How Can Acupuncture Support Your IUI Treatments?
If your path to pregnancy is taking you through Intrauterine insemination (IUI), you’re no doubt looking for every way possible to support a successful procedure. Here at Pulling Down the Moon, we have years of experience helping thousands of women with holistic fertility services in Chicago and Highland Park, and we can support your efforts to initiate a successful IUI pregnancy. We are proud to have some extraordinarily compassionate and highly skilled fertility acupuncturists on our team who have extensive experience applying this Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approach to stimulating and supporting fertility for both women and men! Strong research supports the link between acupuncture and IUI success.
What is IUI?
IUI is a specialized type of artificial insemination, a medical fertility procedure usually performed by your RE in hopes of increasing the chances of a successful pregnancy. Prepared donor sperm is injected directly into the uterus, so it doesn’t have to travel all the way there on its own. The timing is crucial. The procedure takes place right around the time ovaries release an egg (or eggs). IUI shortens the distance and time it may take for the sperm to meet the egg and fertilize it as soon as it starts traveling down the fallopian tube. Naturally, this all depends on keeping careful track of the menstrual cycle, and doing whatever is necessary to regulate it to increase the chances of successful fertilization.
There are different IUI options depending on the causes of infertility. IUI support may include medications that help regulate menstruation and to help the ovaries produce eggs. If male infertility is the problem, sperm from a donor may be used. There are several different IUI options, and science has established that acupuncture and IUI are a good fit when it comes to boosting fertility.
How Can Acupuncture Help IUI?
Acupuncture has been helping people across Asia with health matters for thousands of years. It has long been an essential component of Traditional Chinese Medicine for fertility and modern science backs up the wise application of acupuncture to boost fertility, including during IUI and IVF. Recent meta-studies noted a positive correlation between the success of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) when supported by a regimen of acupuncture sessions.¹ The success rate seemed to be connected to timing the acupuncture and IUI closely to COH.
Treatment Cycle Timing for Acupuncture and IUI
Acupuncture is a safe and effective way to boost fertility and support the chances of a successful IUI process, as well as generally improving fertility rates for men and women. As the studies above suggest, the timing of acupuncture sessions can accentuate your chances of IUI success. Based on our experience and research, as well as you and your partner’s situations, we can recommend the following about acupuncture timing for IUI:
- To regulate menstrual cycles and address egg quality issues in women, it’s a good idea to start acupuncture two to three months before IUI. Acupuncture helps improve blood flow to all the reproductive organs, including the ovaries and uterus, which helps prepare for an “all systems go” IUI day.
- For men, we also recommend a two to three-month head start with acupuncture treatments before IUI. For men, acupuncture sessions are designed to improve sperm quality and motility.²
- Acupuncture can help boost IUI success as women receive sessions throughout their menstrual cycles. Receiving acupuncture between days one and four, five and seven and seven through nine can help prime endometrial receptivity.³
- During ovulation, acupuncture can help boost blood flow to the ovaries and uterus, which can boost pregnancy chances as well.
Acupuncture for fertility is a highly individualized process, of course, because your needs for boosting fertility before IUI depend heavily on the reasons behind infertility. We will work to time sessions to your needs and cycle schedule.
Fertility Acupuncture at Pulling Down the Moon
Acupuncture and IUI can be a great combination for finally getting pregnant, and for supporting a healthy pregnancy after treatment. In addition to acupuncture, services like
fertility nutrition,
fertility massage, and
fertility yoga can help you reduce stress and optimize your chances of a healthy pregnancy.
Schedule a consultation with the Pulling Down the Moon team today and connect with a community that understands what you’re going through and is ready to help.
Resources
1. Zheng, C. H., Zhang, M. M., Huang, G. Y., & Wang, W. (2012). The Role of Acupuncture in Assisted Reproductive Technology. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/543924
2. Kwon, O., Jerng, U., Jo, J.-Y., Lee, S., & Lee, J.-M. (2014). The effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for poor semen quality in infertile males: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Asian Journal of Andrology, 16(6), 884. https://doi.org/10.4103/1008-682x.129130
3. Zhong, Y., Zeng, F., Liu, W., Ma, J., Guan, Y., & Song, Y. (2019). Acupuncture in improving endometrial receptivity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-019-2472-1
Meet Kelsi Karch
View Profile: Licensed Acupunturist
Kelsi Karch, a passionate acupuncturist, transitioned from her aspirations in theater and the arts to a fulfilling career in healthcare. With a Bachelor's in Arts and a Master's in Traditional Oriental Medicine, she now specializes in women's health and fertility. Her journey includes treating various conditions, volunteering, and supervising students. As a mother, she personally appreciates the benefits of acupuncture for a healthy pregnancy. While nurturing her career, she dreams of returning to the stage and cherishes time with her daughter and community involvement.
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