A 38-year-old woman came to our clinic seeking help with infertility. Two rounds of IVF had not been successful, and she only had one viable embryo left. Her doctor suggested she try acupuncture to increase her chances of success in the final round of fertility treatment. This infertility case review describes how acupuncture identified and overcame the imbalances keeping her from getting pregnant. As a result, she is now the mother of a healthy baby girl.
Acupucture and IVF
Multiple studies have shown that acupuncture dramatically improves the outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF). IVF involves retrieving a woman’s eggs, fertilizing them with the husband’s sperm in a lab, and then transferring the embryo back into the woman. The process is relatively invasive, requiring daily injections and other hormone medications. But fertility clinics are popular because they help women who otherwise would not be able to get pregnant.
The problem is that many women go through the IVF process without success. IVF is incredibly expensive, and most insurance does not cover the $20,000+ cost. As a result, women have a limited window of success before giving up. That’s where acupuncture comes in. Studies have consistently shown, and our experience as clinicians confirms, that acupuncture significantly increases IVF success rates. This infertility case review is one example of how the process works.
Acupuncture restores balance to a person’s organ function, thereby improving their health. When a woman comes to our clinic and seeks IVF support, we identify her internal imbalances and use acupuncture to correct them. Our patients feel the results as various symptoms resolve. For example, one woman may have painful, irregular periods. After acupuncture, her cycle is regular, with no cramping.
Another woman may struggle with insomnia and anxiety. Following a course of treatment, she can fall asleep without sleeping pills and no longer feels anxious. The process of harmonizing and optimizing the body increases IVF’s success rate. We see this time and again.
Infertility Case Review
Our 38-year-old patient in this infertility case review had already undergone two rounds of IVF without success. With only one shot left, she and her doctor decided to try acupuncture. Her intake exam revealed two pattern imbalances – spleen qi deficiency and liver qi stagnation. We established this Chinese medicine diagnosis based on her health (digestion, sleep, mood, energy, body temperature, pain, etc.) and by examining her tongue and feeling her pulse.
We then created a treatment plan to address these imbalances. First, we selected specific acupuncture points to strengthen her spleen qi and smooth her stagnant liver qi. At the same time, we included acupoints to nourish her kidney function – the kidneys are essential organs in Chinese medicine for reproduction. A sample of acupoints for her treatments included ST36, CV12, ST21, LV3, PC6, SP6, and KD3.
Improved Health from Acupuncture
After six sessions (once a week), our patient knew without a doubt that acupuncture positively affected her health. Previous symptoms were resolving before her very eyes. For example, she always had stomach pain with bloating after meals. However, her digestion significantly improved after starting acupuncture – she no longer had stomach pain, and her bloating was gone.
Before acupuncture, she was always tired – now, her energy was much better. In the past, she felt stressed all the time and consistently woke up at 3:00 am worrying about her life. Now she was more relaxed even though her life was just as busy, and she regularly slept through the night.
The improvement in her symptoms was a direct indication that her pattern imbalances were correcting themselves. As a result, not only did she feel better, but her body was healthier.
Infertility Overcome with Acupuncture
Not surprisingly, her next round of IVF was a success. Our patient in this infertility case review went on to have a healthy pregnancy and delivered an eight-pound baby girl nine months later. We do not doubt that the key to success with this third round of IVF was due to acupuncture optimizing our patient’s health.
Next Steps
What worked for her can work for you. If you are struggling with infertility, try acupuncture. Whether you want to get pregnant on your own or work with a fertility clinic, acupuncture can significantly increase your success.
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Additional Resources
Watch Video About Our Infertility Treatment.
Additional Infertility Acupuncture Case Study.
Learn about all the conditions we treat.
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Photo by Hussein Altameemi: https://www.pexels.com/photo/pregnant-black-woman-caressing-husband-near-tree-7707315/
What our Clients are Saying
I was scheduled for IVF and they suggested I get acupuncture beforehand to increase my chances of success. I went to Raleigh Acupuncture for a month before the procedure. It was very relaxing and definitely reduced my stress levels. My uterine lining also increased more than ever before. The IVF was a success and I’m now pregnant. It was definitely worth doing the acupuncture. I did not want to have to repeat IVF for $25K a pop. And when I got morning sickness, they cured that too!
I sought Raleigh Acupuncture’s help in 2010 following a miscarriage. Happily, in 2011, I had a very healthy little boy. My son is 11 months old. I tell everyone how much you got me back on track after my miscarriage – it was truly amazing. I had a great pregnancy too.
My husband and I had been trying to get pregnant for the past two years. I had undergone three rounds of Clomid with no success and the doctor was talking about IVF. We didn’t have the money for that, so we tried acupuncture. They took a lot of time to explain what they were doing with the acupuncture and Chinese herbs. I learned so much about my cycle and the reasons I was having trouble getting pregnant. They said it would take 3 to 6 months to get pregnant, and sure enough, after 3 months I was pregnant! It seems like a miracle to me. I’m so grateful to Raleigh Acupuncture. Thank you!!!