New research was presented this week at the European Society of Reproduction & Embryology in Finland. One of the exciting studies discussed was of 123 women in London, England between the ages of 23-43 years old undergoing either their first or second IVF cycle. They were split into 2 groups - one didn't have any acupuncture and the other had 4 sessions. The results showed a pregnancy rate of 46.2% in the acupuncture group vs 21.7% in the non-acupuncture group!
I do acupuncture for women undergoing IVF on a daily basis and I believe so strongly that it can help outcomes, so it's always nice when scientific studies back me up. Acupuncture can increase blood flow to the ovaries & uterus, it can help relax a women and decrease her stress level, and it can help balance hormone levels & regulate periods. The other benefit that patients report to me is that it's nice to have someone during those acupuncture sessions to ask medical and logistical questions, to cry with, and to bounce ideas off of. Without a doubt, those acupuncture visits are about more than just the needles.
Trying to get pregnant can be very overwhelming, and it's nice to have someone to talk with who understands.
