Acupuncture for IUI
A natural treatment improving your chances to conceive faster
Acupuncture evidence
Check out our reproductive acupuncture evidence and research project.
What is IUI?
Before looking at how acupuncture assists with IUI. Let’s find out what kind of fertility treatment, intrauterine insemination is.
First, it is the next step up from ovulation induction medication. IVF clinics use it for a variety of causes of infertility. However, one of the main reasons for IUI is unexplained infertility.
For intrauterine insemination woman will have to take ovulation induction drugs. Male partner or donor sperm sample will be specially prepared in the lab. Then doctor or specialist nurse will put the best sperm directly into the uterus bypassing vagina. For most women insemination is not painful, it reminds a bit of a cervical smear.
For this treatment to be successful you need healthy Fallopian tubes, good quality eggs, healthy sperm and receptive uterine lining.
Because IUI increases your chances just a little bit, you may need more than one treatment in the row.
Acupucture to support IUI
Acupuncture and herbs dramatically improve IUI success rates in study from Israel. It was 65.5% over an average 4.5-month treatment period compared to the control group 39.4%.
Additionally, women had less miscarriages: six women in the acupuncture group and twelve of IUI only group had early pregnancy losses. As a result:
41.4% of women who had acupuncture plus IUI had a baby compared to 26.9% who had only IUI.
What is remarkable about this study that the average age of the women who had acupuncture were 39 years old, which is two years older than the average age of 37.1 yo in the control group. Normally, you’d expect much lower pregnancy rates in 39 year olds.
For example, in New Zealand, cumulative IUI live birth rates over 3 months is 30% for women who are 37 and younger.
Infertility treatments are becoming more common. Women who seek medical interventions to fall pregnant are exposed to varying amounts of hormones, ultrasound examinations, blood tests and, in the case of IVF, general anaesthesia.
These treatments also occasionally cause unwanted side effects, such as hot flashes, thinning of the endometrial lining, ovarian hyperstimulation, weight gain and mental disturbances.
Acupuncture for fertility has virtually no negative side effects. Quite opposite, it helps to improve the uterine lining, reduces risk of OHSS, reduces stress and anxiety.
Furthermore, unlike fertility treatments at IVF clinics, acupuncture is tailored for specific diagnoses. We try to restore balance to your body by changing acupoints and adjusting Chinese herbal formula.
So when it comes to the success rates, it is no surprise that nourishing natural treatment can increase your chances to conceive.
Pregnancy rates in this graph seem quite high. It is because this graph represents IUI and acupuncture success rates over a cumulative 4-5 month period.
Book an appointment
We specialise in Fertility acupuncture since 1999. Book an appointment to discover how our expertise can help your situation.
Herbs for fertility
Herbs can help you conceive sooner. Discover why they work, and when you need them.
Your first consultation: How it works
Learn how to get the best value out of your initial consultation.