In the U.S., 7.3 million women ages 15 – 44 have experienced infertility, or impaired ability to receive children after one year of attempt, according to a national survey conducted in 2002 by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That accounts for 11.8% of the total women population.
Major causes of infertility include stress, sexually transmitted diseases, overuse of contraceptives, unhealthy lifestyle, and organ conditions, according toFertilebutterfly.com.
Of the 7.3 million, only 6.1% have sought professional diagnosis and treatment, says Newinfertility.com. Only slightly over 1% have taken medical treatments, according to the website.
Major treatment methods for infertility include fertility drugs, surgery, and assisted reproductive technology (ART), depending on multiple factors associated with the couple.
Besides the modern and high-tech treatments, infertile couples could give a shot to the wisdom of the old – acupuncture, a way of Chinese medicine that puts thin needles into the skin on particular spots on the body, sometimes accompanied with heat, pressure or mild electrical current. The “why” of its effects has been debated, but acupuncture is generally believed to influence the energy flow inside of human body.
In a study published in journal Fertility and Sterility in 2002, a research resulted in a substantially higher pregnancy success rate for women who received acupuncture in addition to the traditional vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment protocols.
"It can allow you to cross the line from infertile to fertile by helping your body function more efficiently, which in turn allows other, more modern reproductive treatments, like IVF, to also work more efficiently," says James Dillard, MD, assistant clinical professor, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and clinical adviser to Columbia's Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, reports WebMD.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, acupuncture, through inserting the sterile needles into specific points on the body, the stimulus on those points could regulate the way in which the body functions. “Acupuncture helps by addressing problems that affect fertility such as under-functioning (hypothyroidism) or over-functioning (hyperthyroidism),” states the association.
In using acupuncture to cure infertility, a patient should begin with three times of treatments per week, and gradually reduce the frequency to once a week, according to Ai Ja Lee, a licensed acupuncturist in New York and Florida. Lee, a practitioner certified by NCCAOM (National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine), received Patent Certificate for Alternative Remedy-Based Composition for Enhancing Fertility, effective in conception assistance and miscarriage prevention.
“Many of our patients failed in conceiving through IVF or IUI,” said Lee. “But 70% of those who come to our clinic conceived successfully after the medication.”
“It took some patients just two months till they conceived, though acupuncture was the only treatment they used,” she added. Generally, 3% of patients use acupuncture alone, while 50% use herb tea, and the rest the combination of the two. More information and testimonials are available on Ai La Jee Acupuncture & Herbs website.
There are minimal risks in using acupuncture for fertility treatment, says the American Pregnancy Association. It is recommended to seek treatment from an acupuncturist who specializes in treating fertility disorders. Acupuncture is not contraindicated for anyone regardless of their pathology or what medications they are taking, said the association.
Courtesy:International Business Times
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