My name is Paula and I have been working in holistic health for over 16 years with my focus on acupuncture for the last 13. I’ve been interested in woman’s health and how life stressors effect women, their cycles and how many live with painful periods.
How can Acupuncture help with fertility?
Acupuncture helps the body regulate its hormone cycles to be able to have a regular 28 day cycle which in turn helps with conceiving. However there can be obstacles in the way such as endometriosis, PCOS, amenorrhea, fibroids and cysts. By creating good blood flow and regulating hormones all of these conditions can be alleviated, allowing for a better chance at natural conception. Stress is something that can present in different ways, but mainly it provokes a cortisol spike that acupuncture has been proven to reduce by calming your sympathetic nervous system that is in charge of your fight or flight response.
It has shown to have positive effects such as:
- increasing the uterine lining thickness
- improving sleep, which reduces stress and inflammatory responses
- increasing ovarian response to stimulation
- balancing immune system and its response (eg cytokines)
- reducing uterine contraction (for conception)
- increasing blood flow to the pelvic organs
- balancing out cortisol spikes which helps with anxiety and stress
- manageing oxidative stress which may influence egg and sperm quality
Acupuncture is then used in varying ways during different fertility journeys. Such as supporting IVF, IUI, egg and sperm freezing, but also helps during pregnancy to:
reduce anxiety, nausea, Hypertension, Heartburn, Gestational diabetes, Oedema, Itching help with small foetus help with muscle and ligament issues balance hormone mood swings help to turn breech position prepare for labour
Acupuncture has also shown to reduce induction procedures and emergency caesareans and can help to achieve a spontaneous labour.
A consultation with Paula is not just for an acupuncture treatment but also includes diet, life style and supplement advise for all stages of your fertility journey.