Fertility: Options That Can Work

Acupuncture

At Bergen County Acupuncture we have assisted countless couples in starting families.  Sometimes couples come in when starting the process to ensure a healthy and comfortable nine month process.   Others come in while already working with a western medicine clinic.  Acupuncture is effective during any phase of the western medicine approach.  The key message is that acupuncture is always focused on increasing blood flow , reducing anxiety and stress, normalizing the endocrine systems and regulating the menstrual cycle.

As specialists of infertility, we also highly recommend that patients schedule visits during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.  During this phase of the fertility treatment the focus is to prevent early stage miscarriage.  This step is often overlooked.

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

This fertility option involves putting sperm inside a woman’s uterus to help with infertility. It helps increase the actual amount of sperm that reaches the fallopian tubes to ensure a greater chance of fertilization. Basically, it gives the sperm a better chance of reaching the egg to make it fertile.

The procedure of inserting the semen into the uterus is done around the time of the rising of LH hormone levels, which shows that ovulation is about to occur. Medications are used in conjunction with IUI to stimulate the ovulation process. These medications also stimulate egg growth, and the body must be monitored to see when the eggs are mature. Some of the medications are: Clomid, which helps with ovulation; Letrozole, which helps thicken the uterine lining and help with egg production; and hMG, to help stimulate the follicles.

In-Vitro Fertilization

In-vitro Fertilization (IVF) is dissimilar to IUI in that the eggs are harvested along with the sperm in a lab to form an embryo. Once the embryo is created, it is placed inside the uterus. It is an expensive procedure, and usually the last fertility option considered. Over 200,000 babies in the US are a product of IVF since its commencement in 1981.

In-vitro fertilization is used for infertility due to endometriosis, fallopian tubes or uterine problems, ovulation difficulties, low sperm numbers, eggs or sperm that have been harmed by antibodies or illnesses, and other fertility issues.

Fertility drugs are also used alongside IVF; they are used for whichever reason the patient must address, such as egg production, premature ovulation, or to help with the implantation of the embryo. The most universally prescribed fertility drugs are: GnRH Agonists, such as Lupron; Antagon and Cetrotide, which are Antagonists; Gonadotropins, such as Bravelle, Follistim, Repronex, and others; hCGs such as Pregnyl, Novarel, and Profasi, and steroid hormones. Other fertility drugs used in IVF are doxycycline for the male to enhance sperm performance by reducing any bacteria, and progesterone for the woman to increase the hormone. These medications are needed during the cycle of treatment of IVF to prepare the body.

Acupuncture and Other Natural Fertility Options

Many couples rely, with great success, on natural fertility options. Taking supplements, such as a B-Vitamin Complex, Omega-3 fatty acids and Coenzyme Q10, along with a diet of whole foods that are rich in nutrients, can play a vital role in natural fertility. Understanding the monthly cycle, decreasing stress, participating in exercise such as yoga, eliminating food allergens and building “good” bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract can work as well.

So, as wonderful as modern science can be, couples who are struggling with fertility choose acupuncture or other natural methods and have great success. Acupuncture has been proven to increase conception rates and birth in women that go through in-vitro-fertilization, boost fertility by making the lining of the uterus thicker, and help with the overall egg quality. By addressing the body’s innermost energy, or “chi”, acupuncture redistributes this energy and assists in making the body’s energy flow more positively, thus helping the organs and bodily systems repair themselves.

With all of the medications, treatments, and therapies that are available today, couples have several different options to choose from in order for pregnancy to be a reality instead of a dream.

Don’t wait any longer to start the family of your dreams!