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Trying to conceive? Acupuncture can help![/caption]
Are you struggling to get pregnant? Or are you considering freezing your eggs but your doctor has told you that you have diminished ovarian reserve?
A recent review of studies shows that acupuncture can help with diminished ovarian reserve. Scientists measured fertility hormones after a series of acupuncture treatments and found that:
- Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) was decreased. As we age and have fewer eggs, FSH has to increase to cause the release of more eggs. When this hormone is high it indicates there are fewer eggs in reserve. A decreased FSH means that more eggs have become available.
- Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) was increased. AMH is produced by the egg cells, so an increase in AMH likely indicates an increase in the number of egg cells.
- Antral follicle count (AFC) was increased. AFC is a direct measure (by ultrasound) of the follicles which contain eggs during a menstrual cycle. The more antral follicles seen, the more eggs are available for fertilization.
Whether you're planning to freeze eggs or pursue pregnancy, if you have been diagnosed with diminished ovarian reserve, acupuncture can help!
How Does This Help With Fertility?
If you are trying to get pregnant, the more eggs that are available during any given cycle creates more opportunities for successful ovulation and subsequent pregnancy. If you are pursuing egg freezing or in vitro fertilization (IVF), the more eggs you retrieve during any stimulation cycle will reduce the number of cycles you need to complete. Fertility specialists will typically tell you how many eggs or embryos you need to freeze to meet your fertility goals.
How Much Acupuncture Do I Need?
Typically for fertility we recommend acupuncture weekly for three months to alter fertility outcomes. As an egg matures it takes about three months to go through maturation to egg release -- so a three month cycle of fertility acupuncture should affect change. Depending on your particular health situation your practitioner may recommend longer treatment to ensure better results.
What Else Can I Do To Support Fertility?
Your acupuncture practitioner will give you specific recommendations tailored to you to support your fertility efforts. Typically these are lifestyle related recommendations to optimize your health and may include:
- Increased sleep
- Either increased or decreased exercise (too much exercise can overly strain the body)
- Improved diet, or altered times of eating food
- Supplements such as COQ10, a high quality probiotic, or others
How Do I Know If It's Right For Me?
If you're curious about fertility acupuncture to address diminished ovarian reserve, give Inspire Family Acupuncture a call to discuss your health circumstances.
Here's to your family's health!
