Stress and Fertility – How Acupuncture Helps
Treatments during Pregnancy and for Post Partum?
How can
Acupuncture
&
Traditional
Chinese
Medicine
(TCM) Help with Women’s Health Issues?
A woman's body
goes through many cycles in the course of a lifetime. From the
onset of puberty, to pregnancy, and finally menopause, with
years of menstruation in between, a woman's body and hormones
are in a constant state of change. Traditional Chinese medicine
(TCM) can restore balance at any stage of a woman's life. TCM
has been proven to have a positive effect on the
hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, the body's mechanism that
is responsible for keeping the female reproductive system in
balance.
Women's health
issues respond exceptionally well to TCM. Today, traditional
protocols are combined with advances in Western medical science
to maximize the success of treatments. I believe most
gynecological conditions can be brought under control in three
to six menstrual cycles.
Some of the
many women's health conditions that TCM treats are:
-
Amenorrhea (absent periods) Dysmenorrhea (painful periods)
-
Irregular periods
-
Long periods and/or Heavy periods
-
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
-
Perimenopause and Menopausal symptoms
-
Thyroid conditions
-
Endometriosis
-
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
-
Fibroids
-
Hormonal migraines
-
Urinary Tract infections (UTI)
The following
studies illustrate the effectiveness of TCM for women's health
conditions:
-
A 2002 study published in
The Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
focused on women diagnosed with painful periods due to
endometriosis. The results showed that 81% of the women had
significantly less pain with their periods after receiving
acupuncture.
-
A 2002 study on women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) found
that 78% of participants who received a four-week course of
acupuncture experienced a significant reduction in symptoms of
anxiety, irritability, headache, breast pain, insomnia,
bloating, nausea, and gastrointestinal disorders.
-
A 2005 Chinese study looked at women with ovarian cysts to
determine the therapeutic effect of acupuncture and
moxabustion combined with Chinese herbs. In the treatment
group, 54% of the women had enough improvement in their
condition to be considered cured. In the control group, which
did not receive TCM therapies, only 15% of the women were
considered cured.
-
In 2000, a Swedish study on women with PCOS found that
acupuncture treatments over a three-month period regulated
ovulation in 38% of the women.
-
A 1999 study found that TCM is a very effective treatment for
menopausal symptoms of hot flushes, sweating, insomnia, and
anxiety. Hot flushes decreased by 35% and insomnia by 50% in
women who received acupuncture and herbs for seven weeks.
How can
Acupuncture
&
Traditional
Chinese
Medicine
(TCM) Help with Fertility?
TCM works to
enhance fertility by restoring balance to the body and the
specific body’s systems that are responsible for regulating
hormones.
Researchers
have concluded that acupuncture:
(Data from
Weill Cornell Medical Center
in New York,
USA).
-
Positively affects the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis,
which plays a major role in fertility, and especially with
regard to enhancing the development and release of mature and
healthy eggs.
-
Increases blood flow to the uterus, thus thickening the
uterine lining, which improves the chances of an ovum
implanting on the uterine wall.
-
Reduces anxiety, stress, and hormones secreted during
stressful situations - such as cortisol - which significantly
decreases fertility (see section on Stress below).
-
Normalizes the systems that regulate ovulation, [including, in
women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)].
-
Regulates the menstrual cycles.
-
Several studies of Chinese herbal
treatments to correct Luteal Phase Defect produced pregnancy
rates from 33-56%, far greater than success rates achieved
with Western medical treatments.
-
Studies show that acupuncture can
improve the concentration, volume, and motility of sperm (see
Male Fertility section below).
TCM can help
with a wide range of fertility problems, including:
-
Assists in Advanced Maternal Age
-
Amenorrhea
-
Autoimmune conditions
-
Cervical mucus issues
-
Endocrine imbalances
-
Endometriosis
-
Elevated FSH
-
Fallopian tube blockage (mild, and possibly moderate)
-
Immunology factors
-
Luteal Phase Defect
-
Male factors
-
Menstrual irregularities
-
Ovarian cysts and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
-
Ovulation factors (including annovulation)
-
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
-
Premature ovarian failure/poor ovarian reserve
-
Recurrent miscarriages
-
Stress
-
Thin uterine lining
-
Thyroid problems
-
Unexplained Infertility
Our body's
biochemical response to stress has a major effect on the
reproductive system. Whether due to a major event or the
constant stressors of daily life, stress puts our body into
"fight or flight" mode. This reaction to stress has the
following effects:
·
It
increases our levels of adrenaline, which inhibits our ability
to use progesterone, one of the key hormones in reproduction.
