Acupuncture From Fertility
Through Your Pregnancy
Starting a family is a journey. Every couple has a unique experience, but let’s face it, becoming a parent is not for the faint of heart! Some moments of the journey may seem exciting and easy, while other moments bring heartbreak and confusion. “It can be all encompassing, most of the time” notes Aylee Theirfelder, Owner and Licensed Acupuncturist at Whitefish Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine. Thierfelder, also a mom who struggled with a difficult pregnancy, has a passion for working with new and hopeful parents.
“I’ve been in it. I know how out of control it can feel at times. Trying to conceive, ovulation tests, temperature tests, pregnancy tests, genetic tests and the ups and downs of creating a human-being in your body. It’s all very wild, yet completely ordinary.”
Acupuncture for Fertility
w
Modern healthcare has expanded the array of options available - fertility drugs, surgery, Intrauterine
84 406
oman.com
Insemination (IUI), In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and donor eggs and embryos.
Unfortunately, these solutions do not always work. In the search for effective health care, acupuncture and herbal medicine are gaining wider popularity among the general public. Today, acupuncture is valued for pain management and stress relief, but also as a component of fertility treatments.
A recent study from Tel Aviv University reports, when combining IUI with acupuncture and herbal medicine 65.5 percent of the test group were able to conceive.
erfelder. Among other benefits, acupuncture can provide better blood flow to the ovaries and uterus, creating a stronger chance for an egg to be nourished and carried to term.
For the millions of hopeful parents who experience fertility struggles each year, acupuncture may be just what the doctor ordered.
The Science
Acupuncture increases fertility by reducing stress, increasing blood flow to the reproductive organs and balancing the endocrine (hormonal) system. Stress is capable of preventing a woman from ovulating entirely or can create spasms in the reproductive organs which interfere with implantation of a fertilized egg. In men, stress can alter sperm counts, motility, and cause impotence.
“The goal of our fertility program and from a Chinese Medical perspective is to guide the body in becoming pregnant, staying pregnant and ultimately having a happy, healthy baby and mama,” says Thi-
Aylee Theirfelder at 41 weeks pregnant treating herself with electro-acupuncture on New Years Eve.
Photo by Alisia Dawn Photography
health}