How Acupuncture
Can Enhance Fertility
Michelle Bouton, L.Ac. MS Oriental Medicine
(423) 612-7494 Bouton-Acupuncture.com
One in six couples have trouble conceiving: delayed motherhood, environmental toxins, and stress, all
common to us, affect hormones. Wherever couples may find themselves in the various phases of
fertility concerns, these challenges can be influenced- gently and safely- by Acupuncture:
1. Influences hormonal pathways to balance production for regulation of menstruation and
ovulation
2. Increases blood flow to ovaries- improves function and nourishes developing follicles. At
menopause, ovarian blood flow is 1/5 that of peak reproductive years.
3. Regulates immune system, which can interfere if overactive
4. Decreases body’s response of stress hormones, balancing brain neurotransmitters, which are
vital to fertility
5. Increases blood flow to uterus, improving endometrial lining for implantation
6. Improves sperm count, motility, morphology
7. Lessens side effects of hormonal treatment
8. Decreases uterine contraction at implantation
9. Decreases chance of miscarriage
Research
Most all studies focus on acupuncture pre- and post-IVF.
A thorough collection of research reviews: www.acupunctureivf.com.
Earliest, most well known “Paulus study” (Germany 2002) gave acupuncture before and after IVF with
a 42% success rate, compared to 26% for control group. Subsequent trials show similar results.
Acupuncture protocols
Acupuncture, by its simple nature of helping the body regulate itself, can provide specific support
during each phase of preparation for pregnancy:
Follicular development phase:
After menstruation: tonify Kidney system, nourish blood.
Follicular maturity and ovulation phase:
Nourish yin fluids, invigorate blood and chi/energy
Luteal phase:
Development of corpus luteum; Tonify Kidney Yang and Spleen Chi/Energy
Atrophy of corpus luteum phase:
Menstrution: invigorate blood and regulate menstruation
The following is a very generalized comparison of Chinese and Western medicine fertility
issues created only for educational purposes, not intended for any type of diagnosis.
Traditional Chinese Common Can compare to: Can compare to:
Medicine pattern symptoms WM female WM male
Yang deficiency Lethargic, cold, hypothyroid, watery Low testosterone,
Qi deficiency sluggish pale mense, late erectile dysfunction,
digestion, brain ovulation, spotting, low sperm motility or
fog, retain water, prolapse. sperm counts.
low libido
Yin deficiency Dry skin, hair, Perimenopausal, low Strong libido, freq dark
eyes, night estrogen, elevated urination, scanty
sweats, feel FSH, thin cervical ejaculate, low sperm
flushed, restless mucous count
Qi or Blood stagnation Tense, internal Dysmenorrhea, irreg Test varicoceles,
stress, constip, mense, emo swings, stress-related
cold extremities, gyn obstructions, impotence, pain in
better with breast tender, elevated testicles/penis
exercise prolactin, fibroid/polyp
Blood deficient quality Pale face/lip/nail, Short pale mense then Low semen volume,
fatigue, dizzy, cramps, amenorrhea low sperm count, poor
weak vision, hair PMS weepy, low morphology, low libido
loss, insomnia estrogen, thin
endometrium
Damp stagnation Retain water, PCOS, freq yeast Reproductive infection,
overweight, brain infection, exc mucous, prostatitis, impotence,
fog, painful PMS bloat, PID, clots discharge, thick
joints/legs, cloudy at mense, semen
urine, fatigue, endometriosis
FMS
