Acupuncture is used regularly to assist with male and female infertility, as well as in the process of IVF, or in vitro fertilization, which helps couples or individuals struggling with infertility. 

"Infertility is medically defined as the inability to become pregnant after one year of unprotected sexual intercourse using no methods of birth control whatsoever. Unfortunately, infertility affects over six million people in the United States alone. In vitro fertilization is a method of assisted reproduction in which a man’s sperm and a woman’s egg are combined in a laboratory dish to allow for fertilization outside of the body.

Many couples, and even single women, are seeking IVF treatment because sexual intercourse has not resulted in pregnancy. With the IVF treatment process, the eggs are taken from the woman’s ovary, placed with sperm in a dish, or a single sperm is injected into the egg to achieve fertilization. The resulting embryos from the in vitro process are placed inside the woman's uterine cavity by passing a catheter through the cervix. Embryo freezing is also done if there are extra embryos after the transfer.

IVF treatment process is usually the procedure of choice when a woman has blocked or damaged fallopian tubes or no fallopian tubes at all. The IVF treatment process has proven successful for women who are infertile due to endometriosis and for men who have a low sperm count."--Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine

New studies have shown that acupuncture administered for approximately 8 weeks prior to, immediately prior to, and immediately after embryo transfer during in vitro fertilization, may improve a woman’s chance of pregnancy by relaxing the patient and improving blood flow to the uterus. Acupuncture is recommended by many OB/GYNs assisting patients who are trying to conceive because it can:

• Reduce stress
• Regulate and promote ovulation
• Balance the endocrine system
• Increase bloodflow to the uterus
• Increase uterine lining
• Improve and enhance egg quality

For more information on acupuncture and IVF, visit: yourivfacupuncture.com

What I do with my IVF patients at Alex Leddy Acupuncture is follow, in part, a protocol recommended by the acupuncturists who work directly with the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine in Denver. I usually recommend front and back treatments, two times per week, for at least 4 weeks prior to the embryo transfer. See below for more details.

Part 1 of treatment:

• Uterine blood flow acupuncture protocol from CCRM.
• Back treatment (meaning patient is face down with acupuncture needles inserted into the low back, the ankles, and the backs of the calves).
• 30 minutes WITH electrical stimulation.
• For research information on this protocol, CLICK HERE
• For FAQ on this protocol, CLICK HERE

Part 2 of treatment:

• Custom treatment that I design based on the individual patient's signs, symptoms, and constitution.
• Front treatment (meaning patient is face up with acupuncture needles inserted anywhere on the front of the body).
• 30 minutes WITHOUT electrical stimulation.

The total treatment time for new patients is approximately two hours, and the total treatment time for established patients is approximately 1.5 hours. Visit the "Rates & Insurance" tab for cost information.