Infertility
Most clinical trials to date suggest that acupuncture treatment may be useful in the embryo transfer stage of in vitro fertilisation, and results in an increased pregnancy rate and a greater number of live births, though there have been exceptions and not every trial is consistent with the aforementioned results.
Acupuncture may help in the treatment of infertility by:
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regulating fertility hormones – stress and other factors can disrupt the function of the hypothalamic pituitary-ovarian axis (HPOA). Acupuncture promotes the release of beta-endorphin in the brain, which regulates gonadotrophin releasing hormone from the hypothalamus, follicle stimulating hormone from the pituitary gland, and oestrogen and progesterone levels from the ovary.
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Increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs, which can improve the thickness of the endometrial lining, so increasing the chances of embryo implantation.
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increasing egg production and improving oocyte quality, which could increase the chance of fertilisation.
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enhancing luteal function
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regulating follicle stimulation hormone-receptor expression.
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normalising cortisol and prolactin levels on IVF medication days reducing stress.
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promoting embryo implantation