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.
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| 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.
