5 Ways We Help Boost Fertility

Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years, but only in the past few decades have the benefits gained appreciation in the United States and other parts of the Western world.

In fact, about 6.4% of Americans report having had acupuncture, according to the National Institutes of Health, with nearly 2% doing so within the previous 12 months.

Acupuncture is perhaps most commonly known as a treatment for acute and chronic pain, but it actually has many other applications. 

At Minnesota Integrative Medicine & Acupuncture, Kierstin Beaman, DACM, LAc, uses acupuncture on its own and as a complementary therapy for couples who are undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), helping set the stage for a successful conception and a healthy pregnancy.

Below, learn about five ways our optimal fertility program could help you on your journey to build your family.

1. Regulate ovulation

Normally, your ovaries release eggs on a regular schedule, about two weeks before menstruation begins. But lots of issues can affect this schedule, including underlying conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome and lifestyle issues like stress.

When eggs don’t release on schedule, it can be significantly harder to get pregnant. By regulating your ovulation cycle, acupuncture helps improve the chances that an egg will be successfully fertilized during your next cycle.

2. Balance hormones

Hormones play a key role in your menstrual cycle, and they play a key role in pregnancy, too. Not only do hormones help you get pregnant, but they also help maintain a healthy pregnancy.

Lots of issues can disrupt your normal hormone balance, and unfortunately, even a minor imbalance can dramatically decrease your chances of getting pregnant. Acupuncture can help balance your hormones to help you conceive, and regular treatment may be advised during your pregnancy, too.

3. Improve the uterine environment

Getting pregnant is about much more than an egg meeting a sperm. Conception depends on lots of other factors, including a “friendly” reproductive environment.

Acupuncture helps optimize this environment by:

• Improving cervical mucus
• Enhancing blood flow to the ovaries and uterus
• Supporting a healthy uterine lining for improved implantation

All of these factors increase the likelihood that a sperm and egg will successfully meet and that fertilization will occur.

4. Support healthy sperm and egg cells

When you hold your newborn in your arms, it can seem almost inconceivable that this tiny person began with just two cells — a sperm and an oocyte (egg cell). Part of creating the ideal environment for conception is making sure these cells are healthy and optimally functional.

Acupuncture helps support cell health for both eggs and sperm, and it also supports better sperm concentration and motility (movement), making it easier for sperm to make the journey to the egg.

5. Reduce stress

Conception depends a lot on the reproductive organs, but it can also be affected — sometimes significantly — by lifestyle factors. In fact, stress can make it a lot harder to get pregnant, making you even more stressed and making it even harder to conceive. 

Acupuncture helps break this cycle by promoting deep relaxation and decreasing chronic stress. In fact, acupuncture is used routinely (and successfully) to reduce stress in people of all ages, including those who aren’t trying to conceive.

Find out more about the optimal fertility program

As a leading integrative and acupuncture practice, Minnesota Integrative Medicine & Acupuncture can customize a fertility support program just for you. To learn more, call 651-272-7998 or book an appointment online with Dr. Beaman in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, today.