Many couples choose to supplement their fertility treatments with complementary and alternative therapies, which may not directly influence fertility, but can aid relaxation and overall well-being during treatment.
This study sought to investigate infertile women’s needs and perceptions related to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). A qualitative semi-structured interview approach was employed.
Acupuncture
Fertility can be an emotional rollercoaster, so many women turn to alternative therapies in order to reduce stress. Indeed, fertility specialists encourage their patients to incorporate acupuncture, yoga, meditation, nutrition and chiropractic care as holistic treatment options in their holistic treatment plans.
Acupuncture, an ancient practice which involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body, has been shown to significantly impact a woman’s fertility by increasing blood flow to reproductive organs, stimulating hormone production and regulating menstruation cycles. Acupuncture also has neuroendocrine effects by impacting three-way axes between hypothalamus and pituitary glands which control hormone production and ovulation – two processes important in fertility.
Contradictory evidence exists regarding many alternative therapies for fertility enhancement, but acupuncture appears to provide positive outcomes in terms of increasing sperm concentration, motility and count as well as IVF outcomes by increasing embryo implantation rates. Its positive effect may be attributed to endorphin production – known to trigger ovulation and fertility enhancement.
Yoga
Yoga can be one of the many natural medicine techniques available to couples seeking holistic ways to enhance fertility, encouraging mind and body connection while helping reduce stress that interferes with conception. Integrating this activity along with other alternative therapies like acupuncture, herbal treatment, nutrition or chiropractic care into daily routine can maximize effectiveness of fertility treatments.
Yoga and relaxation techniques may not provide definitive evidence supporting their use as fertility boosters; however they can still provide some support to those trying to conceive who may be having difficulty. Studies have demonstrated how decreasing stress levels has an indirect beneficial impact on fertility outcomes.
Successful pregnancy can be a complicated journey, and alternative medicine should never replace medical professionals or recommended treatments for treatment of fertility issues. Approaching it with realistic expectations and medical partners as partners in partnership may result in healthier bodies and an optimistic mindset for couples navigating fertility challenges. To learn more, reach out to GENESIS Fertility New York today.
Meditation
Meditation as a form of mind-body medicine can provide couples coping with infertility the tools to manage stress effectively. Stressful conditions like poor uterine blood flow may interfere with ovulation, making relaxation all the more essential; meditation provides an easy and natural means of accomplishing this by focusing on breathing exercises while clearing away worry from one’s mind.
Keep in mind that alternative therapies may not have been scientifically evaluated and, while some of them may enhance fertility outcomes, they cannot replace timely evaluations with a doctor and treatment plans created specifically to meet individual needs.
However, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods have been demonstrated to have a positive impact on quality of life for those suffering infertility as well as increasing feelings of control over treatment. Further studies using more purposeful research designs are needed in order to strengthen evidence on CAM and fertility outcomes; such studies would examine different forms of CAM used as well as what specific outcomes individuals seeking conception want from it. It should be remembered that those using CAM often turn to it after traditional therapies have failed them and this should not be discouraged by anyone.
Nutrition
Spending some time considering your diet can significantly improve the success of fertility treatment. Ensure you’re eating a well-balanced, fiber-rich diet; this will aid both with ovulation and uterine health.
Researchers published in BMC Complementary Alternative Medicine conducted a research project to understand the needs of infertile women relating to their use of complementary alternative medicine (CAM). A literature review was then performed focusing specifically on this usage from conception up until October 2020 using keywords for complementary alternative medicine, infertile women, needs.
As part of an attempt to assess whether complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) services were necessary in infertile women, several factors were taken into consideration to ascertain their need. These included factors related to infertility etiology (female factor only, male factor only or both), duration and level of satisfaction with conventional infertility treatments as well as clinical characteristics based on self-perceived severity of infertility treatments were assessed and results revealed that women in high perceived severity groups reported higher stress levels and had been diagnosed with infertility for over 2 years.
Chiropractic Care
While no hard evidence indicates that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies improve fertility, many patients find them useful in relieving stress. Yoga, massage, acupuncture and meditation may all help relieve the tension that causes fertility issues – yet many individuals hesitate to disclose these practices to their health providers.
Many studies have found that eating healthily and following a balanced diet can increase fertility, though evidence remains limited and further study needs to be conducted in this regard. Acupuncture and herbal medicine have received the most attention in terms of complementary and alternative medicine therapies to enhance fertility enhancement, with Acupuncture known to restore proper nervous system functioning for improved reproductive health; more research needs to be conducted into other CAM modalities like chiropractic care or diet as they could also have effects.
