Acupuncture vs Fertility Drugs – What are the Differences?
Acupuncture is a needle stimulation process that improves blood circulation and balances hormones to increase the chance of pregnancy.
On the other hand, fertility drugs are medicines like hormones that directly trigger ovarian response and promote egg production.
Read this comprehensive guide to understand acupuncture vs fertility drugs. You can make a precise decision whether to take acupuncture or fertility medicines for pregnancy improvement after reading this article.
What are the Differences between Acupuncture vs Fertility Drugs? Comparison Table
The key difference between acupuncture and fertility drugs is in their purpose and mechanism. The comparison table below shares the main differences at a glance.
What is Acupuncture? Benefits, Risk Factors, Expectation and Evidence
Acupuncture is a therapy that is used along with the natural conception or assisted reproductive methods like IVF.
The technique involves placing needles in specific body parts to increase the hormone regulation throughout the body. As a result, blood flow increases in the reproductive organs, reducing stress so you can get pregnant.
How it Works
Acupuncture works following 3 primary mechanisms, which are hormone regulation, increased blood flow, and stress reduction.
Hormone Regulation: The process balances the regulation of hormones named progesterone, estrogen, etc., improving follicular development and ensuring healthy ovulation.
Increased Blood Flow: Blood flow increases in the uterus and ovaries since needles are placed in different parts of your body. Thus, the egg quality improves. At the same time, the uterine lining gets thickened.
Stress Reduction: Stress is one of the main reasons for not getting pregnant. Acupuncture reduces stress significantly as it triggers the release of endorphins. Also, stress hormones like cortisol levels get reduced when you start attending acupuncture sessions regularly.
Benefits
Enhances blood flow to reproductive organs.
Helps reduce stress and anxiety during fertility treatment.
Supports hormonal balance and menstrual cycle regulation.
Improves egg quality and ovarian function.
Promotes regular ovulation in some women.
Increases chances of successful IVF outcomes.
Helps improve sleep and overall emotional well-being.
Supports the body's natural healing and relaxation response.
Reduces discomfort and stress during fertility treatments.
Promotes a stable uterine environment during early pregnancy.
General Acupuncture Fertility Timeline
You need to start acupuncture following the timeline below if you are targeting to increase the chance of getting pregnant.
Pre-conception: It would be best if you start taking acupuncture 3 months before you try natural conception or begin an IVF cycle. The reason is that the usual time for an egg to mature is 90 days.
Cycle Tracking: Sometimes, the acupuncture treatment happens during the 5-8 days of the menstrual cycle. At this moment, acupuncture increases blood flow in the uterus, increasing the possibility of getting pregnant.
IVF Support: Acupuncture is also done before or after the embryo transfer. The point is to relax the muscles of the uterus and promote implantation.
Expectation and Evidence
You must be wondering what to expect from acupuncture, and whether there is any evidence that acupuncture increases the chance of pregnancy.
Let’s look at the points below,
Thin needles are placed in body parts like ears, legs, spine, and belly, and the duration of each acupuncture session is 30-60 minutes. The sessions help couples to manage stress, providing relaxation.
Research suggests that acupuncture may support higher pregnancy rates and help lower stress levels during fertility treatment.
However, outcomes are influenced by many factors, including the underlying cause of infertility and an individual's overall health.
For that reason, healthcare professionals often recommend fertility acupuncture as a supportive therapy alongside conventional medical treatment rather than a standalone solution.
Risk Factors
The risk factors of acupuncture for fertility is low, but it is crucial to consult a doctor before deciding.
A few potential risks include bruising, organ puncture, infections, etc.
What are Fertility Drugs? Benefits, Risk Factors, Expectation, and Evidence
From the name itself, it is clear that fertility drugs are medicines that enhance the development of follicles in the ovaries to promote ovulation.
How Fertility Drugs Work
Fertility drugs work best when they are used with other reproductive methods. This method increases the levels of the hormone below,
Follicle-stimulating Hormone: The hormone stimulates the follicle in the ovaries so that mature eggs can develop and grow easily.
Estrogen: Follicles release estrogen as they mature. Generally, one follicle turns into a mature egg. Your brain will receive signals once a mature egg is available.
Luteinizing Hormone: Luteinizing hormone gets released when estrogen levels increase. At this point, the ovary releases the mature egg inside the fallopian tube. This way, the mature egg gets fertilized.
Benefits
Stimulate ovulation in women with irregular menstrual cycles.
Increase the number of eggs available for fertilization.
Help regulate hormone levels linked to fertility.
Improve pregnancy chances for some infertility conditions.
Support assisted reproductive treatments like IVF and IUI.
Encourage more predictable and regular ovulation patterns.
Helps women with PCOS conceive more easily.
Offers a non-surgical option for fertility treatment.
Expectation and Evidence
The purpose of fertility drugs is to induce ovulation to produce mature eggs.
This method is an effective one for solving ovulation disorders, but fertility drugs cannot fix age-related egg quality issues. The success of this method significantly depends on the regular monitoring by specialists.
Risk Factors
Fertility drugs can cause side effects such as headaches, mood changes, bloating, and abdominal discomfort.
It may also increase the risk of multiple pregnancies (twins or more) and, in rare cases, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), which can lead to swollen, painful ovaries and other complications.
Summing Up
Balance Houston Acupuncture Clinic promotes optimum health and well-being for pregnancy. We support women through all types of fertility journeys. Book a session today!