Edina Acupuncture is almost as old as the great Chinese civilization.  Acupuncture entails the use of hair thin and sterile needles inserted at important pressure points of the body to relieve soreness and pain and to act as a remedy to various kinds of ailments.  This procedure is usually utilized for certain areas of the central nervous system to manage blood pressure.  The needles upon insertion stimulate the body to produce and release endorphins to elicit a euphoric feeling and relieve pain and with neurotransmitters and neurohormones to effectively employ themselves in the healing of the body.

Hormonal imbalances which often lead to infertility can also be addressed with acupuncture often in concert with other medical procedures.  Acupuncture improves blood flow to organs and other body parts that are undernourished with blood and vital nutrients.  The newly nourished organs and their corresponding body systems such as the endocrine system can then improve their function leading to improved health and the removal of pain.  With proper function of the endocrine system, hormone levels are regulated, which improves the functions of the follicles and ovaries.  Increased blood flow to the endometrium thickens the lining of the uterine wall thereby greatly decreasing the risk of a miscarriage.  Acupuncture used for in vitro fertilization effectively increases success in pregnancy.  Acupuncture also plays a major role in embryo transplantation by providing the embryo a better environment in the mother’s womb increasing its survival chances during and after transplantation.  Fertility problems such as a blocked fallopian tube cannot be treated with acupuncture; however, spasmed or contorted tubes can be addressed and brought back to its normal healthy state.  Herbal medicines make it easier for acupuncture treatment to deal with other fertility problems such as sperm DNA fragmentation, erectile dysfunction, low sperm count, poor sperm motility, unknown cause of infertility (all male infertility conditions) and female fertility problems such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), elevated follicle stimulating hormones (FSH), luteal phase defect, idiopathic infertility and frequent miscarriages.

For women who want to undergo IVF treatment, it is often required that they get at least 4 months of acupuncture treatment before undergoing IVF treatment itself.  IVF and other kinds of fertility programs use invasive and distressful procedures and the good mood and emotional health of the woman play a major factor in the success of these programs.  Emotional problems such as stress, depression and anxiety, if not treated by acupuncture can lessen the chance of success of these programs.  That is the reason why acupuncture is now required by many fertility clinics before the fertility treatment itself is done.

For getting treatment for one’s infertility through acupuncture, it is important to avail of the services of a licensed and if possible an acupuncturist who specializes in fertility problems.