“Given the huge emotional, physical and financial impact of infertility treatment, I would not proceed without the support of Weiping. With her help, I know I am doing everything I can to improve my chances and acupuncture is a great help in reducing the stress of the process.” Former Patient
Infertility Treatment with Acupuncture
One of Dr. Weiping Wang’s most rewarding area of her practice is using acupuncture and Chinese herbs to help women become mothers. Dr. Wang has been working with Reproductive and Endocrinology doctors for more than twelve years applying her OB/GYN and infertility experience. She has a strong belief that both western and eastern medicines can enhance each other’s efficacy as shown by studies conducted in Germany, Sweden, and her own practice.
Acupuncture can serve to increase fertility in all patients by:
• Enhancing general health.
• Reducing stress, controlling anxiety, enhancing sleep, and increasing energy level.
• Improving blood flow in the pelvic cavity.
Acupuncture helps increase fertility in women by:
• Regulating the menstrual cycle.
• Increasing uterine blood flow.
• Thickening the embryo-nourishing uterine lining.
• Aiding in follicular maturation.
• Supporting embryo implantation.
• Enhancing production of endorphins to balance hormones controlling reproductive cycle.
• Increasing the chance of pregnancy for women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
Acupuncture helps increase fertility in men by:
• Enhancing a man's sperm count and motility by invigorating sperm through circulation improvement.
Functional infertility is due to a variety of factors, including hormonal problems, immune disorders, amenorrhea, irregular menstruation, stress, and age-related factors. Stress can also dramatically decrease fertility in both men and women. Reducing stress through the use and practice of acupuncture can increase fertility.
Acupuncture for IVF Patients
Acupuncture increases the chances of becoming pregnant for a significant number of women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF), according to a study published in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility in April 2002.
Acupuncture can increase pregnancy rates for IVF patients by:
• Increasing the blood flow to the reproductive organs, this dramatically improves a woman’s response to the hormonal therapy; by increasing blood flow to the uterus. The embryos have a better environment after transfer.
• Regulating the hormone levels by moderating the release of beta-endorphin levels in the brain, which improves the release of the gonadotrophin. By releasing hormones made from the hypothalamus and the follicle-stimulating hormone from the pituitary gland, estrogen and progesterone levels will positively effect ovaries.
• Improving the function of the ovaries which allows the development better quality eggs and embryos.
• Moderating cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin levels in the uterus, reducing uterine motility to improve implantation rates.
• Thickening the uterine lining, if it is too thin.
• Reducing stress and hyperactive sympathetic nervous system responses.
• Lessening the side effects of the medications.
• In males, improving semen quality and quantity.
The Research
Compared to the national average, Dr. Wang at the Acupuncture & Infertility Center experiences a much higher percentage of success in pregnancy rates. Below you will find a chart which compares the rates between the two sources. As seen below, the IVF patients who received acupuncture at Acupuncture & Infertility Center had a higher pregnancy rate than the 2005 National Summary. The increased pregnancy rates in the acupuncture patients are significant. It is strongly suggested that women with advanced maternal age include acupuncture as part of their IVF treatment plan, since it has been shown to double their chances of becoming pregnant.
