Depressed. Trying to conceive? Here is a natural solution.

If you’re trying to conceive and also dealing with depression or anxiety, you’re not alone. In the emotionally charged landscape of fertility struggles, depression and anxiety are frequent, unwelcome guests. Many couples navigate a tumultuous journey as they grapple with the heartache of infertility. But what if the dark cloud of unmanaged depression is not only a symptom of the struggle but also a factor influencing your chances of conceiving? And did you know that unmanaged depression can actually affect your fertility and health of the baby?

How depression and anxiety affect fertility

Enter the Catch-22 of depression and fertility: a situation where the management of mental health can directly impact the very outcome couples yearn for. Join us as we explore the potential pitfalls of pharmaceutical interventions and shed light on alternative, non-drug solutions such as acupuncture.

Infertility diagnoses often go hand-in-hand with increased levels of anxiety and depression. Infertility diagnosis is devastating and and can cause significant stress and suffering. When unmanaged, the emotional turmoil of depression can seep into couple’s relationship and undermine their success in becoming parents.

Recent studies have discovered connections between depression and reduced fertility in both men and women. Men battling depression face challenges in sexual function and sperm quality. Recently a large clinical study found that men who have major depression are less likely to conceive a child, while severely depressed women are found 38 per cent less likely to conceive each month.

Are antidepressants safe?

It’s clear that antidepressants are sometimes necessary, but may not be the best solution for couples trying to conceive. Alarmingly they can be unsafe for both the mother and the baby. Recent research showed the links between the use of antidepressants and male infertility and increased likelihood of miscarriage in women.

Perinatal depression and anxiety effects on the baby

Equally concerning, perinatal depression and anxiety in mothers can affect the development of the child during the first 18 years of life. Specifically, it affects social-emotional, cognitive, language, motor, and adaptive behaviour development. With so much at stake, early intervention and support are vital.

What is the safest way to manage your depression when trying to conceive?

A number of studies have explored the possible negative effects of antidepressants on a healthy pregnancy and on a baby. However, we lack information on how these drugs affect fertility. So if you in a position to choose your treatment, discuss non-pharmaceutical depression management with your doctor. There are a few effective non-drug interventions available like

  • Acupuncture,
  • Counselling and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy,
  • Exercise (cardio and yoga)

We recommend that you combine at least two of the above interventions.

Acupuncture is both safe and effective therapy against depression when trying for a baby

Acupuncture may be your non-drug alternative therapy of choice when trying to conceive. Reduced stress and anxiety are some of the well-known fertility acupuncture’s benefits. Majority of our fertility patients report feeling more relaxed.

In 2019 our Australian colleagues from the University of Western Sydney investigated if acupuncture is a suitable treatment for depression. They summed up trials from Asia (China, Korea) and English speaking countries in a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The study authors concluded that acupuncture had significant benefits for patients with depression. The average successful treatment involved about two to three sessions per week. Patients had this natural treatment for several weeks. Acupuncture may be used as a complementary treatment alongside antidepressants or a stand-alone therapy for less severe depression. Not to mention, this ancient therapy can help to speed up your fertility journey.

Our approach

At our clinic, we pride ourselves on our natural, holistic, integrative, and scientifically up-to-date approach to acupuncture treatment. We cater to couples experiencing a wide range of depression-related symptoms, from low moods and insomnia to digestive disorders and low libido. If you’re seeking a natural solution to improve your mental health and fertility journey, we invite you to discover how acupuncture can help.

Contact us today to learn more.

Acupuncture helps depression: cytokines

How acupuncture helps with depression

depression-acupuncture-cytokines
Did you know that depression is not only a psychological/psychiatric condition? Recent studies have shown that it has a physiological manifestation in the brain. Scientists found that depressed patients have higher levels proteins called cytokines. These proteins have an ability to trigger inflammation in your body and make you feeling down, lethargic, and sleepy.

Acupuncture effective treatment for depression

Acupuncture has been found to be an effective treatment for depression, especially for patients who have treatment resistant depression. According to a recent study(systematic review and meta-analysis) acupuncture combined with antidepressant medication can lead to has an early results, are safe and well-tolerated over the first 6-week treatment period. Moreover, this combination of treatments has been shown to be more effective than just using antidepressant medication alone.

So how does acupuncture for depression work?

Well, previous experimental studies found that acupuncture can actually reduce cytokine levels in chronic headache patients. And research on rodents has shown that it can reduce cytokine levels in the brain.

Vagus nerve connects the organs to the brain. And acupuncture can directly reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines via this nerve. And long term treatments can reduce inflammation by increasing levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines. To achieve this you need 3 or more months of acupuncture done correctly at correct frequency. This doesn’t only benefit depression. In fact, inflammation has been linked to heart disease, increased the risk of cancer. Inflammation affects your sleep,  makes it harder to lose weight, increases bone loss, damages your gums. By reducing inflammation, you can improve your overall health and well-being.

There are a few different theories about how acupuncture benefits depression, but the cytokine theory seems to be one of the most promising. So if you’re struggling with depression or just want to take proactive steps to improve your health, consider trying acupuncture.

Transcranial current stimulation

Transcranial current stimulation

Transcranial direct current stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS Therapy) are a trending subject of current studies.

The newly discovered benefits of these therapies include pain relief, treatment for sleep disorders, depression, cognitive enhancement (including speeding up learning, creativity enhancement, and improving mathematical abilities, etc.).

Are these transcranial therapies really novel? These treatments are strikingly similar to a well-established treatment – scalp electroacupuncture.

Scalp electroacupuncture has been used safely and effectively for decades, with numerous studies supporting its benefits for conditions such as

But here’s the best part: scalp acupuncture is much more cost-effective than transcranial therapies.

Brain mapping techniques are becoming cheaper and more accessible. This leads to more studies and a better understanding of the human brain. This will open up opportunities for new treatments using transcranial current stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and even electro-acupuncture. So if you’re looking for an effective and affordable alternative treatment, give electroacupuncture a try!

The image: fibers of the White Matter