For thousands of years acupuncture has been used to treat infertility. Affecting the hormonal regulation centers in the brain and nervous system, acupuncture corrects the level of fertility hormones in the blood. It also increases circulation of blood and energy throughout the whole body, especially to the reproductive organs. Secondarily, the technique reduces stress, which is often a cause for infertility.
Research conducted in Germany has shown that acupuncture can increase the success rate of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) in women by nearly 50% (Paulus et al., 2002).
A Swedish study has shown that acupuncture increases blood flow in the uterine arteries to promote implantation of the embryo (Steinen-Victorin et al., 1996).
