Acupuncture and Pregnancy Rates

Does traditional Chinese Acupuncture increase a woman’s chances of pregnancy? Up-to-date research has shown that Acupuncture treatment can positively impact those trying to conceive and can aid the conception process. Over the past twenty years, fertility problems have risen dramatically, with at least 25% of couples in the UK experiencing difficulties becoming pregnant when planning for a baby. As a result, more couples are turning to acupuncture for fertility treatments to help them start a family.

Benefits of Acupuncture 

Acupuncture has been shown to potentially enhance blood circulation to the reproductive organs, balance hormone levels, and regulate the menstrual cycle. This holistic approach may also improve the uterine lining and the quality of eggs produced. Furthermore, research indicates that conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis may experience improvement through Acupuncture treatment.

Acupuncture can also enhance overall health, promote relaxation, and improve energy levels. This may support couples in coping with the stress and anxiety often experienced during the journey of trying to conceive. By promoting a calm and positive mindset, acupuncture may enhance the chances of conception. Studies have demonstrated acupuncture’s effectiveness for fertility.

Gerad Kite, an acupuncturist and member of the British Acupuncture Council, explains that “unexplained infertility is becoming widespread as more couples choose to wait until their 30s to start a family.” One study found that acupuncture could more than double pregnancy rates and has been recognised as a viable treatment to improve older parents’ chances of conceiving.

Acupuncture for Pregnancy?

Some of the positive benefits of Acupuncture treatment:

• – Regulation of the menstrual cycle and promotion of regular ovulation
• – Hormonal regulation and the production of a larger number of follicles
• – Improved ovarian function resulting in better quality eggs
• – Enhanced vitality of sperm
• – Relief from the side effects of IVF medications
• – Increased thickness of the uterine lining to encourage successful       implantation
• – Reduced chance of miscarriage after pregnancy

Acupuncture Research During Pregnancy

 A 2004 study conducted by the Reproductive Medicine and Fertility Centre in Colorado found that 51% of women who underwent both IVF and acupuncture simultaneously became pregnant, compared to only 36% of those who received IVF alone. Furthermore, the latter group had higher rates of miscarriage and stillbirth (20%) compared to those women who received acupuncture (8%). 

A 2015 study from Shanghai University in China found that acupuncture also benefits male infertility. In this study, men who received acupuncture showed an increased percentage of sperm in their semen, with healthier sperm structure and morphology compared to their counterparts who did not undergo acupuncture treatment. A report published in the journal *Fertility and Sterility* in 2002 indicated that the pregnancy rate for the group receiving acupuncture was 42.5%, while the rate for the group that did not receive acupuncture was only 26.3%.

British Acupuncture Council

The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) has over 3,000 professionally qualified acupuncturists and is the UK’s largest professional body for acupuncture practice. BAcC members employ a traditional, holistic style of acupuncture diagnosis and treatment that has been developed and refined over 2,000 years. To gain BAcC membership, practitioners must complete extensive training in traditional acupuncture, which includes a minimum of three years of full-time or four years of part-time equivalent study in physiology, anatomy, and other biomedical sciences relevant to acupuncture practice.

 Acupuncturist Helen Taylor Weekes

Helen Taylor-Weekes has been involved in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) acupuncture, infertility, IVF, male fertility, and pregnancy for over 35 years. As an acupuncturist, healthcare advisor, teacher, consultant, and mother, she has worked in both the NHS and private clinics across the southeast. Helen is a co-owner of the Hatfield Practice, and many couples seek her advice on how to prepare optimally for all the essential stages of conception, pregnancy, and childbirth.