- Constance Marie with daughter Luna Marie
Actress and celebrity blogger Constance Marie opened up this week about her struggles with fertility and how acupuncture made all the difference in finally conceiving her baby. After two miscarriages from trying to become pregnant naturally, a bout with Artificial Insemination, and In Vitro Fertilization, Constance and fiance Kent found themselves still unable to conceive. After their long fight with fertility, Constance went through short detox process then tried In Vitro once more, following it up with acupuncture. “To ensure implantation, I literally laid down on the couch for two days,” she reports. Nine months later, her baby Luna Marie was born.
Constance says they incorporated acupuncture during their efforts to conceive “because it has been reported to increase the ability of the embryo to implant into the wall of the uterus.”
So is there any proof that acupuncture helps with infertility?
A Reproductive Health Services study was conducted in Germany by Dr. Wolfgang Paulus, his associates, and the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture in improving In Vitro Fertilization success rates. In the study, 160 patients were divided into two groups, one that received acupuncture treatments before and after the embryo transfer, and one that had relaxation sessions before and after without any acupuncture treatment. The acupuncture was intended to “positively influence blood flow and energy to the uterus and to provide a sedative effect” and “influence the uterus and stabilize the endocrine system.”
Their findings indicated the women in the acupuncture group were far more likely to conceive then the other group, with 42.5% of the acupuncture group experiencing success in becoming pregnant, versus 26.3% in the other group.
The battle with infertility is an emotional and often surpassable journey. Many patients have been able to overcome infertility, conceive, and begin families thanks to acupuncture treatments.
For individuals who would like to begin an acupuncture career and help treat infertility, My Colleges and Careers will help them find an acupuncture program in their area and make a lasting difference in the world.