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Clinically reviewed by: Gudrun Wu Snyder, Doctor of Acupuncture, DAc, LAc, Dipl.Ac (NCCAOM), MSAc
The Moon Rabbit team is comprised of practitioners who are knowledgeable about reproductive health from both a professional and personal standpoint. Moon Rabbit Owner, Gudrun Snyder, has been through her own fertility journey after undergoing IVF and acupuncture to conceive her son.
“Acupuncture not only supports your body’s self-healing mechanisms, but also helps improve hormone imbalances, blood circulation, immunity and the activity of neurotransmitters, which are the biochemical messenger system of our body,” says Snyder.
For thousands of years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has helped couples navigate fertility and reproductive health. Today, acupuncture has been beneficial for those trying to conceive naturally and those undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intrauterine insemination (IUI). According to the National Library of Medicine, people who do acupuncture sessions surrounding their embryo transfer are twice as likely to have a confirmed clinical pregnancy than those who did IVF alone.
“At Moon Rabbit, we see both women and men for fertility acupuncture. Ideally we like to see you 3-6 months before you would like to conceive. However, don’t let that stop you from coming in if you are already trying. It’s better that you start now. We usually recommend at least once a week initially and then timed around your cycle or any fertility treatments,” Snyder says.
Research confirms that acupuncture balances hormones and might actually offset the negative effect of stress on reproductive health. In a 2002 study of 160 women undergoing IVF, those who added acupuncture to their treatments had increased pregnancy success. Additionally, a review of 1,231 IVF patients suggests that the benefits may be even greater if women combine Chinese herbs with acupuncture in the months leading up to IVF.
Acupuncture helps:
-Increase blood supply to the lower abdominal region, including the ovaries and uterus to support healthy egg development and improve the quality of uterine lining for successful implantation.
-Reduce inflammation, therefore increasing the likelihood of pregnancy success.
-Regulate menstrual cycles.
-Reduce uterine spasms that may be involved in early pregnancy loss.
The first appointment typically consists of a discussion about medical history, diet and lifestyle. The acupuncturist may look at the patient’s tongue and check pulses. The treatment is typically 20-25 minutes with a few needles. Important FYI: acupuncture needles are very thin and painless — many people fall asleep!
Acupuncture for fertility should not be used on its own and you should tell your Western physician about any treatments, medications, diets, and supplements.
