by AFN member Sam May LicAc, MFHT
Acupuncture as a holistic approach to fertility
There is a common misperception that acupuncture only helps with aches and pain — ‘it hurts here, let’s stick a needle there’. So, how can acupuncture help fertility? It’s not an ache or pain. We can explain this at a basic physical level, but to appreciate it fully, we need to consider fertility in terms of the whole person — body and mind. Acupuncturists call this a holistic approach.
From a physical perspective, putting needles in the body in a specific area, such as over reproductive organs, can promote blood flow to that region and stimulate the organs. There have been several research studies to highlight this. One such study demonstrates that acupuncture improves the thickness of the endometrial lining and increases the chances of embryo implantation (Stener-Victorin 1996, Huang 2008).
However, what interests me more is how the mind can be involved in fertility issues. From my experience of working with women’s health, there appears to be a clear link between one’s internal state and gynaecological state. It is more difficult to research this effectively as feelings and emotions are hard to quantify. I can only attest to this relationship through my own observations in clinical practice.
Case study
After the coronavirus lockdown ended (in July 2020, when I resumed my practice after a four-month hiatus), a lady came to see me for fertility support. For the purposes of this case study, we will call her “Jo”. She and her partner had been trying to get pregnant for over a year and wanted to give acupuncture a go. Jo initially came for two weekly treatments and then returned a few weeks later to report being pregnant. She had been struggling with chronic stress for some time, and commented after the treatments how noticeably relaxed and calm she felt. She said she felt so much better in herself from the acupuncture.
From the Chinese medical pulse diagnosis I had made, Jo had a pattern of Qi (‘life energy’) stagnation. Essentially this occurs when one’s energy and emotions become blocked or stuck somehow. This can develop from being exposed to stressful situations over a long period. So I used acupuncture points on specific meridians (‘pathways’) to help shift this stagnation. According to Chinese medicine, Qi (‘life energy’) flows throughout the body and underlies our mental and emotional states. When Qi becomes blocked or stagnant, our physical and mental-emotional health suffer. The Qi meridians link to different organs and can directly affect our organ health.
This mind-body link is mostly only supported through anecdotal evidence like this. However, there is some interesting research to show that acupuncture affects hormone levels by promoting the release of beta-endorphin in the brain, which affects the release of:
- The gonadotrophin-releasing hormone by the hypothalamus
- The follicle-stimulating hormone from the pituitary gland
- Oestrogen and progesterone levels from the ovary
(Ng 2008, Huang 2008, Lim 2010, Stener-Victorin 2010).
Regardless of how we understand it, it’s important to consider that our health and wellbeing — particularly our fertility — relates to us as a whole person. My preferred answer to the question, “What do you treat?” is…, “I treat people”.
About the author: Sam May is a registered Acupuncturist practising at the Lucent Acupuncture, and the Chair of The Acupuncture Ferility Network.