The Benefits Of Acupuncture During Second Trimester Of Pregnancy

For many women, pregnancy symptoms are at their worst during the first trimester, but that doesn’t mean the second trimester doesn’t come with its own set of challenges. For some women symptoms like nausea can continue throughout the second trimester. As your baby continues to grow and your womb continues to expand, this places extra pressure on surrounding nerves, muscles, and organs which can lead to some unpleasant symptoms. Ever-changing hormone levels can contribute to second-trimester symptoms, too. If you’re in the middle of your pregnancy, you’ll be pleased to learn about the benefits of acupuncture during the second trimester of pregnancy, and how this centuries-old holistic therapy can benefit you.

Acupuncture provides expectant mothers with muscle and joint pain relief, all while reducing stress and promoting sound, restful sleep so you can conserve your energy before your baby arrives. 

Acupuncture soothes back and hip pain

During pregnancy, the body produces a hormone called relaxin. As its name implies, relaxin loosens the joints and muscles in the pelvic floor to make it easier for your baby to pass through during childbirth. Unfortunately, because relaxin keeps things loose, it can contribute to back and hip pain and even pelvic floor problems.

Of course, relaxin isn’t the only contributing factor to back and hip pain during pregnancy. The physical weight and pressure that a growing baby places on your insides can contribute to discomfort as well. Either way, the good news is that acupuncture can provide women in their second trimester with back and hip pain relief.

When your joints become loose, often, the surrounding muscles and joints become contracted in an attempt to compensate. Contracted muscles quickly become painful, and just because they’re working overtime that doesn’t mean they’re strong. In fact, they can be quite weak. Acupuncture can help overtaxed back and hip muscles relax so you can begin to use them properly and regain your strength.

Acupuncture is completely safe to use during pregnancy, and it can make a world of difference in your comfort level. Combining acupuncture with some gentle exercises, like yoga, can help reduce your back and hip pain throughout your pregnancy. 

Acupuncture supports pelvic floor health

During pregnancy, growing pressure is placed on the pelvic floor. Many women experience constipation, incontinence, and/or leakage as their pregnancy progresses. When these muscles become overly weakened, this can contribute to pelvic floor issues like cystocele after pregnancy as well.

Acupuncture’s musculoskeletal benefits go beyond the back and hips. The muscles in your pelvic floor will also benefit from regular acupuncture sessions. Acupuncture cannot reduce the impact that a growing baby has on your bladder or intestines. But it can help tone pelvic floor muscles and improve bowel movements and urination as much as possible.

Acupuncture sends blood to the pelvic floor region. This not only helps promote and restore healthy muscle function, but it also tones the uterus itself. The supply of blood supports a healthy endometrium, nourishing your baby as it grows.

For many mothers, we recommend continuing acupuncture during postpartum to help the pelvic floor muscles recover. Acupuncture during the postpartum period is also beneficial for reducing stress, promoting sleep, and fighting off the “baby blues”.

Acupuncture can help you manage stress

Stress is something we all have to deal with. Even if you have a good stress management plan in place, stress can still creep up on you when you’re pregnant. That’s due in large part to the fact that, during pregnancy, cortisol levels begin to climb.

It’s normal to experience some higher levels of cortisol during pregnancy — and estrogen and progesterone, for that matter. Your body relies on these hormones to sustain a pregnancy. However, they can have an impact on your emotional well-being, resulting in an increase in stress.

If you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or even depressed, acupuncture can help you address these second-trimester pregnancy symptoms. Acupuncture modulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, regulating cortisol levels. Acupuncture also promotes the release of endorphins, which enhance your well-being and make it much easier to have a positive outlook on life.

Acupuncture is a fantastic holistic treatment for stress for people from all walks of life. In some cases, we may use acupuncture in tandem with other treatments, like herbal medicine, to enhance the influence of both. Keeping stress levels in check is important for your health as well as your baby’s, so prioritizing stress management is paramount. 

