Delayed fertility affects 1 in 6 Australians with causes shared equally between men and women. Making the decision to start a family is an exciting time for couples however this can quickly turn to stress, disappointment and feelings of inadequacy due to increasing infertility rates and the rush to ‘get on with it’. Making a few small lifestyle changes in the short-term can save you and your partner a lot of unnecessary hurdles and improve the chances of healthier babies.

Acupuncture, herbal supplementation, nutrition and exercise not only detoxify and restore but evidence now shows the benefits acupuncture and herbs have for increasing sperm counts, sperm quality, ovulation, egg and uterine quality, sexual performance, conception and live birth rates.

Acupuncture delivers healthy results
Research has proven that acupuncture has a protective effect against the stress responses and enhances fertility. It prevents biochemical stress-induced elevations in areas of the brain responsible for the immune system, neuroendocrine function, stress modulation, sexuality, energy storage and digestion. “We found that acupuncture blocks the chronic, stress-induced elevations of the HPA axis hormones and the sympathetic NPY pathway.” (Journal of Endocrinology 2012)

The British Medical Journal also reports that Acupuncture increased the chances of pregnancy with IVF by 65% (February, 2008) with only two treatments – just before and after embryo transfer. The remarkable success rate occurred across seven acupuncture trials involving 1,366 women in a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The Infertility and Sterility Journal (April, 2007) reported that women who received acupuncture during the stimulation phase of an in vitro fertilization cycle and again immediately after embryo transfer have a higher live-birth rate than do controls. “Other studies have looked at pregnancy rates, but what is really important is whether or not there is a baby”.

Acupuncture stimulates and regulates the natural functions of the body to restore health. For instance, it does not work by introducing replacement hormones, enzymes, or blood cells, but instead, it assists the body to resume its normal function of producing them. This process takes more time than some modern therapies which might introduce foreign substances to the body to radically control reproductive function. However, although the results of Chinese Medicine are not always instant, they are safe, effective and long-lasting.

The mechanism by which acupuncture improves implantation and live birth rates results from acupuncture’s ability to regulate the body’s hormone levels (particularly prolactin and cortisol) to mimic these hormone levels in a natural cycle.

How do you like your eggs? The bottom line in the success of all fertility interventions depends on what there is to work with in the first place. When outsourcing your sperm and eggs to fertility clinics and Assisted Reproductive Technologies the material that you offer is all the technicians have to work with. Extracting, storing and fusing your 50% of the embryo equation can also degrade its quality and survival rate. Compared to modern fertility technology, chances of conceiving naturally are still higher. Therefore it’s often simply a case of cultivating a better reproductive environment through improved general health before planting the seeds of the future.

50% of miscarriages are due to chromosomal factors. Improving the quality of both sperm and eggs in advance will reduce these risks and ensure your newborn has good immunity and post-natal development. Before planting the seed, first you must cultivate the soil. It takes 116 days for sperm to fully mature while ova are susceptible to damage100 days before ovulation occurs. What your health is like in that four-month period and what you do to reduce sperm and egg damaging factors in that time will have repercussions for the next generation. Ensuring your liver is detoxified, hormones are balanced and healthy blood is flowing to the ovaries, uterus and testes will guarantee your future children stronger DNA.

Women’s health and  pregnancy
Chinese medicine has a long history of treating women. It views them as having special attributes which must be accommodated in treatment, and does not accept that irregular menstruation, period pain or menopausal symptoms are normal or something that a woman should simply put up with. Optimizing your own health by increasing strength and vitality prior to conception will not only achieve conception, but promote a healthier pregnancy, safer birth, better lactation, lessen the chances of miscarriage and post-natal depression.

Amongst the conditions resolved by acupuncture are: menstrual pain, endometriosis, polycystic ovaries, pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), depression, anxiety, insomnia, short cycles, long cycles, missed periods, excessive menstruation, acne, migraines, headaches, fatigue, abnormal vaginal discharge, breast pain, nipple discharge, insufficient lactation, constipation, hemorrhoids, prolapse and cervical dysplasia.

Men’s health and fertility                                  According to current standards the average number of a modern man’s sperm sample is 39million. That may sound like plenty but only fifty years ago the average sample size was closer to 100million. That’s more than a 50% reduction. Fertility clinics are happy to accept men with counts as low as 15million to be used in IVF processes. It may not seem such a big deal when all you need is one sperm and one egg to make a baby – but both those things need to be of an excellent quality.

Acupuncture’s positive side-effects such as improved sleep quality, greater energy reserves, weight-loss, improved digestion, improved emotional position and considerable reduction of stress levels makes for better blood and sperm quality. A study published in the July 2005 issue of the Journal of Fertility and Sterility found that acupuncture helped infertile men by improving sperm quality in their semen.

Everyday toxins in modern life contribute to poor sperm production, antibodies, germ cells, free radicals and oxidative stress. Challenges to male fertility can be simply be due to poor recovery from infection. Caffeine, alcohol, smoking, heavy metals, plastics, localized trauma, reversed vasectomies and inherited genetic disorders also contribute to today’s low sperm standards.

Is improving my sex-life possible with acupuncture and Chinese herbs? Herbs are rich in vitamins and minerals that restore the body to a robust state. Some also have aphrodisiac effects. The acupuncture process is very relaxing. By filtering out the stress hormone, cortisol, sex hormones can increase and perform accordingly. Acupuncture treatments also effectively address erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and help lessen the need and desire for harmful vices we use to deal with everyday stress.

Acupuncture balances hormones, improves circulation to the genitals, clears blockages, rebuilds blood quality and sexual stamina. Drugs like Viagra are only short-term solutions to deeper constitutional weaknesses that can be  resolved through supplementation.