Can acupuncture boost my fertility?

For couples who are in the process of IVF, but the verdict is still out on whether it can improve fertility in general.

Some studies have shown promising results, but more research is needed before this can be confirmed that this form of therapy can help to make you fall pregnant.

Acupuncture is based on the theory that vital energy (or “qi,” pronounced “chi”) flows through the body along certain pathways. Acupuncturists try to balance this energy and restore health by stimulating specific points along the pathways with thin needles. Although it has been a staple of Chinese medicine for some 5,000 years, acupuncture has gained acceptance in the American medical community only in the past few decades.

In some research there have been suggestions that acupuncture is effective in reducing stress. Since stress has been shown to interfere with getting pregnant, it makes sense that reducing your stress through acupuncture could theoretically improve your odds of conceiving. Some women find acupuncture helpful to cope with the stress they feel about trying to conceive.

In the long run, it doesn’t matter that much whether the success of acupuncture is a placebo effect or not. The bottom line is that acupuncture is safe, and if it improves fertility — even if it’s only because you think it does — it may be worthwhile.