Acupuncture for PCOS, endometriosis and fertility
Fertility is a very… complex subject. It includes the ability, or inability, to get pregnant, which means it also includes hormonal imbalances, cysts, fibroids, and number of pregnancies, miscarriages, abortions, etc. If you or someone you know is having trouble getting pregnant or maintaining a pregnancy, this one’s for you.
Acupuncture and women’s health
Since I began my studies in acupuncture and TCM back in 2015, I have worked with countless patients for infertility. They either ‘have already tried everything’, are pursuing IVF, want to get pregnant naturally, or are also struggling with PCOS or endometriosis. Whatever their journey is, we are always happy that it led them to acupuncture, because acupuncture can help with infertility and women’s health issues quickly and naturally.
Acupuncture treatments can help women with:
Increasing their chances of getting pregnant by regulating their cycle to support ovulation.
Managing and eliminating the pain and hormonal imbalances related to PCOS, endometriosis, or fibroids, which may be hindering the proper function of the ovaries and hormones.
Reducing PMS (such as cramps, headaches, mood swings, fatigue) and balancing their hormones.
Miscarriage and abortion (induced miscarriage) recovery - emotionally and physically.
Increasing the success and process of IVF transfers by strengthening and balancing your body so that it can receive the implantation well and relieve stress and emotions.
Pregnancy itself, such as nausea, fatigue, back pain, appetite changes, mood swings, gestational diabetes, etc.
Postpartum, which is sometimes the most crucial if you want to have another baby in the future or replenish yourself from the 9 month journey you were on. It can also assist with lactation and breastfeeding issues, or just simply ease you into the transition of motherhood emotionally.
Wherever you are in your fertility journey, acupuncture is a natural and effective way to help. I will come up with a customized treatment protocol depending on your specific needs, symptoms, day of your cycle, etc. The treatments help with harmonizing and balancing your body, mind and spirit to strengthen and nourish you and your baby to be.
TCM theory and fertility
There are over 300 acupuncture points, 12 different meridians, and many modalities acupuncturists can use to treat different conditions. Chinese herbal medicine can also be utilized. The use of acupuncture points access the Qi of the body to regulate the flow of Qi. In doing so, the natural functioning of substances, chemicals, pathways, and connections in the body are restored.
Acupuncture basically tells our nervous system to wake up and tend to certain areas of the body energetically to improve the flow and functioning of that pathway/connection. What is unwanted is removed, what is stuck is now flowing, what is deficient is now nourished, and what is not in harmony is now balanced.
In TCM diagnostic theory, fertility is often related to stagnation or stasis, especially if there are fibroids, cysts, or any other masses present. It can also be related to a yin deficiency, yang deficiency, or blood deficiency. We have to imagine an ideal environment for forming life. This would be a place of warmth (yang energy to make sure there is a consistent basal body temperature) and a place rich in fluids (yin energy to make sure the eggs are not dry). Acupuncture naturally helps your body create an optimal environment for the fetus to thrive in.
how to prepare for your acu journey
If you are planning to pursue acupuncture for fertility, it is important to plan for the journey that is to come. To get pregnant, you typically have to commit to receiving acupuncture once a week for about 3-9 months depending on your health, condition(s), history and fertility journey.
In addition to planning for this commitment, I suggest you do the following:
Track your cycles. This can be done through an app - I like to use Ovia because it is free and detailed - or your calendar. Your cycle begins with Day 1 (first day of bleeding/your period) and ends with the last day being the day right before your next period begins.
Ex: Day 1 - period starts and lasts until Day 5, then you bleed again 30 days later. You would have a 34 day cycle. Your period/menses would be 5 days.
Chart your basal body temperature (BBT) with a thermometer every day of your cycle. Create a chart with days on the x axis and the BBT on the y axis. This shows when you may be ovulating and is an excellent tool for your acupuncturist.
Here is a helpful resource for creating a chart.
Track your cervical mucus throughout your cycle. This tells us more about ovulation and the level of yin in the body.
Know your women’s health history really well and don’t leave anything out. This includes all pregnancies, miscarriages, abortions, history of cysts, fibroids, birth control, etc.
Note certain patterns. Maybe you have always had headaches, but now you notice the headaches correlate with ovulation or right before your period. Maybe you always feel energized mid cycle, but then you crash right before your period. Maybe you have intense pain before or during your period. Maybe certain conditions began when you got off birth control. Every piece of information is important.
All of this information is extremely helpful for your acupuncturist. The more you know, the more they know, and the quicker you can reach optimal results.
The fertility journey can be emotionally draining and chaotic with many ups and downs for you and your partner. Acupuncture relieves stress while improving relaxation during a stressful, yet exciting time.