Acupuncture supports restful sleep

As your pregnancy progresses, you may find that good sleep gets harder and harder to come by. This can only add to your sense of stress. You know that you need to get as much sleep as possible before the baby comes. But it seems like your body just keeps fighting you. The more you try to sleep, the more your body stays awake. It’s a vicious cycle.

Fortunately, acupuncture can be used to break this cycle. Regular acupuncture sessions release deep-seated muscle tension, and this benefit alone can make it easier to sleep. After all, when our body is relaxed, it’s much easier for our mind to relax, too.

But acupuncture’s sleep-boosting benefits don’t stop there. Acupuncture has also been shown to regulate serotonin levels. Known as the “happy hormone”, serotonin promotes feelings of wellness, while also acting as the precursor to another hormone: melatonin.

With your serotonin and melatonin levels back in alignment, you’ll find sleep comes much easier to you. So you can finally put your feet up and relax and enjoy your pregnancy. 

Book your first appointment today

Pregnancy is different for every woman. At Integrative Healing Arts, we understand that each patient is different, and we treat all of our clients like the unique individuals they are. When you come in for your first appointment, we’ll discuss your pregnancy symptoms, health concerns, and future goals, and create a protocol that will put you on the path to meeting them.

Contact us today to book your first appointment. We’ll help you get started with a customized acupuncture treatment plan that addresses all of your second-trimester symptoms and sets you and your baby up for success for the rest of your pregnancy — and even after.

Get in touch today and experience the powerful benefits of acupuncture for yourself!

The Benefits Of Acupuncture During First Trimester Of Pregnancy

Many women seek acupuncture to help them restore their fertility and become pregnant, but did you know that acupuncture is also safe to be used during pregnancy? Acupuncture is gentle as it is effective, making it the perfect natural alternative therapy to turn to when you’re facing the sometimes challenging symptoms associated with pregnancy. If you recently discovered you’re pregnant and you’re wondering, “What are the benefits of acupuncture during the first trimester of pregnancy?”, then you’ve come to the right place!

Acupuncture has a balancing effect on the endocrine system, reducing stress levels and balancing pregnancy hormones. Acupuncture can help alleviate morning sickness, cravings, and other symptoms characteristic of the first trimester of pregnancy. 

Acupuncture supports the endocrine system

One of the main reasons why women experience pregnancy symptoms during their first trimester is because of the rapid changes happening in the body and fluctuating hormones. After conception, hormones like estrogen and progesterone rise, and it can take a few weeks before the levels of these hormones even out. Fortunately, acupuncture can help balance hormones during the first trimester by supporting the endocrine system.

The endocrine system is a network of glands that produce and release hormones, with each gland influencing different bodily functions. When it comes to pregnancy, it’s important to keep the endocrine system healthy by taking steps to support the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Keeping this specific network in alignment can help alleviate pregnancy symptoms.

During pregnancy, cortisol levels rise. This is normal, however, excessively high cortisol levels have been linked to adverse outcomes and higher rates of postpartum depression, and associated with fetal development issues. High cortisol levels can also put the mother at risk of health complications. By getting acupuncture during your first trimester, you can encourage your body to regulate cortisol at healthy levels and support balancing estrogen, progesterone, and other hormones needed during pregnancy.

Although researchers still don’t fully understand why, acupuncture has a modulating effect on the HPA axis, regulating cortisol levels and supporting the body’s ability to produce sex hormone levels healthy to sustain a pregnancy. Evening out these hormones can be a bit of a balancing act. But, with the help of acupuncture, it’s a lot easier. 

Acupuncture eases many first-trimester pregnancy symptoms

Morning sickness is a common complaint among women during the first trimester and can extend well into the second trimester as well. It’s believed that morning sickness is caused by fluctuating hormones, so it only makes sense that research would show acupuncture to be an effective treatment for this common pregnancy complaint.

