Acupuncture For Infertility

Complementary Therapies for Fertility 

Although there is anecdotal evidence that complementary therapies can help women overcome fertility problems, and many men are turning to alternative treatments to try to boost low sperm counts, there is little clear scientific evidence to back this up. Today, some doctors do recommend that their patients consider complementary therapy, if only to help them feel more calm and in control. Others are deeply skeptical about any kind of alternative treatments, and worry that women may end up wasting time and money when there is no proof that these therapies have any real effect on fertility.
 

Acupuncture For Infertility

Despite these doubts, it is indisputable that many women find complementary therapies help them relax, and may also enable them to regain some of the control they often feel they lose when they are trying unsuccessfully to conceive. Complementary therapies are not for everyone, and some women feel happier sticking to conventional medicine.
 
If you go into complementary therapy looking for miracle cures, you may be disappointed, but if you are trying to help yourself feel more relaxed, improve your sense of well-being, and perhaps even just to spend some time talking about how you feel, you may find alternative treatments very beneficial.
 
'I attacked complementary therapies with that sense of desperation that they'd better get me pregnant. It was very goal focused. I think, looking back, I should have done it more for relaxation. I did find all of it incredibly relaxing, but at the time it was hard when another period came round not to think, "Oh well, that didn't work." I had this mindset of looking for solutions and not really accepting that sometimes there aren't any.' Isla, 35
 
Many women end up trying a variety of complementary therapies, and if you opted to go for every remedy or treatment that claimed to be successful at treating infertility, you could spend a very large fortune. If you have found something that is making you feel better, and which you can afford, that's never going to be a bad thing, but it is important not to get swept along into thinking that you won't get pregnant if you can't pay for lots of extra complementary treatment.
 
'I feel as though I've spent the same amount on complementary therapies as I have on IVF, but in my mind I know I want to do that. I don't want to have missed out. If it makes me feel better and stronger, then I'll do it. I don't want to get to 45 and look back and wish I'd spent more on complementary therapies" Lana, 37

Complementary therapies used to boost your fertility when you are trying to get pregnant may not be recommended once you are pregnant. You should consult your therapist before continuing with any treatment if you discover you are expecting.

Acupuncture 

The popular therapy acupuncture is often recommended for infertility, and is believed to be particularly helpful if there are problems related to the menstrual cycle and ovulation. Acupuncture has also been used for endometriosis and for improving the quality and quantity of sperm. There have been a number of trials that suggest acupuncture may offer real benefits to couples who are experiencing fertility problems, and one study found it could boost the chances of a successful outcome if used during IVF treatment.
 
Acupuncture has been practiced in China for thousands of years, and is based on the idea that our body's life force, qi (pronounced chee), runs through invisible pathways or meridians under the skin. If there are blockages in these pathways, the qi cannot run freely and this is when our bodies become unbalanced and we are unwell. Acupuncture can help restore harmony by removing the blockages and helping our energy to flow gain. There are more than 300 special points on the pathways around our bodies where thin needles can be inserted to clear the meridians.

 
'I spent quite a lot of money on things like acupuncture, I talked to nutritionists, and was brewing up Chinese herbs, but the only thing I feet really made a difference was acupuncture, I could feel a physical change. I could feel my ovaries responding. If I had a cold when I went, I could definitely feel the benefit without a doubt.' Helena, 34. To find out more, you can check out Acupuncture For Infertility.

Chinese Infertility Herbs

The cost of treatment
 
One real problem for many couples is the cost of fertility treatment. Although some may get limited access to funded treatment, the majority of couples do end up having to pay themselves. For affluent professionals, this may not pose huge problems, but for anyone who doesn't have much spare cash, it can be a real hurdle, making treatment effectively inaccessible.

'The consultant said, "You can decide what sort of treatment you want, these are the costs." It was like, here's the sweet shop, if you have some money, you can have what you like. It's basically what you can pay for, and we can't afford any of them. You could borrow fifteen thousand, twenty thousand, and that still might not be enough. All that, and then you don't succeed, or you get pregnant and then you have a miscarriage.' Ellie, 44

Chinese Infertility Herbs

The risk of a multiple birth 

When you take any kind of fertility-boosting drug, from clomifene to the more powerful drugs used in IVF, there is a risk of multiple pregnancy. The idea of twins, or even triplets, may seem wonderful to a woman who has spent some time trying to conceive - an instant family in one go. However, women are not designed to carry more than one baby and the natural incidence of multiple pregnancies is surprisingly low, with just 1-2 per cent of natural conceptions being twin pregnancies. The main problem with multiple pregnancies is that the babies are often born prematurely, and prematurity carries many risks. Multiple births are also more risky for mothers, who are more likely to get pre-eclampsia. Women who are going through IVF are advised to think carefully before having more than one embryo replaced in a cycle. 

When fertility treatment doesn't work 

When a fertility treatment you may have spent years planning and saving for doesn't work, it is devastating. The success rates for all forms of assisted conception are relatively low, and it is only when we took at cumulative success rates over two or three cycles that the picture begins to improve. One treatment cycle failing doesn't mean that treatment won't work for you eventually, but it can be hard to summon the courage to try again. Some couples are eager to throw themselves back into treatment as soon as they can, but others may benefit from some counseling and a break before they consider it again, or may want to move on to other routes to parenthood, or to coming to terms with childlessness.

