About 10% of women experience infertility today. At Acupuncture Health Services in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine Michael Beys, LAc, DACm, offers natural solutions for infertility, such as acupuncture and herbal medicine. If you’re trying to conceive, call the office or click on the online booking tool to learn how this specialized approach can help.

What is infertility?

Infertility is the inability to conceive a baby after 12 months of unprotected sex (or six months if 35 or older). About 10% of American women struggle with infertility today. Additionally, many women get pregnant but experience repeated miscarriages.

What causes infertility?

There are many possible causes of infertility, but the most common ones involve ovulation problems. When ovulation doesn’t occur regularly, you don’t have eggs to fertilize and thus won’t be able to conceive. You might experience sporadic menstrual periods, or your period may not happen at all. 

The most common specific causes of ovulation problems are: 

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): hormone imbalance disrupts normal ovulation
• Diminished ovarian reserve: decline of total number of eggs over time
• Primary ovarian insufficiency: premature loss of eggs 
• Hypothalamic dysfunction: lack of the hormones that stimulate ovulation every month
• Excessive prolactin: too much of the hormone that cuts estrogen levels

Additionally, there are many other reasons that women experience infertility today, including blocked fallopian tubes, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and irregularly shaped uterus. 

In about 3 in 10 cases, infertility comes from the male partner, with common issues including low sperm count, slow motility (slow sperm movement), or abnormal sperm shape. 

How is infertility treated?

Acupuncture Health Services offers acupuncture, a proven painless treatment that improves ovarian function, hormone balancing, and other aspects of infertility. 

Acupuncture uses ultrathin sterile needles to treat infertility in several ways. It can:

• Stimulate blood flow to your reproductive system
• Increase endorphins to influence reproduction-regulating hormones
• Reduce stress hormones 
• Balance plasma levels of fertility hormones
• Balance the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, which is crucial for fertility

Many women use acupuncture to resolve fertility issues, but it also treats other women’s health issues like heavy bleeding with blood clots, severe cramps, and menopause symptoms such as hot flashes. 

Some women also have acupuncture during pregnancy because it can help with symptoms like nausea and even breech presentation by encouraging the baby to shift to a head-down position before delivery. 

Acupuncture can be equally effective for male infertility. Alongside acupuncture, Dr. Beys offers cupping massage and herbology (natural herbal formulas). He can tailor your treatment based on your specific cause of infertility and your personal goals. 

Are you struggling with infertility? Acupuncture Health Services offers natural treatments with proven results. Call the office or click on the online booking link now.