·
It
increases levels of cortisol, which inhibits implantation of the
fertilized egg.
·
It
also increases levels of prolactin, which inhibits fertility by
decreasing or halting ovulation.
·
A
hyper-stimulated nervous system sends blood away from the uterus
and ovaries to the essential organs, thus lessening the overall
function of our reproductive system.
In 2001, a
study at the University of San Diego, California,
examined the success rates of women undergoing Western fertility
treatments. The study concluded the women with higher rates
of stress were 93% less likely to become pregnant and achieve a
live birth.
TCM is an
effective way to reduce stress and rebalance the systems that
stress affects:
Stress
and Fertility – How Acupuncture Helps
-
Acupuncture has been shown to
relieve stress and anxiety.
-
Acupuncture releases endorphins
and serotonin, which have a calming effect on the body. These
chemicals decrease the physical symptoms of stress by:
- reducing
heart rate
- lowering
elevated blood pressure,
- relaxing
the muscles
- Acupuncture
also improves blood circulation throughout the body, which
oxygenates tissues and cycles out cortisol and other damaging
chemicals
- Most
importantly, acupuncture has been shown to rebalance the
sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system, thereby
regulating the reproductive hormones that stress negatively
affects.
-
Women who are treated with
acupuncture often report feelings of relaxation, calm and
peacefulness and of being energised following treatment.
-
Since infertility and its
treatment are associated with considerable stress and anxiety,
there is significant benefit to be achieved from this part
alone.
-
Furthermore, there are studies
that have reported higher pregnancy rates from IVF when other
types of stress reduction and anxiety relieving methods are
employed.
NOTE ALSO: That
NONE of the studies has shown any detrimental effects attributed
to acupuncture, which could lead to a reduction in the success
of the medical treatment of infertility by IVF.
When possible,
its best to start treatment with TCM before you begin trying to
conceive or undergo IUI or IVF. There are several reasons for
this:
1.
Studies show that on
average it can take about 90 days to influence changes in a
woman's menstrual cycle, such as improving ovulation and uterine
lining, regulating hormones, regulating any problems with the
actual cycle, and addressing situations such as PCOS or
endometriosis.
2.
It takes about 150
days for an egg to grow from a follicle in its resting state,
into a full-blown egg ready to be released (and follicles are
selected from a pool of resting follicles almost a year before
ovulation!).
3.
It takes 70 to 90 days
for a sperm to grow and mature.
However, many
people don't find out about the benefits of TCM for fertility
until they have already started trying to conceive or have
started Western fertility treatments. In these cases, it's best
to start treatment as soon as possible.
It's NEVER
TOO LATE TO START using Acupuncture to improve your fertility.
Because it
takes 90-150 days to influence change in a woman's menstrual
cycle, and because pregnancy does not normally occur in just one
cycle of trying even under the best of circumstances, the
recommended course of treatment to achieve pregnancy is at least
three to six months. This is a general time frame, however -
some patients take less time to achieve pregnancy, I have had
women achieve pregnancy in just 4 to 6 weeks of treatments, and
some have taken longer than 90 -150days.
Length of
treatment and success varies for each individual and depends on
the underlying fertility issue, among many other factors.
How committed
are you? - a patient who comes regularly for acupuncture
(usually fortnightly), takes their herbs (if prescribed),
follows the appropriate self-care measures at home, and makes
diet and lifestyle changes will have a much better chance
of becoming pregnant than a patient who does not take an active
role in their treatment.
When you are
trying to get pregnant, each passing month can seem like a
wasted cycle, and three to six months or more can seem like a
very long time. However, studies show that at least three months
of preparation with TCM is optimal for a healthy pregnancy
and baby.
