Pulling Down the Moon

How Can Acupuncture Support Your IUI Treatments?

Apr 17, 2024
Kelsi Karch

Written By:

Kelsi Karch, L.Ac

Licensed Acupuncturist

A woman is getting an acupuncture treatment on her forehead to help with IUI

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.
A woman is getting acupuncture on her back for help with fertility

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

Kelsi Karch

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.

Share on Social

Discuss With Us

Our Latest Resources

Therapeutic Yoga for PCOS?

By Beth Heller • 13 Sep, 2024
There are many reasons that a therapeutic yoga program may benefit women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. PCOS presents very differently in different women but the syndrome as whole is associated with infertility and other adverse health conditions including obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Women with PCOS may also have higher levels of chronic inflammation and elevated levels of circulating stress hormones. The good news is that more and more research suggests that lifestyle intervention including lifestyle intervention including diet and exercise may be the best way to manage PCOS. In addition, new research is showing the benefit of Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat the hormonal imbalances, symptoms like hirsutism and acne, and menstrual irregularity that is associated with PCOS. Another element of PDtM’s PCOS “Action Plan is yoga. Yoga has been shown to lower levels of stress hormones and women with a regular yoga practice have been show to have a “healthier physiological response to stress". Yoga has also been shown to reduce markers of oxidative stress and blood sugar control in people with diabetes as well as improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels in heart disease patients (1). Some of the goals of a therapeutic yoga practice for PCOS include: Standing and seated yoga asana that create an invigorating, but not exhausting, exercise session Twisting poses, which in yoga physiology are believed to help decrease abdominal fat Postures that bring blood to the thyroid gland, an important endocrine gland for metabolism Stimulating agni, the digestive fire, that supports complete digestion and metabolism of foods Mudras (hand yoga) that stimulate different physiological and energetic systems Breathing exercises that induce the relaxation response While lifestyle changes can be very helpful with PCOS, they are not enough on their own. Working in partnership with you physician or Reproductive Endocrinologist and ensuring they are kept up to date on any holistic treatments you may be using is the smartest approach for PCOS management. Yoga for Fertility to support PCOS is available at Pulling Down the Moon in-center starting on Sept 21st and virtually starting on Sept 30th . If you would like to learn more about PDtM’s PCOS Action Plan to manager your PCOS Action Plan with holistic health treatment ( Acupuncture , Massage , Nutrition , and Yoga ) then contact us at 312-321-0004 or email info@pullingdownthemoon.com to get started today! (1) Field, T. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice 17 (2011) 1e8
woman holding supplements doing research supplements for fertility

Supplements for Fertility When Trying to Conceive

21 Aug, 2024
Discover effective supplements that support fertility and boost your chances of conception. Learn how vitamins and minerals can enhance reproductive health.

Pregnancy Passport: Relaxed Mommies Make Healthier Babies

By Beth Heller, MS RYT • 15 Aug, 2024
As I’ve said before, it took me seven years and five pregnancies to get two kids. So, while pregnancy was a joyful time for me on some levels, it was also a time of stress and sleepless anxiety. In fact my business partner Tami will often joke that my pregnancies were some of the most stressful times of her life. Honestly, though, without yoga, massage and acupuncture I think I would have bitten my fingernails to the quick waiting for Jackson and Calvin to arrive safely. What I didn’t know then was that seeking relief for anxiety through holistic means was also good for my boys. A growing body of clinical evidence now suggests that prenatal stress, depression and/or anxiety is linked to adverse health outcomes for both moms and babies including preterm birth, preeclampsia and even future risk of chronic disease and obesity (1). Women, especially women who have struggled to conceive, may feel guilty about experiencing anxious emotions during this “blissful time". Yet preparing for a new baby, no matter how hard one had to work to get it, can be stressful. Changes in the body during pregnancy, including the strains of a growing belly and nighttime muscle cramps, can also disrupt sleep, which increases stress. Rather than worry about worrying, we suggest you take the bull by the horns and enjoy a 360 degree self-care program during pregnancy. And honestly, it will never again be as easy to justify self-care like acupuncture , massage and yoga as it is when your efforts are a “double-dip – good for mom and great for baby. Here are several strategies for decreasing maternal stress and improving overall well-being during pregnancy: 1. Get acupuncture. A 2010 study in Obstetrics and Gynecology found that acupuncture treatment alleviated symptoms of stress and depression in pregnant women and women experiencing infertility (2, 3). Acupuncture has also been shown to be effective at managing morning sickness, back and pelvic pain and labor pain. Make sure, however, that you see a practitioner who is experienced in treating pregnancy. 2. Do prenatal yoga. Compared to controls, women who did prenatal yoga experienced significant reductions in physical pain from baseline to post intervention compared with women in the third trimester whose pain increased. Women in the yoga group showed greater reductions in perceived stress and trait anxiety in their third trimester than women from the control group (4) The same women also experienced better sleep and less wakefulness (5). 3. Get prenatal massage. Research shows that women who received prenatal massage reported decreased depression, anxiety, and leg and back pain. Cortisol levels decreased, which decreased excessive fetal activity; the rate of baby prematurity was also lower (6). 4. Seek expert prenatal nutrition counseling. There are specific nutritional strategies for managing weight gain, avoiding conditions like Gestational Diabetes and Pre-eclampsia and improving digestion (less heartburn, avoid constipation). At Pulling Down the Moon we target our prenatal nutrition consults based on trimester. Get your passport to pregnancy relaxation by getting started today with prenatal care in Chicago , Highland Park , or virtually ! Gift certificates are also available at our online store shop.pullingdownthemoon.com . 1. Entringer S et al. Prenatal stress and developmental programming of human health and disease risk: concepts and integration of empirical findings. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2010 Dec;17(6):507-16. 2. Smith CA. 1. SMith The effect of acupuncture on psychosocial outcomes for women experiencing infertility. J Altern Complement Med. 2011 Oct;17(10):923-30. Epub 2011 Oct 6 . 3. Manber et al. Acupuncture for depression during pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Mar;115(3):511-20. 4. Beddoe AE et al. The effects of mindfulness-based yoga during pregnancy on maternal psychological and physical distress. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2009 May-Jun;38(3):310-9. 5. Beddoe AE et al. Effects of mindful yoga on sleep in pregnant women: a pilot study. Biol Res Nurs. 2010 Apr;11(4):363-70. 6. Field, T. (2010). Pregnancy and labor massage therapy. Expert Review of Obstetrics and Gynecology , 5, 177-181.
More Posts
Share by: