J, Joos S, Samstag Y, Buckert M, Valentini J. (2020) Acupuncture in persons with an increased stress level-Results from a randomized-controlled pilot trial. PLoS One. 2020 Jul 23;15(7): e0236004. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236004. PMID: 32701984; PMCID: PMC7377446. (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7377446/)
  6. Fernandes M (2020) How far can female fertility be extended, posted on BBC Future (bbc.co.uk)
  7. Szmelskyj I & Aquilina L (2015) Acupuncture for IVF and Assisted Reproduction an integrated approach to treatment and management
  8. Villines Z (2019) What to know about sperm production in Medical News Today (medicalnewstoday.com)