At Inspire Family Acupuncture we have personally experienced the stress, grief, and fear that can come along with trying to conceive. Whether you're hoping to conceive with a partner, as a solo parent, or through egg or embryo freezing, we know that repeated failures are agonizing. Thankfully, acupuncture with a fertility specialist is a great ally in the conception process. Why Does Acupuncture Help? Acupuncture is highly effective at re-setting the nervous system, taking you from a state of "fight, flight or freeze" to a state of "rest and digest" where you feel calm and your body can focus better on reproduction, digestion, and sleep. Furthermore, acupuncture can help release energetic blocks in the body -- so whether you're experiencing tightness in the chest with stress, a heavy feeling of grief, that rising heat sensation of anger, or the oppressive heaviness of depression and grief, acupuncture can help the body to rebalance those patterns and feel more healthy and whole. When you're TTC and you see a fertility focused acupuncturist they will have a framework to understand your experience in the context of not only emotions but physical sensations and fertility outcomes. Your acupuncture session can be focused on emotional health and healing along with physical health and healing, leading to improved fertility. I'm Already Exhausted From My Fertility Bloodwork and Injections... And I'm Afraid of More Needles Acupuncture has an unfair disadvantage with the word "needles." The needles used in acupuncture are literally hair-thin and can be bent and tied in a knot. The sensation of receiving an acupuncture needle is in no way comparable to a hypodermic needle used for injections, a needle used for tattooing, or a needle used for piercing ears. Acupuncture is substantially gentler and many people find that they barely feel most of the acupuncture needles that are inserted. People who are new to acupuncture often don't appreciate that after the initial placement of the needles their body will release neurotransmitters including endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin, all of which reduce pain and improve mood. Many people feel pleasantly drowsy or nap during an acupuncture session and finish their treatment feeling calm and at ease -- often for the first time in months. How Often Should I Receive Treatment? Fertility-focused acupuncturists will often recommend acupuncture once or twice weekly to support both emotional and physical health. The answer may be different depending where you are in your stage of TTC or with advanced fertility techniques such as egg and embryo freezing. For those who are time- and/or resource-constrained, Chinese herbal medicine can be a helpful ally for continuing treatment. Herbs taken daily can support both emotional and physical health, improving fertility day by day. These are a good option no matter how frequently you're able to come in for acupuncture treatment. How Do I Get Started? We recommend calling your local fertility acupuncturist for a consultation to see if acupuncture is the right fit for you. We always offer free consultation calls at Inspire Family Acupuncture. We wish you the best in your conception journey and look forward to supporting your health!