Female/Male Infertility
Infertility is when a couple cannot conceive despite having regular unprotected sex. Around one in six couples may have difficulty conceiving. This is approximately 3.5 million people in the UK. A couple will only be diagnosed as being infertile if they have not managed to have a baby after one year of trying.
The reasons for infertility vary from person to person. The most common causes of infertility are:
A woman's age
Male (sperm) factor
Ovulation disorders
Tubal disease
Endometriosis
Anatomical factors such as fibroids and other uterine abnormalities
Factors such as antibodies to sperm may also reduce the ability to conceive An abnormal uterine cavity, including the presence of fibroids or polyps
Abnormal cervical mucus which hinders the passage of sperm to the uterus and fallopian tubes
Unexplained infertility
Studies indicate that acupuncture triggers the release of prostaglandins, which stimulate production of chemicals in the nerve endings, which, in turn, transmit a message to the hypothalamus. Located at the base of the brain, the hypothalamus is the regulatory control centre for all hormone activitiy. It is of particular interest in regards to fertility as it also controls the discharge of gonadotropin-releasing hormones (GnRH), which govern ovulation, menstruation and pregnancy. Moreover numerous studies demonstrate that acupuncture can"
- lower stress hormones which interfere with ovulation
- regulate hormones by stimulating the hypothalamus, the regulatory control centre of all hormone activity
- increase endorphin production which, in turn, effects the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone
- balances thyroid function
- promote blood circulation in the uterus, ovaries and testes
- improve ovarian function and follicular development
- thicken the lining of the uterus
- boost and balance the immune system
Research has established plausible mechanisms to explain how acupuncture may benefit fertility:
- regulating fertility hormones - stress and other factors can disrupt the function of the hypothalamic pituitary-ovarian axis (HPOA), causing hormonal imbalances that can negatively impact fertility. Acupuncture has been shown to affect hormone levels by promoting the release of beta-endorphin in the brain, which affects the release of gonadotrophin releasing hormone by the hypothalamus, follicle stimulating hormone from the pituitary gland, and oestrogen and progesterone levels from the ovary (Ng 2008, Huang 2008, Lim 2010, Stener-Victorin 2010). Further details of these processes are emerging, for example mRNA expression of hormones, growth factors and other neuropeptides (He 2009)
- increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs - stress also stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, which causes constriction of ovarian arteries. Acupuncture inhibits this sympathetic activity, improving blood flow to the ovaries (Stener-Victorin 2006, Lim 2010), enhancing the environment in which ovarian follicles develop. It also increases blood flow to the uterus (Stener-Victorin 1996, Huang 2008), improving the thickness of the endometrial lining and increasing the chances of embryo implantation.
- counteracting the effects of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) - PCOS is one of the most common causes of female infertility. By reducing sympathetic nerve activity and balancing hormone levels, acupuncture has been shown to reduce the number of ovarian cysts, stimulate ovulation, enhance blastocyst implantation and regulate the menstrual cycle in women with PCOS (Stener-Victorin 2000, 2008, 2009, Zhang 2009). It may also help to control secondary effects such as obesity and anorexia (Lim 2010).
Infertility is when a couple cannot conceive despite having regular unprotected sex. Around one in six couples may have difficulty conceiving. This is approximately 3.5 million people in the UK. A couple will only be diagnosed as being infertile if they have not managed to have a baby after one year of trying.
The reasons for infertility vary from person to person. The most common causes of infertility are:
A woman's age
Male (sperm) factor
Ovulation disorders
Tubal disease
Endometriosis
Anatomical factors such as fibroids and other uterine abnormalities
Factors such as antibodies to sperm may also reduce the ability to conceive An abnormal uterine cavity, including the presence of fibroids or polyps
Abnormal cervical mucus which hinders the passage of sperm to the uterus and fallopian tubes
Unexplained infertility
Studies indicate that acupuncture triggers the release of prostaglandins, which stimulate production of chemicals in the nerve endings, which, in turn, transmit a message to the hypothalamus. Located at the base of the brain, the hypothalamus is the regulatory control centre for all hormone activitiy. It is of particular interest in regards to fertility as it also controls the discharge of gonadotropin-releasing hormones (GnRH), which govern ovulation, menstruation and pregnancy. Moreover numerous studies demonstrate that acupuncture can"
- lower stress hormones which interfere with ovulation
- regulate hormones by stimulating the hypothalamus, the regulatory control centre of all hormone activity
- increase endorphin production which, in turn, effects the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone
- balances thyroid function
- promote blood circulation in the uterus, ovaries and testes
- improve ovarian function and follicular development
- thicken the lining of the uterus
- boost and balance the immune system
Research has established plausible mechanisms to explain how acupuncture may benefit fertility:
- regulating fertility hormones - stress and other factors can disrupt the function of the hypothalamic pituitary-ovarian axis (HPOA), causing hormonal imbalances that can negatively impact fertility. Acupuncture has been shown to affect hormone levels by promoting the release of beta-endorphin in the brain, which affects the release of gonadotrophin releasing hormone by the hypothalamus, follicle stimulating hormone from the pituitary gland, and oestrogen and progesterone levels from the ovary (Ng 2008, Huang 2008, Lim 2010, Stener-Victorin 2010). Further details of these processes are emerging, for example mRNA expression of hormones, growth factors and other neuropeptides (He 2009)
- increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs - stress also stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, which causes constriction of ovarian arteries. Acupuncture inhibits this sympathetic activity, improving blood flow to the ovaries (Stener-Victorin 2006, Lim 2010), enhancing the environment in which ovarian follicles develop. It also increases blood flow to the uterus (Stener-Victorin 1996, Huang 2008), improving the thickness of the endometrial lining and increasing the chances of embryo implantation.
- counteracting the effects of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) - PCOS is one of the most common causes of female infertility. By reducing sympathetic nerve activity and balancing hormone levels, acupuncture has been shown to reduce the number of ovarian cysts, stimulate ovulation, enhance blastocyst implantation and regulate the menstrual cycle in women with PCOS (Stener-Victorin 2000, 2008, 2009, Zhang 2009). It may also help to control secondary effects such as obesity and anorexia (Lim 2010).