It might be shocking to know that humans are not highly fertile. Evidence shows that various factors including pollution and lifestyle have decreased the fertility of humans.
On average, a woman in her late teens or 20’s will have to try to conceive for approximately four months to become pregnant. Despite releasing a healthy egg and engaging in intercourse during her most fertile period of the month, her chances are only around 25% of conceiving during a single month. The likelihood of conception drops significantly until the early 40’s, when the chance of conceiving is approximately 3%.
Other reproductive health problems, such as obstructed fallopian tubes, pelvic inflammatory disorder (PID), endometriosis, fibroids, or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), further complicate conception and pregnancies for many women who want to have children.
It is important to mention that acupuncture can improve the chances of conception. There are several ways acupuncture helps, such as regulating hormonal cycles and improving blood flow to the uterus. This improved blood flow creates a better environment for an embryo to grow. Another factor that can make it much more difficult to conceive is stress. Acupuncture assists in reducing stress that can easily occur from lifestyle factors.
The human body is designed to help to prevent conception during extreme stress. From an evolutionary perspective, this protective mechanism makes sense. Although the average person in the Western world is not experiencing extreme stress, many people have a continuous amount of low to moderate stress each day. This stress can stem from health, financial, and employment concerns. The stress of not conceiving can be counterproductive. Even when stress hormones, such as cortisol, are raised moderately, there can be an impact on fertility. When this is combined with other health problems and increasing age, this can contribute to problems with conception, but also impact the ability to carry a pregnancy to term.
Both men and women who experience emotional and mental problems that increase stress and contribute to fertility problems can benefit from acupuncture. Acupuncture has been associated with an increase in sperm count, sperm quality, and sperm motility. Evidence also suggests that acupuncture has positive effects on the immune and vascular systems, both are necessary for maintaining the production of healthy and functional sperm.
The goal of using acupuncture as a fertility treatment is to increase the odds of having a successful conception and pregnancy. This occurs by encouraging the right conditions for conception and maintaining the appropriate conditions necessary for a healthy, full-term pregnancy. Find out more about Fertility Acupuncture Toronto, ON, CA.