'It didn't work. That was just terrible. We didn't know where to turn to. You are told over the phone and there's no follow up afterwards. I just went down into the depths of 'despair.' Emma, 38

Traditional Chinese medicine 

In traditional Chinese medicine, Chinese herbs may be used, as well as acupuncture. It is based on the ancient system used in China, which classifies herbs according to their taste and the way they affect the organs and the meridians, or pathways, in the body. Some of the plants are toxic if taken in large doses, and can cause problems if combined with other herbs, so it is vital that you see a qualified practitioner before using these remedies.

Herbal medicine
 
Herbal medicine uses plants to treat illness and restore health. Herbs have been used in this way for centuries, and many conventional medicines still use chemicals derived from herbs. Herbalists use the entire plant to make their remedies rather than extracting the active chemical compounds from plants. Many herbal remedies are widely available, but you should see a qualified medical herbalist rather than self-prescribing something that you feel might help your situation.
 
'I see a herbalist who is very successful. She has got two of my friends pregnant I take a liquid that you dilute and take in water three times a day - I've no idea what it is, and I am not sure whether it does any good, but it certainly isn't doing any harm.' Debbie, 29
 
There are some herbal remedies that are often prescribed to help with female fertility problems:
 
Chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus) is derived from the berries of the chaste tree. It is one of the most common herbal remedies for female fertility problems, and is said to boost fertility and regulate the body's hormonal balance. It is also sometimes taken by women with high FSH levels, as it is claimed that this remedy can help bring down FSH levels.
 
'I took agnus castus and I do think that was a great remedy I used to have quite painful periods that were getting shorter, and agnus castus regulated my cycle. It made my periods less painful and alleviated the symptoms I used to get pre-menstrually. People would need to check that it was right for them, but I did find it really useful. I actually got pregnant shortly after starting to take it but I lost the baby' Isla, 35  

Dong quai (Angelica sinensis) is used in traditional Chinese medicine to help with female reproductive problems. It is believed to be useful for irregular and absent periods. It should be taken only under supervision of a qualified herbalist, as in large doses it can cause changes to the menstrual flow.
 
False unicorn root (Chamaelirium luteum) was used by Native Americans to help with female reproductive problems. It is used to improve fertility where there are problems with follicles, to balance hormones and menstrual irregularities and to prevent miscarriage. To find out more, you can check out Chinese Infertility Herbs.

 

What Is A Good Way To Get Pregnant

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome 

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), is a fairly rare, but potentially dangerous, side effect of ovulation induction. The ovaries can become enlarged, and fluid may start to build up in the abdomen and around the lungs. During IVF monitoring, it should be apparent if you are at risk of developing OHSS, and doctors can take action to prevent you getting ill. If you are producing far too many follicles and your oestrogen levels are very high, the cycle may be halted. Usually it can be treated by bed rest and drinking lots of fluids.

What Is A Good Way To Get Pregnant

 
The symptoms of OHSS include stomach ache, bloating, nausea and vomiting, breathing difficulties and faintness. If the condition develops, you would have to be admitted to hospital, as OHSS can be very serious, leading to thrombosis, heart attack, stroke or, in extreme cases, death. OHSS is more common among younger women and those who have polycystic ovarian syndrome.

'Nobody had really told me about the problems with hyperstimulation. They got 26 eggs and they were worried because my oestrogen levels were quite high. For a day or so I felt fine and then | kept being sick and I felt swollen. It just got progressively worse. My weight went up half a stone per day for about four days. They put a drain on my stomach because my abdomen was full of fluid, around my kidneys and liver. My legs filled up with water. We were both very frightened.' Elaine, 39
 
Immunological problems
 
Women who have had recurrent miscarriages are often offered tests to check whether they are producing too many antibodies, which may cause problems. Certain antibodies cause the blood to clot more easily, and this may lead to problems if the clots are in the blood vessels of the placenta. Around 15 per cent of women who have had repeated miscarriages have high levels of these anti-bodies, and they are usually offered low doses of either aspirin or heparin, or both, before conception and/or during early pregnancy.
 
Some doctors now believe that high levels of other antibodies could be a cause of infertility. They may offer testing and treatment for immunological problems to patients with fertility problems, in case raised antibodies could be preventing implantation or attacking an embryo. There are many different types of antibodies, and many types of tests, including one to look at levels of natural killer (NK) cells. There is still much scepticism about the true value of such tests, which are often expensive.

If testing suggests you may have immunological problems, there are a variety of treatments on offer, ranging from simple doses of aspirin or heparin to more complex therapies. You may be offered steroids, rheumatoid arthritis drugs or intravenous immunoglobulin G treatment (IVIg). It is important to be aware that these treatments are not licensed for use in reproductive medicine, that they are not scientifically proven, and that they may have side effects.

Such treatment can be very costly, and you will want to think carefully before signing up for it. For those who have had repeatedly unsuccessful IVF attempts, or recurrent miscarriages, it may seem worth trying, but you should discuss it carefully with your consultant first and make sure you are quite clear why you are being offered this treatment, what exactly it is meant to do, and that you are aware of any potential risks or side effects. There is no doubt that more research needs to be done in this area before such treatments can be widely recommended.

IVIg infusion treatment is usually given before and after egg collection, but it may also be offered to prevent miscarriage after a positive pregnancy test, although again there is no scientific proof that it can do this.

'My husband presented me with a pile of print-outs all saying this is unproven medicine, it is far too expensive and he said he thought it was a bit of a rip-off. But I'd had a positive pregnancy test, and I said I couldn't risk not doing it. The process was strange, to be with six or seven women for hours on end, all attached to drips. I only had one lot of IVIg and then when I went for my scan the following week there ws absolutely nothing there when they scanned me.' Debbie, 44. To find out more, you can check out What Is A Good Way To Get Pregnant.