When we discuss fertility and conception, we know that it is important to have plenty of circulation and blood flow in the uterus to optimize chances of success. As a result, many fertility patients will employ acupuncture to increase their chances of getting pregnant.
In a 2002 study by WE Paulus, et al, women who received acupuncture before and after IVF were pregnant at a rate of 42.5% compared to the control group that was successful only 26.3% of the time. Results were even more striking in a 2006 study by Dieterle, et al and another 2006 study conducted by Westergaard et al.
When you conceive via IVF treatment, your blastocyst will have been implanted on its 5th day of development. Congratulaions! You can tick five days until baby off on the calendar already!
On the 5th day of conception your tiny embryo, in the form of a blastocyst, will hatch. At this point, from days 6 to 9, your embryo will develop trophoblast cells that look a little bit like tentacles. These trophoblasts will destroy the uterine lining in order to create pools of blood and release nutrients essential to survival. During this time, your uterus prefers a more anaerobic environment – meaning less blood flow and circulation. In fact, a low oxygen environment is essential to the success of a continuing pregnancy.
From days 6 to 9, if you choose to get acupuncture, make sure that you have a licensed and experienced acupuncturist to see. Licensed Acupuncturists receive a four year graduate education and have learned the ins and outs of protocol during pregnancy. Between days 6 and 9, I prefer not to give acupuncture for fertility purposes to my patients. If I do give treatment, the emphasis moves away from encouraging blood flow to uterus, opposite of what we do during treatment before transfer.
Tune in for Acupuncture and Pregnancy during the First Trimester.
Links to the studies referenced above on Acupuncture
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11937123
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16616748
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=westergaard+2006+acupuncture
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