ACUPUNTURE AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Acupuncture and IVF

The role of acupuncture in the treatment of fertility disorders is a new frontier that has tremendous possibility in helping patients with difficulties in hormone balance and implantation disorders.

There are still only a limited number of studies but the use of acupuncture and related techniques is undergoing intense scrutiny in scientific studies in centers throughout the country as well as throughout the world.

A careful review of the literature has shown that theoretical advantages may include an improvement of the blood flow in the uterine arteries as well as beneficial effects on both pituitary and ovarian hormones.

Some acupuncture centers claim that patients will respond better to stimulation, achieve more eggs, as well as have better quality embryos. Other centers claim to be able to lower the level of FSH as well as treat miscarriage.

The overall goal of acupuncture is to improve blood perfusion and energy in the uterus and achieve stabilization of the endocrine system. If acupuncture is able to “relax” the uterus around the time of transfer, this could be helpful in patients who tend to expel the transferred IVF embryos because of an increased number of contractions at this critical time.

It is understood that implantation of the embryos into the lining of the uterus will not occur for 2-5 days after the transfer. Therefore the timing of acupuncture in relation to embryo transfer will likely vary from patient to patient in terms of the most successful time. Hopefully future studies will reveal a useful methodology to guide practitioners and patients in this regard.

The Brandeis Center is currently in the process of developing a formal association with a leading acupuncture center in New York City. This association will allow us to utilize the resources available both from acupuncture and other alternative methodologies.

My personal recommendation at this time to patients is that acupuncture itself should not be used as an isolated methodology but more importantly as a lifestyle event which will be part of a comprehensive program of relaxation and stress-management in association with diet and herbal therapy.

There is no technique that will treat all patients and acupuncture certainly falls within that category. However, the use of acupuncture is here to stay and if properly selected and judiciously used will without doubt impact in a major way on certain patients.