Fertility
At RCFA we are specialists in the use of acupuncture-based fertility treatment. Acupuncture is an effective treatment on its own, or in combination with conventional Western medical treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF).(a) The traditional Chinese practice of acupuncture works to improve blood flow in the uterus, which improves the chances of a successful embryo transfer,(b) in addition to reducing stress and depression and moderating hormone levels, also increasing the chances of a successful pregnancy.(c)
Acupuncture is not just for female infertility either. Research has shown that men can benefit from fertility-directed acupuncture treatment as well.(d)
If you have any questions about the acupuncture services we offer or how they might help you, we encourage you to contact us at 207.775.2059.
a) Wolfgang E Paulus, Mingmin Zhang, Erwin Strehler, Imam El-Danasouri, and Karl Sterzik. "Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy". Fertility and Sterility, 77:4 (2002): 721-724
"The analysis shows that the pregnancy rate for the acupuncture group is considerably higher than for the control group (42.5% vs 26.3%; P=.03)"
b) Elisabet Stener-Victorin, Urban Waldenstrodm, Sven A.Andersson, and Matts Wikland. "Reduction of blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries of infertile women with electro-acupuncture". Human Reproduction 11:6 (1996): 1314-1317
"It has been shown in previous studies that a high PI in the uterine arteries is associated with a decreased pregnancy rate following IVF-embryo transfer...In this study, the PI of the uterine arteries was significantly decreased soon after the eighth EA treatment and remained significantly decreased 10-14 days after the EA period. These findings suggest that a series of EA treatments increases the uterine artery blood flow."
