Δεκέμβριος 2017 - Pregnancy & IVF Clinics Worldwide

Nowadays, IVF has become the most common infertility treatment however its success rate is still relatively low. So how can the success rate of IVF be increased? Can acupuncture make a difference? Well according to research, acupuncture may actually be beneficial for couples undergoing IVF.

According to research, acupuncture may actually be beneficial for couples undergoing IVF

Acupuncture is an ancient therapeutic method, used quite often as a complementary medical practice, based on the use of very thin needles inserted in certain points of the body for treating various medical conditions. Acupuncture, it is believed to help treat medical conditions that affect fertility such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, polycystic ovarian syndrome, menstrual cycle irregularities and more.

Several studies in the past have pointed out that women who undergone an acupuncture program in parallel with their IVF treatment had greater success rates than women who did not do acupuncture.
According to one study by researchers at the Maryland Center for Integrative Medicine and the University of Maryland Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology , the VU University of Amsterdam and researchers from Georgetown University which involved a review of 7 clinical trials, women having acupuncture could significantly increase their chances of getting pregnant. Researchers analysed data from over 1.300 women who underwent IVF. They examined the effect of acupuncture given within one day of embryo transfer.

They compared these results with those of women given sham acupuncture and no additional treatment and found “acupuncture group” pregnancy chances increased by 65%. Women participated in the study were of different ages, they were all however given acupuncture sessions (lasted for 25 to 30 min) right before of right after the embryo transfer.

But how could acupuncture help increase fertility and IVF success rates?

According to experts acupuncture supports IVF by:

1. Regulating reproductive hormone levels including FSH and LH
2. Improving the immune system and well-being
3. Increasing utero-ovarian blood flow and consequently improving the quality of the endometrium, promoting embryo implantation
4. Improving the quality of the eggs, necessary for successful fertilisation

So, would you give acupuncture a chance?

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Pesticides may increase the risk of endometriosis research study warns. Study findings warn about the environmental effects on the health of women of reproductive age.

Research conducted at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center revealed that two organochlorine pesticides are linked to endometriosis in women of reproductive age. Researchers collected data from two study groups: a group of 248 women diagnosed with endometriosis, and a second control group of 538 healthy women. All women were of reproductive age among 18 and 40 year old.

The study found that women who were exposed at greater level at such pesticides (beta-hexachlorocyclohexane, mirex) were 30-70% more likely to suffer from endometriosis. These results, suggesting that pesticides may increase risk of endometriosis, were published in Environmental Health Perspectives, a journal of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.

Environmental chemicals used in the past could impact the reproductive health of future generations

The PhD scientist who led the study, Victoria Holt, originally thought of investigating pesticides effects on female reproductive health as it has been previously shown that organochlorine pesticides can have estrogenic properties, mimicking the effects of estrogens (reproductive hormones). It is also known that endometriosis is an estrogen dependent disease so it would make sense if such chemicals negatively affect the female reproductive system is some way.

Endometriosis is the pathogenic condition where the womb tissue lining grows outside of the womb and attaches to other organs. It is a painful, chronic condition and because of that thousands of women visit fertility clinics for treatments.

Nowadays, it is estimated that the number of women diagnosed with the disease has greatly increased since 1940 with millions of women over the globe affected, making them struggle with infertility problems as well.

Since endometriosis is the effect of hormonal imbalances it is quite possible that pesticides do exactly that. In animal studies, organochlorine pesticides have been found to alter the uterus and ovaries function as well as causing hormonal imbalances.

According to lead author of the study, Kristen Upson, the surprising fact about the results is that these pesticides were detected in the blood of the women, increasing the risk of endometriosis, while being banned in the U.S. “the message here is that environmental chemicals used in the past could impact the reproductive health of future generations” she commented.

Μήνας: Δεκέμβριος 2017

Acupuncture help IVF success rates

So, would you give acupuncture a chance?

Pesticides may increase risk of endometriosis

Are you aware of ways to avoid pesticides in your diet and protect your fertility?