Many modern researchers have confirmed its benefit in the following areas:

• Regulating menstrual cycles
• Invigorating sperm and enhancing a man's sperm count and motility
• Enhancing general health
• Reducing stress, controlling anxiety, enhancing sleep and increasing energy levels
• Balancing endocrine systems
• Improving blood flow in pelvic cavity.
• Increasing the chances of pregnancy for women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF).

Stress can dramatically decrease fertility in both men and women. Acupuncture increases fertility by reducing stress.

Acupuncture and in-vitro fertilization

A study, published in the April, 2002 edition of the medical journal Fertility and Sterility, found that acupuncture increases the chances of becoming pregnant for a significant number of women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF).

Researchers included 160 patients undergoing IVF for the study. The patients, who were all required to have good quality embryos, were evenly and randomly divided into two groups similar in age and diagnosis.

When the patients were examined using ultrasound six weeks after their IVF procedures, the differences in pregnancy rates were notable. In the control group, 26 percent of the women, or 21 out of 80 patients, became pregnant. Of the patients who had received acupuncture treatments, 42 percent of the women, 34 out of 80, became pregnant.

When is Acupuncture NOT the appropriate therapy?

I do not believe this to be the appropriate therapy for infertility involving structural modifications, such as fallopian tube damage or severe endometriosis. Therefore, a complete medical evaluation is recommended to understand the exact nature of the problem.

Men & Infertility