If you’re dealing with pregnancy cravings or a lack of appetite, acupuncture can help with these symptoms as well. Acupuncture can be used to restore normal hunger signals. Bringing your appetite back into balance will allow you to enjoy a healthy diet and get all of the vitamins and minerals you need during your pregnancy.

During the first trimester, a woman’s body goes through many changes. Many women develop breast pain during this time, too. Acupuncture has been shown to be an effective treatment for cyclical breast pain and mastitis, as well as breast pain associated with pregnancy. Self-breast massage can provide relief as well.

Another symptom women experience during the first trimester is an increased urge to urinate. As the uterus expands, it places pressure on the bladder, so you feel like you need to empty it more often. Although acupuncture cannot relieve the pressure the womb places on the bladder during pregnancy, it can support the muscle tone of the pelvic floor by increasing blood flow and reducing tension in the muscles themselves. This will allow you to empty your bladder more fully and may reduce the sensation of urgency.

Acupuncture alleviates mood swings and supports sleep

With fluctuating hormones come mood swings, another common symptom of early pregnancy. Some women develop anxiety and/or depression during the first trimester. The good news is that acupuncture can improve these symptoms as well. Acupuncture has been shown to improve anxiety and depression by balancing neurotransmitters, especially serotonin.

Serotonin is also known as the happy hormone. This neurotransmitter promotes a sense of well-being, making you feel calm and content. Adequate serotonin levels are needed to combat anxiety and to eliminate feelings of depression. Simply by getting acupuncture, you can help regulate your serotonin levels so you feel better during the first trimester of your pregnancy — and even beyond.

Boosting serotonin helps in another way, too. We know that acupuncture can balance cortisol levels, and this will help improve the quality of your sleep. But, the body needs melatonin for sleep, too, and serotonin is the precursor of melatonin. Acupuncture works to support sleep in more ways than one to ensure you plenty of rest during the first trimester. 

Other therapies can be used during your first trimester, too

For women experiencing mild symptoms during their first trimester, acupuncture alone may be enough. However, if your symptoms are severe, we may recommend additional therapies to help you find relief.

Massage therapy can also be used to help women during pregnancy. With a good massage, you’ll feel your stress melt away as we address muscle tension and encourage your body to relax. This will also make it easier to move your body during your pregnancy yoga sessions and workouts.

Herbal medicine is another therapy we can utilize to address first-trimester pregnancy symptoms. While you should never take herbal remedies without the guidance of a licensed herbalist (especially during pregnancy), with the help of a professional, certain herbs can be used to restore balance to your body during pregnancy. This will also help alleviate any symptoms you may have. 

Get in touch with us today

Contact our office to learn more about using acupuncture during pregnancy. We’ll answer any questions you may have and help you book your first appointment.

We create customized treatment plants for all of our clients, and we understand that every woman’s needs are unique. During your first visit, we’ll sit down with you to discuss your symptoms and create a holistic protocol that will give you real results. 

At Integrative Healing Arts, we’ve helped many moms-to-be ease their pregnancy symptoms and enjoy their pregnancies. Don’t delay — get in touch with us today so we can help you, too.

Is Acupuncture Safe During Pregnancy?

Acupuncture is incredibly safe and effective, especially when it comes to reproductive health. Acupuncture can be used to regulate hormone levels, enhance egg and sperm quality, and even help women undergoing assisted reproductive treatments like IVF and IUI get pregnant. Because of its adaptogenic nature, acupuncture is a suitable treatment for a variety of conditions. It’s highly effective and very safe. But, the question is, is acupuncture safe during pregnancy? If so, what benefits does it have to offer expecting mothers?

Studies reveal that acupuncture is safe to use during pregnancy and has very few adverse side effects. Acupuncture can be used to support hormonal balance, reduce pregnancy symptoms, and prepare you for labor. 

