Positive Therapy Acupuncture And Fertility

POSITIVE THERAPY “In acupuncture, we strive to return the woman to fertility not by treating labels but by regulating the cycle.”

acupuncture for infertility

ATTUNE YOUR CYCLE.

by Alison McEvoy

Shane has been a practicing acupuncturist, herbalist and tai chi instructor for the last 13 years and is the current Chair of the AFPA (Acupuncture Foundation Professional Association). Gynecology has existed as a specialism within Chinese Medicine for millennia. Traditionally, it employed both acupuncture and herbs to treat the various maladies that women suffered from. Nowadays, more and more people are turning to acupuncture and Chinese Medicine to help them on their fertility journey. Whether being used as an aid to ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) or as therapy in its own right, acupuncture has a lot to offer couples. Still, acupuncture to many people is a strange and unknown therapy. Join me now to find out what acupuncture can offer you and what you should expect over the course of treatment. Chinese Medicine takes a holistic look at the unique presentation of its patients, taking the health and wellbeing of the couple into account. Every aspect of the person is considered; medical history, diet, exercise, emotional state and lifestyle are then weaved together to form a picture of the potential to conceive. In the majority of infertility cases, it is often wrongly assumed that the woman is at fault. However, in Chinese medicine, we emphasis the health of both partners, rather than solely the woman being the focus of treatment. The health of the man is of nearly equal importance to that of the woman. In a 2015 systematic review, acupuncture was found to be efficacious in improving sperm quality. Acupuncture is the primary tool of the acupuncturist, however they will also give lifestyle and diet advice and may consider other therapies such as cupping, massage and moxibustion. Many acupuncturists are also trained herbalists. Herbs are used to great effect in the treatment of infertility. Acupuncture, like any medicine, is best taken as a course of treatment. While there is some benefit in getting even a single treatment, best practice would recommend a three-month course for women - encompassing three menstrual cycles. This is the minimum time needed to have an impact on the cycle. A similar time frame for men is advised as it takes 64 days to form semen. In cases where the acupuncturist is supporting ART the same treatment length guidelines still hold. The treatment plan would revolve around their conventional fertility service with, in the case of IVF, special emphasis being placed on transfer day. The word used in Chinese to treat the menstrual cycle is ‘tiao’ which means to attune. In acupuncture we strive to return the woman to fertility, not by treating labels but by regulating the cycle. From the viewpoint of the acupuncturist, any problems with conceiving will also manifest in the woman’s menstrual cycle. Short cycles, long cycles, missing cycles, painful cycles, these will all give the acupuncturist clues to any imbalances in the person and the acupuncturist will aim to bring the cycle back into balance. The woman’s cycle should be shortened when too long and lengthened when too short. They should transition from one stage of the cycle to the next without difficulties or significant pain. The skillful acupuncturist will attempt to bring the person back into tune, so everything rings cleaner and louder, the person’s health is optimised on all levels. When both partners are in optimum health this will result in the greatest chance of achieving a pregnancy. To find a fully qualified and insured acupuncturist check out www.afpa.ie .

Shane McMunn Lic.TCM, MAFPA Facebook.com/SligoAcupuncture

The Acupuncture Foundation Professional Association

(AFPA) is Ireland’s longest established independent professional association representing Acupuncturists and Chinese Medicine Practitioners since 1987. All of our members have trained for at least three years and hold professional and public liability insurance.

Find an Acupuncturist in your area on our website www.AFPA.ie

For more information find us on Facebook or call 01 412 4917

NUM 41