Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese treatment that has been around for over 2000 years. Developed in China, the practice of acupuncture is based on the belief that a block in the vital energy flow in the body can cause chi imbalances, which is believed to be the root cause of many of the diseases suffered by people. These obstructions can be removed and the energy flow of the body can be manipulated by the insertion of slender needles into specific locations of the body. There are over 2000 different acupoints on the human body and the problem determines which insertion points should be used. Acupuncture is now used all over the world to treat a variety of conditions, like infertility, sciatica, low back pain, Meniere's disease, retinitis and nocturnal enuresis.
How Does Acupuncture Treat Infertility?
The use of acupuncture to cure infertility is a comparatively new concept for western societies. The theory behind acupuncture for infertility is that acupuncture will increase the amount of blood flow to the sexual organs and stabilize the hormones present in the body. This practice is recognized to be effective by increasing ovarian effectiveness in women and assisting in sperm creation for men.
Using acupuncture for infertility treatment is most regularly used when a couple is experiencing functional issues, like erectile dysfunction or infrequent ovulation. In some cases, acupuncture is used as supplemental procedure for in vitro fertilization, helping women to relax their uteruses during the embryo transfer process. A study conducted in 2002 by German researchers found that acupuncture improved the success rate of in vitro fertilization by up to 16% and reduced the amount of miscarriages in women receiving in vitro fertilization by 12%.
What's It Like To Go Through an Acupuncture Treatment?
Acupuncture is a reasonably painless procedure and side effects are very uncommon. The most common adverse events reported include needles broken beneath the skin, the transmission of infectious agents and minor bleeding at the insertion point. These risks will be very much reduced if the acupuncturist is a licensed and experienced professional that has gone through the required 2000 to 3000 hours of training and has passed the required board exam.
Acupuncture for infertility treatment can be a long-winded process. In most cases, acupuncture therapy requires 12 individual appointments, lasting about an hour in length and occurring weekly. During this hour long appointment, a physical examination will be given and any complications or issues that have arisen since the last appointment will be examined.
Using acupuncture to treat infertility is quickly gaining acceptance in the USA. Although whether the procedure is effective is hotly debated among doctors, the fact of the matter is that it seems to work and it certainly doesn't hurt to try. For couples who have been trying to conceive a child without success, using acupuncture therapy to aid in infertility treatment may give them the boost they need to finally have a baby.
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Natalie Williams is the author of Pregnancy101.net, a treasure tome full of pregnancy tips on pregnancy symptoms, conception, fertility, birth and breastfeeding issues. Be sure to discover a woman's infertility story on how she overcame multiple miscarriages to become pregnant in her thirties.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
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