Acupuncture is safe to use during pregnancy

If you’re considering using acupuncture during pregnancy, then rest assured, acupuncture is completely safe to use throughout your gestation. But, you don’t have to take our word for it. There are numerous studies that show acupuncture is safe for use in expectant mothers.

In a review of 25 studies, acupuncture was determined to be safe for use in pregnant women. The most commonly reported side effect was discomfort at the needle site during needle insertion and/or after treatment, which was considered a mild complaint. According to the review, acupuncture did not contribute to any adverse delivery outcomes.

One study examined the safety of acupuncture at “forbidden points”, which are acupuncture points that are considered forbidden during pregnancy and avoided because they can move Qi strongly. However, the study concluded that even stimulation of these points with acupuncture and electroacupuncture did not result in any adverse delivery outcomes.

The research shows that acupuncture is a safe alternative therapy for women to utilize for support throughout their pregnancies. There is no reliable evidence that indicates acupuncture is unsafe or that it can contribute to complications during pregnancy or labor. Don’t let misinformation scare you if you’re considering getting acupuncture during your pregnancy, you can rest easy knowing that the benefits significantly outweigh the risks. 

Acupuncture supports conception and implantation

Research consistently shows that acupuncture is safe to be used for pregnant women, but the evidence goes even further. Not only is acupuncture safe for use during pregnancy, but there is also evidence to suggest that acupuncture can help women conceive and become pregnant.

According to a randomized controlled trial, acupuncture improved fertility among women, and “shortened the time to conception by half” compared to lifestyle adjustments alone. This is excellent news for women undergoing IUI treatments, as well as those dealing with subfertility.

And, in this study, acupuncture was also found to be effective at supporting implantation. When used as an adjunct therapy, acupuncture (as well as moxibustion) was found to increase the rate of clinical pregnancy among women undergoing IVF treatments: 35% of women in the acupuncture group achieved clinical pregnancy, versus only 7.1% in the control group and 10.7% in the sham group.

Overall, the evidence overwhelmingly suggests that not only is acupuncture safe for use during pregnancy, but it can actually help women become pregnant. Acupuncture increases blood flow to the ovaries to support ovulation, and to the uterus, which tones the muscle itself and enables the body to build a healthy endometrium that is receptive to both conception and implantation.

Using acupuncture to ease pregnancy symptoms

Acupuncture supports the body throughout pregnancy. Countless women have turned to acupuncture to address a variety of pregnancy-related symptoms, including morning sickness, hip, back, and pelvic pain, headaches, insomnia, and much more.

Many women in their first trimester and even women in their second trimester come to us with complaints of morning sickness, difficulty sleeping, and back pain. Acupuncture has been shown to be an effective all-natural treatment for alleviating this common pregnancy complaint of nausea and support sleep. Acupuncture has also been shown to regulate the appetite, which can reduce cravings and restore normal hunger signals.

Acupuncture is ideal for women experiencing pain, headaches, and sleeplessness during pregnancy. This is thanks in large part to acupuncture’s ability to promote relaxation. When inserted into key points across the body, acupuncture needles can be used to release muscle tension to stop hip, back, and pelvic pain. This physical relaxation soon gives way to mental relaxation, making you feel calm and at ease.

During acupuncture, endorphins are released. These neurotransmitters fight pain by intercepting pain signals and raising your pain threshold naturally. Endorphins also improve your mood and contribute to an enhanced sense of wellness. All of these benefits working together make it easier for you to fall asleep during pregnancy, so you can get plenty of rest before your baby comes. 

Acupuncture prepares your body (and your baby!) for labor

Remember, acupuncture sends a flow of blood to the reproductive organs. This is so important because fresh blood, and plenty of it, enables your body to nourish your baby. The increase in blood flow to the womb also tones the muscles in the pelvic floor, and this will prepare you for childbirth.

Keeping the muscles in the pelvic floor in good working order will help make your contractions more efficient during labor. Additionally, as you near your due date, your uterus begins producing small contractions. These help to turn your baby into the ideal position for birth with their head down and their feet up.

