Anna Pyne, LAc, MSOM, FABORM

Inflammation is a common disorder which can be a contributing factor or sole cause of infertility.  Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has many treatment options that may be used exclusively or in conjunction with Western medical therapy.  Inflammation of the pelvic organs can occur in diseases such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), endometriosis, and salpingitis (inflammation of the fallopian tubes).  I have successfully treated many patients with these conditions that are in the middle of or are about to go through a medicated fertility treatment cycle, as well as those trying to conceive naturally.

According to TCM there can be a number of different causes for inflammation to occur in the body and each can manifest in very individual ways.  Not only will PID, endometriosis, and salpingitis be identified and treated separately, but each one on its own has a number of different potential causes.  I will be able to assess the specific cause of the disorder by observing the tongue, feeling both wrist pulses, and reviewing the intake form with the patient.  By gathering all this information together I am able to then discern the TCM pattern and treatment plan going forward.  If you have any questions about TCM’s treatment options in regards to inflammation hindering fertility, please feel free to email us or if would like to make an appointment please call the office.

By Anna Pyne LAc MSOM

A recent study entitled “Acupuncture as an Adjunct to In Vitro Fertilization: A Randomized Trial” was published in the journal Medical Acupuncture showing that electro-acupuncture used in conjunction with Traditional Chinese Acupuncture doubled the pregnancy success rates of IVF patients as compared to the national average of patients undergoing IVF.*    The study was conducted at Acupuncture and Chinese Medical Center in Ann Arbor Michigan using a total of 52 IVF patients with the average age of 38 years.  The patients in the study were randomly divided into three different groups:  1) traditional Chinese acupuncture (TCA) plus electro-acupuncture (EA), 2) TCA-only, or 3) EA-only.   All patients also underwent “standard IVF medication regimen.”   The authors of this study did not include an IVF-only control group and compared their treatment outcomes to average U.S. IVF success rates. 

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention the average success rate of IVF alone is about 40%.  In this study all groups had higher IVF success rates than the average U.S. success rate, and the improvement was greatest when TCA and EA were used in conjunction.  The authors conclude a “marked increase with the combination of TCA and EA (81.8% success rate)”!*  The TCA alone group had a 64% success rate, and the EA alone group had a 63% success rate.  The points used in the TCA and EA group were determined based upon the patient’s individual traditional Chinese medical diagnosis.  This study proves that traditional Chinese acupuncture in combination with electro-acupuncture “…is a promising new technique for the treatment of infertility with a higher IVF success rate than that of TCA or EA alone.”*   

While this study would have been strengthened by the addition of an IVF-only control group, the findings of this study are supportive of the growing body of evidence that treatment with Traditional Chinese Acupuncture does increase a woman’s chances of conception with IVF. 

*Medical Acupuncture Volume 21, Number 3, 2009 “Acupuncture as An Adjunct to In Vitro Fertilization: A Randomized Trial”