Fertility Acupuncture in Boston — Johnston Family Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a treatment that involves painlessly inserting very thin needles through your skin at critical points and at various depths to relieve pain or treat other ailments, including infertility in men and women.

Acupuncture has been used for over 3,000 years to treat various medical conditions. Over the course of multiple treatments we can affect change by realigning your body and bringing it back to a state of balance. Acupuncture can be used to treat a variety of problems affecting fertility, such as an under- or over-functioning thyroid, PCOS, endometriosis, difficulties ovulating, irregular periods, and stress!

Both alone and in combination with other fertility treatments, acupuncture has been shown to substantially increase the success rate of a healthy pregnancy. Acupuncture treatments change the way the body processes stressors, which in turn help the endocrine and nervous systems return to balance. When these systems are realigned, your body will focus on producing healthy eggs and sperm.

Whether you’ve been trying for months or years or just starting to think about a family, for best results, treatment should begin three to four months prior to attempting conception. Regulating your cycle after a birth control regimen, learning about your body’s signals and avoiding bad habits is a big part of setting your body up for a successful pregnancy. In addition, used in conjunction with western treatment protocols such as IUI or IVF, acupuncture has been proven to substantially increase the success rate of pregnancy.

Acupuncture doesn’t just help with fertility, it can also increase the chances of maintaining a successful pregnancy by increasing blood flow to the uterus. This in turn allows your uterus to develop a stronger lining which helps prevent miscarriage. Because of this, we recommend continuing your treatment through week twelve of your pregnancy.

After your first trimester, prenatal acupuncture is recommended for those who are experiencing migraines, nausea, insomnia, body pains or other pregnancy discomforts. Then most patients will return to acupuncture with regularity around week 32 of their pregnancy to prepare for labor and delivery as it can help with breech presentation, induction of labor and shorten labor time by up to 2 hours.

Your first acupuncture treatment, you should expect to talk in depth about your entire health history and we will focus in on details about your period. Then a physical exam will be performed by checking your tongue, pulse and abdomen. Following the diagnosis, we will prescribe and administer the treatment protocol that will work best for you.

Once the needles are inserted, calming music, dim lights and a heat lamp will keep you relaxed as you rest for about 30 minutes. At then end of the treatment, depending on your issues we might use other techniques such as cupping, moxabustion or nutritional guidelines to help on your pathway to fertility.

Acupuncture works similarly for male fertility to improve the quality of sperm, which leads to a better chance of conception and a better chance of a successful full term pregnancy. Sperm quality is increased by improving blood flow, and studies show that men who have had acupuncture treatment have lower incidence of structural defects in their sperm, higher sperm count, and higher motility, or ability for sperm to move around.

Treating infertility with acupuncture is generally safe, regardless of your medical history. To find out if we can help with your pregnancy, contact us at 617-602-3868 or visit us at 376 Boylston St. 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02116.

Acupuncture can have a wealth of benefits both before and during your pregnancy.​

Before Pregnancy:

• Helps treat conditions that interfere with getting pregnant, such as PCOS and fibroids.

• Promotes blood flow to areas vital for successful pregnancy.

• Alleviates side effects of other allopathic fertility treatments, like bloating and nausea.

• Acupuncture can lower your stress level, which is crucial to successful pregnancy.

During Pregnancy:

• During the first few months of your pregnancy, prenatal acupuncture may help with morning sickness and aid in digestion.

• In addition to your traditional prenatal care, acupuncture can help with aches, pains, and headaches related to your pregnancy.

• Depression during pregnancy is common, and studies have shown that targeted acupuncture may have a positive impact on prenatal depression.

• Acupuncture can help you sleep better during your pregnancy, further promoting a healthy pregnancy.