There is no
such thing as a "wasted" cycle. Each treatment enhances your
body’s systems and brings it closer to optimal reproductive
health, a healthy pregnancy, and a healthy baby.
Herbal
formulas are an important part of my fertility treatments, and
there is much research theses days to support this.
Herbs can:
- help
regulate the menstrual cycle and ovulation
- thicken the
uterine lining,
- regulate
hormones,
- help
prevent against certain types of miscarriage,
-
improve
overall health.
TCM is highly
effective in supporting your Western fertility treatments.
Acupuncture
reduces the stress associated with Assisted Reproductive
Technologies (ART), and therefore reduces the negative
effects that stress has on the hormones related to reproduction.
Acupuncture
also strengthens and supports your body so that your western
fertility treatments are more effective.
Most
impressive are recent studies showing that acupuncture can
significantly increase the success rates of ART. This is very
important, as the success rates for ART are not generally high.
For example, data indicates that IVF works approximately only
22% of the time. On average, women go through three to seven
cycles of ART before they either conceive or stop trying.
A women's
response to ART depends on the state of her endocrine health in
the months preceding ART, when follicles are developing in the
ovary - this is why it is important to start your TCM treatments
in advance of your Western treatments, if possible.
There are many
things that you can do for yourself to improve your reproductive
health.
As part of you
individualised treatment plan you will receive advice on areas
such as diet & nutrition, relaxation, environmental factors,
‘what to do’ and ‘what to avoid’.
Male factors
account for approximately 40% of all fertility problems. One
reason for this is that the average male sperm count has dropped
significantly over the past few generations. For example, the
average sperm count dropped 30% since 1980.
Semen volume
has also dropped, reducing the total number of sperm by 50%.
The number of men with low sperm counts has tripled, while
the number with high sperm counts has decreased.
The reasons
for declining sperm counts seems to be our increased exposure to
environmental pollutants, increased use of recreational drugs
and alcohol, and prescription medications. Studies show that
although smokers generally have lower sperm counts and more
abnormal sperm, once smoking is stopped sperm improve
significantly within 6-12 months, especially when assisted by
acupuncture.
In a 2005
study published in
Fertility and Sterility,
acupuncture was shown to significantly improve several aspects
of male fertility. The group that received acupuncture had a
50% improvement in sperm motility. The number and
percentage of healthy sperm also increased dramatically in the
acupuncture group, increasing more than four-fold after 10
sessions of acupuncture. In addition, significant changes in
sperm structure and quality were seen in the acupuncture group,
with an increase from 22.5% normal shapes to 38.5% normal
shapes.
Since new
sperm generally take 70 to 90 days to form, treatment for male
factors is usually recommended for a minimum of three months.
Treatments during Pregnancy and for Post Partum?
Pregnancy
Why should I
get Acupuncture during Pregnancy?
Pregnancy is
an exciting and wonderful time. However, with the many physical
and hormonal changes that occur, it can also be a time of
discomfort. Many pregnant women suffer from fatigue, nausea,
backache and other conditions that are considered a "normal"
part of pregnancy. Acupuncture is a safe, gentle and effective
way to address these complaints, especially since many Western
medications can't be used during this time.
Pregnancy and
Postpartum Conditions Treated
Some of the
conditions that acupuncture can treat are:
-
morning sickness, nausea, and hyperemesis gravidarum
-
insomnia
-
low energy
-
anaemia
-
anxiety/depression
-
constipation
-
heartburn
-
back pain and sciatica
-
symphysis pubis pain
-
carpal tunnel syndrome
-
gestational diabetes
-
high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia)
-
certain types of threatened miscarriage
-
breech presentation
-
pre-term labor
-
delayed labor
-
labor pain
-
lactation problems
-
postpartum depression
Is
Acupuncture Safe during Pregnancy?
Yes. Prenatal
acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to help
patients support a healthy pregnancy and uncomplicated delivery.
An Australian study conducted by Adelaide University in 2002
found that acupuncture during pregnancy had no adverse effects
and was completely safe when done by a trained acupuncturist.
