Chinese medicine is an ancient healing art that has been practiced in China for more than 4,000 years.Acupuncture, the most commonly used modality of Chinese medicine in the West, uses sterilized needles that are placed in points found along the channels that run throughout the body. The channels are connected to internal organs, which rectifies and harmonizes the body

Both Acupuncturists at Keats, Jacqui Fraser and Carole Mabboux, are fully qualified and insured members of the Brtitish Acupuncture Council. Both have been practicing acupuncture for many years and both have significant experience in working with patients with fertility issues and both have attended specialist acupuncture and fertility courses in 2007, 2008 and2009.

Keats is also proud to work in close relationship with the Hertsand Essex fertility Clinic based in Cheshunt - http://www.hertsandessexfertility.com . Patients of the Herts and Essex Fertility Clinic are offered a discounted package for 10 acupuncture treatments at Keats, please contact us for details.

Can acupuncture really increase a woman's chances of conceiving?

Research has found that acupuncture treatment can have apositive effect on those trying for a baby and can actually aid the conception process. Over the past twenty years, fertility problems have increased dramatically.

At least 25% of couples in the UK planning a baby will have trouble conceiving, and more and more couples are turning to fertility treatments to help them start a family.

Fertility focused acupuncture treatment can help to increase blood flow to the reproductive organs, balance hormone levels, regulate the menstrual cycle and help improve the lining of the uterus and quality of eggs released. Additionally, conditions such as polycystic ovaries and endometriosis have also been shown to improve with acupuncture

Men today also face fertility problems. Benefits to male fertility have been helped by acupuncture with positive effects on sperm count, morphology and mobility.

Some of the positive effects of acupuncture in fertility treatment are thought to include:

• regulate the menstrual cycle and promote regular ovulation
• regulate the hormones to produce a larger number of follicles 
• improve the functions of ovaries to produce better quality eggs 
• enhance the vitality of sperm 
• relieve the side effects of drugs used in IVF 
• increase the thickness of the uterine lining so to encourage successful implantation 
• reduce the chance of miscarriage 

Stress and Fertility

It is known that stress has an adverse effect on the fertility hormones. Acupuncture can be used to strengthen the constitution, thus enabling couples to cope with any stress and anxieties they may experience during the process of trying to start a family. The acupuncture treatment can help promotea calm, positive, relaxed frame of mind which can bring a more successful outcome for conception.

Research related to Acupuncture and fertility

Previous studies have proved the effectiveness of acupuncturefor infertility.

A 2004 study conducted by the Reproductive Medicine and Fertility Center in Colorado found that 51% of women who underwent both IVF andacupuncture treatment at the same time became pregnant, while only 36% of those who only underwent IVF did. The latter group also had higher rates of miscarriage and stillbirth (20%) compared to those women who had received acupuncture (8%).

A 2005 study conducted by Shanghai University in China found that acupuncture also helped treat male infertility. Of the men who participated, those who had acupuncture had an increased percentage of sperm in their semen; their sperm structure and morphology was also healthier than their counterparts who did not undergo acupuncture infertility treatment.

A report published in the journal Fertility and Sterility (2002) found the pregnancy rate in the group receiving acupuncture group was 42.5%, compared to the group which did not receive the therapy, where the rate was 26.3%.

Please see:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article418603.ece
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2008/sep/21/medicalresearch.health
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/besttreatments/fertility-problems-acupuncture
http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2001/aug/11/weekend7.weekend5