Acupuncture is so powerful that it has been used to successfully turn breech-positioned babies into the correct position prior to labor, reducing the risk of complications. Studies also show that acupuncture can ease pain during childbirth. We often recommend acupuncture after giving birth as well to help mothers recover from pregnancy, and promote a sense of calm so they can enjoy this precious time with their newborns. 

Book your first appointment today

Still have questions about using acupuncture during your pregnancy? Get in touch with our office today to learn more. We’ll be happy to address any concerns you may have.

At Integrative Healing Arts, we’ve helped women from all walks of life ease their pregnancy-related symptoms and prepare for childbirth with the help of acupuncture. In addition to acupuncture, we rely on a handful of holistic therapies, including herbal medicine, to help our clients achieve mental, emotional, and physical wellness. We’ll help you come up with a customized treatment protocol that supports your body during this special time.

Contact us to book your first appointment and start enjoying the healing benefits of acupuncture today.

How Acupuncture Can Improve Egg Quality And Age-Related Infertility Issues

Many women believe that once they reach the age of forty, it will be impossible for them to get pregnant on their own. It’s also a mainstream belief that the chances of a woman over forty getting pregnant without the help of IVF and IUI are very slim. But neither of these beliefs is entirely true. While it may be fair to say that a woman in her forties is less fertile than a woman in her twenties or thirties, it’s certainly possible for a woman in her forties, or even fifties, to get pregnant, and acupuncture can help. In this post, we’ll be taking a look at how acupuncture can improve egg quality and age-related infertility issues.

Acupuncture supports hormonal balance in women across age groups, and can improve ovarian function and egg quality even in older women. Additionally, acupuncture supports uterine health to improve your chances of conception and pregnancy. 

Acupuncture improves hormone levels

One of the reasons why women may experience age-related infertility issues is because of hormonal changes and imbalances. Estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate from cycle to cycle, even among younger reproductive-age women. As women get older, their bodies produce less estrogen. This drop in estrogen is normal, but it can impact fertility.

Estrogen is essential for pregnancy as it supports the development of the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. When estrogen levels are low, the endometrium tends to be thin, unhealthy, and unreceptive to implantation. Low estrogen levels can make it impossible to get pregnant, whether you’re using assisted reproduction or not.

Research shows that acupuncture can be used to boost estrogen levels. Acupuncture also supports progesterone and prolactin levels, two additional hormones that play an important role in pregnancy. Progesterone supports gestation, while prolactin also supports pregnancy as well as breastfeeding.

Whether you’re a woman in her forties trying to get pregnant on her own, or you’re looking into IVF and IUI treatments to maximize your chances of conception, acupuncture can be used as an adjunct therapy to support healthy hormone levels. 

Acupuncture improves ovarian reserve and function

With your hormones balanced, this will go a long way toward establishing healthy menstrual cycles. But if you’re over forty, getting a period every 28 to 35 days does not necessarily mean you’re ovulating, too. And because ovulation is key to conception, it’s important to do everything you can to keep your ovaries in good working order.

Acupuncture can be used to enhance blood flow to the reproductive organs. The ovaries, in particular, benefit from this increase in circulation as it provides them with freshly oxygenated red blood cells, as well as hormones that they need to function properly.

In one study, women over the age of 37 who received acupuncture treatments had significantly more mature oocytes during IVF retrieval than women undergoing IVF treatments alone. Another study illustrated acupuncture’s ability to support ovulation by regulating hormones, even in women with an underlying hormonal condition (PCOS).

Whether you’re trying to conceive naturally or are looking to support healthy ovulation before your IVF egg retrieval, acupuncture can be used to improve ovarian health and enhance the quality of your eggs even into your forties.

