Auricular Acupuncture in the Treatment of Female Infertility
Gerhard I; Postneek F Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproduction, Women's Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Germany
Gynecol Endocrinol 1992 Sep;6(3):171-81 (ISSN: 0951-3590)
Following a complete gynecologic-endocrinologic workup, 45 infertile women suffering from oligoamenorrhea (n = 27) or luteal insufficiency (n = 18) were treated with auricular acupuncture. Results were compared to those of 45 women who received hormone treatment. Both groups were matched for age, duration of infertility, body mass index, previous pregnancies, menstrual cycle and tubal patency. Women treated with acupuncture had 22 pregnancies, 11 after acupuncture, four spontaneously, and seven after appropriate medication. Women treated with hormones had 20 pregnancies, five spontaneously, and 15 in response to therapy. Four women of each group had abortions. endometriosis (normal menstrual cycles) was seen in 35% (38%) of the women of each group who failed to respond to therapy with pregnancy. Only 4% of the women who responded to acupuncture or hormone treatment with a pregnancy had endometriosis, and 7% had normal cycles. In addition, women who continued to be infertile after hormone therapy had higher body mass indices and testosterone values than the therapy responders from this group. Women who became pregnant after acupuncture suffered more often from menstrual abnormalities and luteal insufficiency with lower estrogen, thyrotropin (TSH) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) concentrations than the women who achieved pregnancy after hormone treatment. Although the pregnancy rate was similar for both groups, eumenorrheic women treated with acupuncture had adnexitis, endometriosis, out-of-phase endometria and reduced postcoital tests more often than those receiving hormones. Twelve of the 27 women (44%) with menstrual irregularities remained infertile after therapy with acupuncture compared to 15 of the 27 (56%) controls treated with hormones, even though hormone disorders were more pronounced in the acupuncture group. Side-effects were observed only during hormone treatment. Various disorders of the autonomic nervous system normalized during acupuncture. Based on our data, auricular acupuncture seems to offer a valuable alternative therapy for female infertility due to hormone disorders.
Back to Research Articles on Infertility Treatment, IVF, Acupuncture, and Chinese Medicine
Our Services
Traditional Chinese Acupuncture
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a set of ancient practices that help the body heal itself.
At Eastern Healing, we treat patients in our Wheaton and Joliet offices using a variety of TCM techniques
for various medical conditions, pain, and infertility.
Read More
Acupuncture
At Eastern Healing, our acupuncturists are trained in the Chinese art of Acupuncture. Acupuncture
is used to treat many different diseases and medical conditions. It is also used as a natural treatment
for infertility.
Read More
Infertility Treatment
At Eastern Healing we take our role as part of your healthcare team very seriously. There is no
more intimate relationship between the practitioner and the patient as when we are called upon to
help with infertility questions.
Read More
Women’s Health
Women’s health issues arise throughout life. Many times the symptoms are cyclical or occur at
specific stages such as during pregnancy, perimenopause, or menopause.
Read More
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Herbal medicine dates back almost 5000 years. The Chinese systematically categorized close to
5800 substances that may be used when treating individuals.
Read More
Tui Na Massage
Tui Na is one of the four main branches of Chinese Medicine; along with herbal medicine,
acupuncture and Qi Gong. Tui Na differs from other forms of massage in that it is used to treat
specific illnesses of an internal nature.
Read More
Dietary Therapy
We have all heard the phrase, “you are what you eat” but realistically, we are the result of
what we eat. Through dietary patterns learned before we could make accurate judgments we all have
both good and bad dietary preferences.
Read More
Conditions Treated
Infertility and IVF
Our P.A.R.E.N.T.S. Program™ addresses fertility in a holistic manner, incorporating various
aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in a comprehensive approach to rectify any imbalance
that leads to infertility.
Read More
Hot Flashes
We use proven Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture techniques to treat hot flashes
caused by perimenopause and menopause in women.
Read More
Menopause
More and more women are turning to alternative medicine for the treatment of menopause symptoms
and women’s health issues, particularly after recent concerns regarding the safety of hormone
replacement therapy (HRT).
Read More
Women’s Health
Women’s health issues arise throughout life. Many times the symptoms are cyclical or occur at
specific stages such as during pregnancy, perimenopause, or menopause.
Read More
Headaches and Migraines
We treat migraines and headaches with Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. These safe,
alternative treatments treat the acute symptoms as well as the underlying imbalances that cause
migraines and headaches.
Read More
Neck and Back Pain
We treat neck and back pain with Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine. These safe,
alternative treatments treat both acute and chronic forms of spinal and muscular pain.
Read More
Allergies and Asthma
We treat allergies and asthma with Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Acupuncture focuses its treatment on correcting the root imbalance that is upsetting the body,
thus helping the body to heal itself.
Read More
Other Medical Conditions
Find out how acupuncture can help you improve your overall well-being, while reducing side
effects and minimizing the need for medications.
Read More
New Patient Forms
PDF Reader is required to view these documents.
Medical History Record Form
Consent For Treatment Form