Fertility
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Treatments Will I Need?
The anticipation that surrounds the ticking of a biological clock once a pregnancy is desired can create a sense of urgency for a couple. However, stress and the psychological effects of hopefulness and then depression with each menstrual period can hamper the process of conception. We will work together to focus our attention on your gynecological health and away from the desperate feelings surrounding conception. It is recommended that patients make a three month commitment to acupuncture and Chinese medicine when considering it as a viable option. During this time, we will refer to the FAM charting of your ovulation to evaluate the effectiveness and also communicate with your doctor to perform any diagnostic testing you may need to confirm results. This is not to say that a couple won’t conceive within this timeframe but this is a reasonable amount of time for the patient to see measurable results. In fact, most patients see positive changes in their health as soon as after the first or second treatment whether it is better sleep, less PMS and a decrease in stress & tension.
What makes an acupuncturist a Fertility Specialist?
You will notice that many clinics offer infertility care as part of a long list of "specialties." Triangle Acupuncture Clinic stands out for many reasons. Our fertility practitioners have spent hundreds of hours in extra coursework studying the western and eastern medical approach to treating infertility. They all focus on infertility in practice and primarily treat only fertility and women's health patients. In addition, Katherine Rowe, founder and supervisor of the fertility program at Triangle Acupuncture Clinic is FABORM certified, an organization comprised of the leading professionals in Oriental Reproductive Medicine. Each diplomate of ABORM has demonstrated a high level of competency in the clinical application of acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine as it pertains to current ART practices. Click here for more information on ABORM. As a patient of Triangle Acupuncture Clinic's Fertility program, you will find that our practitioners are familiar with all aspects of infertility from the emotional to the highly technical.
Costs and Insurance Coverage
Currently in NC most insurance companies do not accept claims from licensed acupuncturists. Triangle Acupuncture Clinic, LLC is listed as a provider for a group of insurance companies which includes Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC, Cigna, United Healthcare, Wellpath and many others. To members of these insurance companies we offer a discount off our services. At this time, insurance companies do not allow us to bill them for treatment reimbursement so payment is due at the time of treatment. Patients are encouraged to send in receipts to their insurance carrier to see if it may be applied to their deductible or considered part of a health savings account.
| Fertility Initial Consultation and Treatment | $145 |
| Fertility Initial Consultation and Treatment with Insurance | $120 |
| Fertility Return Visit Treatment | $110 |
| Fertility Return Visit Treatment with Insurance | $90 |
| Embryo transfer treatments at Carolina Conceptions or NCCRM fertility clinic |
$250 |
Does Acupuncture Hurt?
Acupuncture in general is not painful. The needles are extremely thin (about the width of 2 human hairs), solid, disposable and flexible. Sensations that patients normally experience are a dull ache or tingling which is associated with the movement of energy stimulated by the insertion of the needles. This is a desired affect and should not feel painful. First-timers are usually uneasy about the prospect of needles and have a hard time believing that needles will be able to help you attain a deeply relaxed state. Do not be afraid! We are very gentle and interested primarily in your comfort. Once you feel (or don't feel) the first needle, all your fears will vanish.
What Research has been conducted on Acupuncture and Infertility?
This is just a sampling of the research conducted on acupuncture and infertility. There are new studies coming out every year and our own practitioners are taking part in research at an esteemed fertility clinic in our area.
Influence of Acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproductive therapy.
Fertility & Sterility, Vol.77, No.4, April 2002.
This study found that in a group of 160 women – 80 who were treated with acupuncture before and after the embryo transfer phase of IVF had a 15.8% increase in success rate with implantation of the embryo. This is based on the theory that acupuncture relaxes the Central Nervous System and keeps the uterus from contracting during and after the procedure. This significant effect of acupuncture was re-confirmed in 2006 as Fertility & Sterility published two similar studies that showed a 13% and 18% implantation success rate in the acupuncture groups over the control.
Reduction of blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries of infertility women with electro-acupuncture.
Human Reproduction, Vol.11, No.6, 1996. This study established that local acupuncture with electro-stimulation could normalize the blood flow to the reproductive organs, particularly useful in older women, ‘poor responders’ and women with thin endometrial lining. Treatments were given twice a week for 4 weeks leading up to an IVF cycle and tests revealed that the uterine artery blood flow increased dramatically within this time and led to a thicker endometrial lining in the women. A similar study showed this treatment increased the number of follicles significantly in women who had been labeled ‘poor responders.’ Acupuncture treatment for infertile women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Dr. Sandra L. Emmons, Dr. Phillip Patton, Medical Acupuncture, A Journal for Physicians by Physicians Spring/Summer 2000 Vol.12,No.3
Poor Prognosis: A Cure?
Fertility & Sterility, Vol. 81, Supplement 3, April 2004.
This study combined the first two protocols mentioned here and administered acupuncture to women who were considered poor prognosis- high FSH, low uterine blood flow, etc. The women who received acupuncture were found to then have pregnancy rates equal to that of the good prognosis patients and then they went on to show that the acupuncture group had a higher live birth rate than the good prognosis patients.
Effect of acupuncture on sperm parameters of males suffering from subfertility related to low sperm quality.
Siterman S, Eltes F, Wolfson V, Zabludovsky N, Vartoov B. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel. Archives of Andrology, 1997 Sep-Oct;39(2):155-61
This study reported that after 5 weeks of treatment twice/week, men with considerable sperm impairment had increased their fertility significantly. Improvements were seen in total functional sperm, percentage of viability, total motile spermatozoa and integrity of the axonema. This study confirms that acupuncture can significantly improve sperm motility.
Quantitative evaluation of spermatozoa ultrastructure after acupuncture treatment for idiopathic male infertility.
Jian Pei, Ph.D., Erwin Strehler, M.D., Ulrich Noss, M.D., Markus Abt, Ph.D., Paola Piomboni, Ph.D., Baccio Baccetti, Ph.D., and Karl Sterzik, M.D. Fertility & Sterility 2005;84:141–7.
This study showed that subfertile men who received acupuncture treatments twice/week for 5 weeks had the following results:
- Median percentage and number of healthy sperm in the total ejaculate increased with significant improvements in acrosome and nuclear position and shapes.
- Progressively motile sperm increased from a mean percentage of 44.5% to 50% due to the improvement of axonemal pattern, axonemal shape and accessory fibers.
The significance of this study is that it demonstrates the effects of acupuncture treatment on sperm by pinpointing the molecular changes that take place. Previous studies by the same group showed that acupuncture improves sperm quality, fertilization rate and pregnancy rate in ART.