fertility acupuncture research - bristol acupuncture practice

Acupuncture and Fertility: Research

In the now famous 2002 study from Germany, women undergoing IVF achieved
a 65% increase in pregnancies with just two acupuncture treatments.

Researchers have confirmed that acupuncture:

* Increases chance of pregnancy for women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).
* Regulates menstrual cycle.
* Improves sperm count and motility.
* Reduce stress and anxiety associated with infertility.
* Normalizes hormone and endocrine systems.
* Improves blood flow in the uterus.
* Decreases chance of miscarriage.

In the German study:

The women were divided into 2 groups of 80, both of which recieved convetional IVF treatment. The first group recieved no acupuncture. The women in the other group were given 2 acupuncture treatments, one just before and one just after embrio transfer. The results were that 26.3% of the women who had no acupuncture became pregnant, whereas 42.5% of the women who had the 2 treatments of acupuncture got pregnant. This showed that 65% more women who had acupuncture got pregnant.

Dr. Nancy Synderman, a surgeon and pediatrician, commented:

"There is no doubt, because this was a very well-done study and it was reported in a very highly regarded medical journal, that doctors will sit up and pay attention to it. This is the first time we may have had a serious marriage between an art and science that is so many, many years old, and what is really cutting-edge technology."

The British Acupuncture Council has published a paper drawing together the best research. They found 'acupuncture significantly increased the chances of getting pregnant' when they looked at well constructed, controlled studies of acupuncture and IVF .