Acupuncture and Infertility - Needle or Needless Therapy?

{Acupuncture and Infertility} – Tracing Its Roots

Acupuncure, an ancient Chinese healing tradition, dates back over 1,000 years.  In the West, many people in the field of medicine consider it a valid procedure for treating an array of ailments.  It can help improve the skin, relieve muscle stress, and eliminate smoking habits, among many others.  Researches show that acupuncture greatly helps couples who are having a hard time making a baby.

 

The West’s Point Of View

Despite its popularity, a lot of Westerners still doubt the effectiveness of acupuncture.  No scientific evidence is available to support acupuncture and, as a result, many healthcare professionals are reluctant to recommend it.  The National Institutes of Health in the US says that researches are currently being conducted on the issue.

Health Risks

Acupuncture, when done by a trained acupuncturist, is normally painless.  Very few patients experience adverse effects.  Common risks associated with the practice of acupuncture are organ puncturing, forgotten needles, some bleeding (although very minimal), and the spreading of infection.  These can be eliminated by having the treatment peformed by an experienced professional.    However, acupuncture should not be applied to individuals with bleeding disorders and people using blood thinners.

A Single or Complementary Process

Acupuncture may be used as an alternative to fertility issues, especially when used as a single treatment.  It may also be considered a reliable add-on to the modern fertility programs we have today.  When used by itself, acupuncture benefits those who have functional problems, like intermittent ovulation, better.  By itself, effectiveness in treating structural problems, as with sperm duck blockage, could be weak.

Some acupuncturists urge patients to use Chinese herbs in addition to acupuncture treatments and other procedures.  Persons under medical care should check with their doctor before taking herbs.  There are some herbs that interfere with the correct mechanism of certain fertility medications and procedures.

{Acupuncture for Fertility} – Does It Work?

How acupuncture works as a {infertility cure} is still debatable.  However, practitioners emphasize this age-old treatment’s ability to normalize the body’s functions.  It helps boost blood flow into reproductive organs and regulates hormone levels.  Ovarian function is boosted and sperm production is enhanced, as a result.

Acupuncture has been found to benefit women who are using it in conjunction with therapies that aim to increase fertility.   Acupuncture has been found to help women relax while undergoing fertility procedures.  Women undergoing IVF, or in vitro fertilization, boost their conception rate with the introduction of acupuncture into the program.

Selecting The Best Practitioner

In order to practice acupuncture, doctors are required to complete more or less 300 hours of special training before they are awarded a certification.  Anybody who would like to enter the field of acupuncture professionally must first go through 2000 to 3000 hours of training and pass the board examination.

A lot of people are into acupuncture nowadays, and this number is rising by the day.  To ensure that potential patients land in the hands of good practitioners, a few things must be considered.  A background check on the selected acupuncture expert must be done prior to agreeing to any procedure.  A practitioner should have the training and certification required by the state or other government authority where he or she conducts practice.One can find good recommendations from family and friends who have tried acupuncture services of certain providers.

 

Future patients must ask for a ballpark figure of cost to be financially prepared for the treatment.  Many individuals are relieved that some insurance plans cover charges for acupuncture treatments.

Know What to Expect

One has to go through several acupuncture sessions in order to attain the best results.  To get the best out of acupuncture, regular visits must me made to the chosen practitioner, which can run between a few weeks to a few months.  Patients should expect each visit to their acupuncturist to be at least an hour long, with time for discussion of lifestyle and present health condition, as well as thoughts and queries about the process.

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