Possible mechanism of how acupuncture increases IVF success found

A number of women going through IVF were given acupuncture to increase blood flow through the uterine arteries in the immediate weeks before egg collection. The researchers found that the women who had acupuncture showed beneficial changes in serum levels of stress hormones compared to the control group of women who did not have acupuncture. The acupuncture treatments appear to normalize levels of cortisol and prolactin which have been artificially depressed by the IVF drugs. This may have implications for both egg quality and implantation. In addition the pregnancy and live birth rate was significantly higher in the acupuncture group.

This recent study is very interesting to me because of how it demonstrates acupuncture's regulatory effect.  In the west we tend to think if something is good for us then more is better.  And in western medicine, especially reproductive medicine like IVF, we try to over ride the body to force a pregnancy.  This approach is often necessary, especially with structural issues like damaged fallopian tubes and severe male factor, and has allowed many to become parents who otherwise may not have been able.  In contrast, Chinese medicine is less about over riding the body and more about supporting it.  Our approach is to create a healthy environment and bring the body back to balance in order to reinforce the body’s own healing abilities.  
This is one of the first of its kind where is demonstrates acupuncture’s regulatory effect on the body and how it can help bring the body back into homeostasis.  I have seen studies where acupuncture has lowered cortisol or prolactin levels.  Here is a study where acupuncture appears to raise cortisol and prolactin levels to normal levels to help increase pregnancy rates.    When cortisol and prolactin levels are higher than what si considered normal acupuncture regulates the body and these levels drop to normal.  When cortisol and prolactin levels are lower than normal as in the case with IVF, acupuncture regulates the body and cortisol and prolactin  levels rise to what would be normal levels for women.  This is a very important distinguishing feature of acupuncture.  It is not that is raises or lowers cortisol and prolactin and for that matter other hormones.  Acupuncture has a regulating effect that  helps bring the body into balance and as a result if homestasis hormones either rise or fall to their normal balanced levels.

Lorne Brown, DR TCM, FABORM
Founder, Clinical Director

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“The acupuncture treatments appear to normalize levels of cortisol and prolactin which have been artificially depressed by the IVF drugs. This may have implications for both egg quality and implantation. In addition the pregnancy and live birth rate was significantly higher in the acupuncture group.” - Magarelli, PC, D Cridennda, M Cohen. Fertil Steril 2009 in press
Fertility and Sterility