Fertility Acupuncture: Female Fertility
Difficulty in conceiving is rarely down to one single cause – there’s often a mix of physical, hormonal and emotional factors. At our Islington clinics we specialise in fertility acupuncture for women experiencing a wide range of fertility related issues:
Common factors affecting female fertility
- Endometriosis and adenomyosis
- Problems with ovulation (including PMOS/PCOS)
- Cycle irregularities (common after coming off the pill)
- Low ovarian reserve
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Chronic stress and anxiety
- Uterine fibroids and other uterine anomalies
Fertility Acupuncture for Endometriosis and Adenomyosis
These are conditions we regularly work with using acupuncture – see our Women’s health section for more detail. We think it’s part of our job to help clients understand what’s going on in their body, particularly when it comes to reproductive health.
Fertility Acupuncture for Cycle Irregularities and PMOS/PCOS
Irregular cycles are common and can have a range of causes. We take a full case history to understand what’s driving the irregularity in your case. Acupuncture and nutrition can be used to support a more regular cycle.
Fertility Acupuncture for clients with Low Ovarian Reserve
Being told you have low ovarian reserve or a low AMH result can feel like devastating news. It doesn’t mean pregnancy isn’t possible – it only takes one viable egg. We can’t reverse low ovarian reserve, but we can help you understand what’s happening in your body and work towards optimising your general health and fertility.
Fertility Acupuncture for Stress and Emotional Health
Evidence is building on the link between emotional health and fertility. Trying to get or stay pregnant is genuinely stressful. Tracking fertile windows, worries about age and recurrent early miscarriage impact the nervous system. Acupuncture is particularly useful in these circumstances for its combined psychological and physical effects.
Fertility Acupuncture for Fibroids and Uterine Anomalies
Uterine fibroids, particularly larger ones, and structural uterine issues are generally best managed by conventional medicine. We’re happy to work alongside your consultant or gynaecologist to support you through that process.
What to expect from treatment:
Your first appointment
Your first session is a thorough consultation covering your cycle, medical history, any diagnoses, lifestyle and stress levels, and any fertility treatment you’re already having or considering. This shapes your treatment plan: there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to fertility.
Ongoing treatment
Most patients have weekly or fortnightly sessions for a course of around three months. We don’t recommend judging results after just one or two visits. If you have difficulties at a particular time of your cycle (ovulation / premenstrually) we will time your sessions around that part of the cycle.
How does acupuncture help with fertility ?
Fertility reflects general health as well as mental and emotional wellbeing. The proposed mechanisms are still being researched, but the current picture looks like this:
- Emotional stress can disrupt communication between the brain and ovaries, contributing to hormonal imbalance. Acupuncture is thought to calm the nervous system, which may help support hormonal balance and a more regulated cycle
- Doppler ultrasound studies have shown acupuncture can increase blood flow to the ovaries and uterus, which may help create a better-oxygenated environment for developing eggs (Stener-Victorin et al., 1996)
- This same circulatory effect is thought to help support the thickness of the uterine lining (the endometrium), an important factor in implantation (Jedel et al., 2011)
Is Acupuncture Safe?
Acupuncture has a very strong safety record. This is backed up by the largest UK safety survey of its kind, covering over 34,000 acupuncture treatments given by professional acupuncturists, which also recorded no serious adverse events (MacPherson et al., 2001). Our therapists are all registered with the British Acupuncture Council and follow their strict hygiene and ethical codes.