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Acupuncture and Infertility

The Basics of
Acupuncture for Fertility

By Sandra Joslyn Tallarico

Good candidates for trying medical acupuncture are people who have a functional, rather than a structural reason for infertility (for example, damaged fallopian tubes are structural). Men or women with functional infertility would be encouraged to try acupuncture in addition to their standard medical treatment. Generally speaking, around 10 visits with a licensed acupuncture provider will let you determine if it can be of help to you.

Along this same line, Dr. Rotchford recommends herbs in conjunction with acupuncture. In Chinese medicine, the practitioner always combines herbs in order to produce a certain effect. There are many combinations of Chinese herbs that have been lauded as improving fertility in both males and females. He does caution, however, that it's best to tailor the herbal recipe to the individual, rather than to the condition.

Though it might seem somewhat obscure and hard to come by, acupuncture is growing in popular acceptance; recently, the American Medical Association advocated its use for certain conditions, such as back pain and post-operative care.

If you're curious about acupuncture and the treatments provided in your area, do your own research. Different states require different levels of practitioner certification, so it's best to check out what level of training your state considers sufficient.

American Academy of Medical Acupuncture is a good Web site to get you started. This will give you a lot of information and refer you to acupuncture practitioners in your area. As always, consult with your doctor or health care provider before beginning any new treatmen