General
Treatment Plan for Pregnancy
Acupuncture
during the first trimester focuses on setting the foundation for
a healthy pregnancy. Treatments are given to prevent miscarriage
and to address any early pregnancy symptoms, such as nausea and
fatigue.
Acupuncture
during the second trimester aims to maintain balance and offer
relief from many of the common complaints of pregnancy. The
recommended frequency of treatments for the second trimester is
evaluated for each individual. Patients may come one or possibly
two times per month if the pregnancy is uncomplicated and there
are no complaints. If addressing a certain issue, patients may
need to come more frequently.
Acupuncture
during the third trimester prepares the body for labor and
delivery. Treatment is given for breech presentation between
weeks 32-36. I provide Treatments for labor induction from week
40 if there are no complications with the pregnancy.
Studies show
that women who receive regular acupuncture during the third
trimester typically have shorter and more productive labor.
Breech
Presentation
Breech
presentation occurs in approximately one out of every 25
full-term births. Breech presentation can be caused by excess or
low amniotic fluid, a short or twisted umbilical cord, placenta
previa, or a variation in the shape of the uterus. However, the
cause of many breech presentations is unknown.
Western
medicine's treatment for breech presentation is an External
Cephalic Version (ECV), which is successful about 50% of the
time. This method of manually turning the baby is usually done
around week 37. ECV can be quite uncomfortable and carries the
risk of fetal distress, ruptured membranes, and placental
separation, sometimes resulting in the need for an emergency
caesarean section.
The
traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment for breech
presentation has been used for thousands of years. It is
successful 75% of the time (see below), and carries no risk to
the mother or baby. It is generally done between weeks 32-36,
when there is still enough room for the baby to turn, although
it can be attempted later in pregnancy as well. The method
involves burning the herb (a treatment called moxabustion)
directly onto or over an acupuncture point on the foot. When
successful, the baby will turn within 24 hours of the treatment.
Sometimes only one treatment is needed, and sometimes it may
take several treatments for the baby to turn.
·
In
a 1998 Italian study, 130 women with breech presentation had
daily moxabustion treatments during the 35th week of gestation.
The study showed a 75% success rate in turning the breech babies
head down.
·
In
a Japanese study conducted in 2000, 357 women had daily
moxabustion, with a very impressive 92.5% correction rate.
Labor
Induction
Acupuncture
for labor induction is safe for both the mother and baby as long
as there are no serious complications with the pregnancy. It is
most effective starting the week of the baby's due date. Several
studies show a success rate of over 70%.
The most
common Western method of labor induction uses synthetic Pitocin
to jump-start labor. Pitocin will start contractions whether the
mother's body is ready or not. Because the mother's body is not
always ready, labor fails to progress 40-50% of the time,
starting a chain of events that can lead to a caesarean section.
Synthetic Pitocin also has other risks, including foetal
distress and cardiac arrhythmia. In addition, most women find
that Pitocin causes very intense and painful labor.
Labor
induction with acupuncture stimulates uterine contractions and
softens the cervix. The treatment starts a hormonal process
which stimulates the mother's body to release prostaglandins and
oxytocin, the natural hormone that Pitocin mimics. As a result,
it is a much more gentle and natural process than Western
induction. Because of this, the effects are not instantaneous,
as they are in Western induction. Depending on how far into
pre-labor the mother's body is determines the number of
treatments needed. Some women only need one or two treatments,
while others may need several treatments for real labor to
start.
Postpartum
Treatment
In today's
fast-paced society, few new mothers have the luxury of resting
adequately after childbirth. Most women need to return to taking
care of family or work before their bodies have had a chance to
fully recover from the birth experience. This can lead to
further health issues down the road, and is why acupuncture
during the postpartum period is so important.
In addition to
returning the body to a state of balance and optimal
reproductive health, some of the postpartum conditions that
acupuncture can treat are:
-
postpartum depression and "baby blues"
-
decreased energy and vitality
-
hormonal imbalances
-
persistent bleeding
-
lactation problems
-
mastitis
-
abdominal pain
-
night sweats.