Acupuncture supports uterine health

Good blood flow to the reproductive organs doesn’t just mean better ovarian health, it also means better uterine health. Keeping the uterus toned and ensuring adequate blood flow to the womb will both help support the development of a healthy endometrium. Adequate circulation to the uterus also prevents contractions before IUI treatments and IVF transfers, which can further enhance your chances of conception.

Of course, the importance of uterine health extends beyond conception and implantation. It’s equally important for sustaining a healthy pregnancy. Acupuncture can help you throughout your pregnancy, supporting blood flow to the uterus to nourish your growing baby.

Many expecting mothers use acupuncture throughout their pregnancies, not just to ease their pregnancy symptoms (say goodbye to morning sickness!), but also to help prepare for labor. Older mothers are at increased risk of a breech birth. Fortunately, acupuncture can be used to turn your baby in the proper position before labor, so you can have an easier delivery. 

Other therapies can help, too

Acupuncture is a wonderful option for older women who wish to become pregnant, but it’s not the only therapy we have at our disposal to improve reproductive health. Herbal medicine can also be effective. Although you should never use these remedies without professional guidance, with the help of a licensed herbalist, herbal medicine has been used to restore fertility in many women over forty.

Dietary choices also play an important role in a woman’s fertility. Certain superfoods, like yams, goji berries, and cinnamon, can be introduced into the diet to support healthy hormone levels as well as ovulation. Lifestyle modifications may be useful as well in certain situations. Getting plenty of exercise can support healthy hormone levels and a healthy pelvic floor.

Massage therapy and a good stress management program are highly effective as well. Stressors are everywhere and over time, we tend to store up all of our anxieties in our muscles, causing pain. Chronic stress leads to out-of-control cortisol levels, too, and that also spells bad news for your fertility.

Whatever may be contributing to your fertility struggles, we offer a wide variety of treatment methods. We’ll sit down with you to discuss your fertility goals and help you come up with a treatment protocol that supports you. 

Book an appointment with us today

If you’re a woman over the age of forty looking to get pregnant, you can improve your reproductive health with the help of acupuncture. This centuries-old holistic practice is powerful enough that it can be used alone, yet gentle enough that it can be used in tandem with conventional fertility-support medications and assisted reproduction treatments.

To learn more about how acupuncture can help you get pregnant, contact our office today to book an appointment. At Integrative Healing Arts, we’ve helped countless women get pregnant, even well into their forties. We would love the opportunity to help you, too!

Impressive Acupuncture And IUI Studies

Assisted reproductive technologies have helped countless couples welcome the babies of their dreams. Intrauterine insemination, or IUI, is a particularly popular choice thanks to its non-invasive nature and relative affordability. Because IUI is still a medical intervention, it’s not unreasonable to have some reservations about the procedure’s effectiveness. If you want to do everything you can to improve your IUI experience and it is a success, acupuncture could prove to be the support to enlist in your fertility plan. Let’s take a look at these impressive acupuncture and IUI studies to find out exactly how acupuncture can help you get pregnant.

Research shows acupuncture improves hormone levels and supports healthy ovulation, which is critical for IUI success. By enhancing blood flow to the uterus, acupuncture prepares the endometrium for conception to boost your chances of implantation. 

Acupuncture supports hormonal health

Acupuncture has been used for centuries to address all manner of hormonal issues. At Integrative Healing Arts, we use acupuncture to treat many hormonal conditions, including PCOS, endometriosis, idiopathic infertility, and everything in between. When it comes to enhancing your fertility in preparation for IUI, acupuncture has a proven track record.

In a study that evaluated acupuncture’s effects on estrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH), researchers found that acupuncture increases estrogen and progesterone during the first half of the menstrual cycle (follicular phase), and decreases estrogen and progesterone levels during the second half of the menstrual cycle (luteal phase).

Although this rise and fall of estrogen and progesterone does not perfectly mimic the natural pattern of hormone production throughout the menstrual cycle, the study illustrates that acupuncture can be used to our advantage when preparing for IUI. Improving estrogen and progesterone levels at the beginning of the menstrual cycle can help the body balance hormones. This means we can use acupuncture to help women normalize their menstrual cycles before and during their IUI procedure. 

Acupuncture aids in healthy ovulation 

Healthy hormone levels support healthy ovulation. When estrogen and progesterone levels are in perfect harmony, and FSH and LH levels are working together, it’s much easier to achieve ovulation. And good ovulation is a major step toward success for any woman undergoing IUI treatments. Now, let’s look at another study, this time, one that illustrates acupuncture’s effectiveness at boosting ovulation.

In this study, which compared the effects of acupuncture on women with PCOS, participants who received acupuncture for a period of 10 to 13 weeks ovulated more frequently than participants in the control group. The study noted that ovulation in the acupuncture group was high at 41%. Researchers believe the increase in ovulation in women with PCOS who received acupuncture was due to the treatment’s ability to reduce testosterone levels, which can inhibit ovulation.

It’s also worth noting that acupuncture can support ovulation simply by increasing blood flow to the ovaries. Adequate circulation to the reproductive tract ensures the ovaries have ready access to red blood cells and oxygen, both of which support ovulation. Additionally, good blood flow is critical in ensuring the ovaries receive all of the hormones they need to function properly.

Because acupuncture supports healthy ovulation, it can be an invaluable tool for women undergoing IUI treatments. Acupuncture is so powerful when it comes to boosting ovarian health that many women choose to undergo acupuncture treatment during IVF stimulation to boost their chances of producing a viable embryo.

Acupuncture prepares the uterus for conception

Fertility is multifaceted with many different factors at play. Getting your hormones balanced and supporting ovulation are perhaps the most important steps in restoring and maintaining your reproductive health. But preparing the uterus for conception is another important step, and it shouldn’t be overlooked.

Here’s another study, one that examines acupuncture’s ability to prepare the uterus for assisted reproductive therapies including IUI and IVF transfer. The study found that women who received acupuncture in addition to IUI had significantly higher pregnancy and live birth rates than women who underwent IUI treatments alone.

According to the study, women who received acupuncture before and during the IUI process were 3 to 4 times more likely to conceive and 3 to 4 times more likely to give birth. The authors of the study believe this effect is, in part, due to acupuncture’s ability to increase blood flow to the uterus. Adequate circulation helps tone the uterus to prevent contractions, which can inhibit conception after IUI. 

Acupuncture can help you sustain a pregnancy

It’s estimated that 88% of successful IUIs happen within three cycles, and 95% of successful IUIs happen within four cycles. Although it’s possible to get pregnant during your first IUI procedure, it’s not unusual to need several rounds before a pregnancy “sticks”. Conceiving is one thing, but implantation is another. Fortunately, acupuncture can be used to support the implantation process.

For some women, recurrent implantation failure (RIF) is the underlying cause of their infertility. This can be a frustrating setback for women trying to get pregnant and can create more uncertainty about IUI treatments. However, research shows that acupuncture can improve the odds of implantation, making it a suitable adjunct therapy for women who tend to suffer from early pregnancy loss.

In this study, acupuncture was shown to benefit women who struggled with RIF by increasing the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR). Researchers aren’t entirely sure how acupuncture supports implantation. However, it’s believed that because acupuncture redirects blood flow to the uterus, this enables the body to produce a healthy endometrium, which makes the uterus more receptive to implantation. 

Get in touch with our office today

Acupuncture has many benefits to offer women undergoing IUI treatments, but other therapies have been found to be effective as well. Studies also show that herbal medicine can benefit women receiving IUI and other assisted reproductive treatments.

At Integrative Healing Arts, we utilize multiple holistic therapies on a case-by-case basis to help our clients overcome their fertility challenges and finally get pregnant. We’re here to help you, too!

Get in touch with our office today to learn more about how acupuncture can support you during fertility treatments. We’ll work with you to create a customized treatment plan that supports you on your path to pregnancy.