| More and more couples or single women | | | | to spread from China to the West. From a |
| experiencing difficulties conceiving are choosing to | | | | minority status here in the beginnings, it has |
| try acupuncture combined with modern | | | | grown to the extent where some TCM |
| conventional medicine reproductive technology or | | | | universities, schools and colleges in the West |
| just using the acupuncture on its own. Whilst the | | | | follow the syllabus of the prestigious universities |
| trend may be new, the practice of using | | | | of TCM based in China. Sub fertility is included in |
| acupuncture with patients having difficulty starting | | | | many teaching curriculum and practitioners often |
| or adding to a family stems from ancient times. | | | | specialise following graduation, particularly offering |
| This article explains the scale of difficulties | | | | acupuncture as supportive therapy for women |
| worldwide in starting or adding to a family, some | | | | undergoing IVF treatment. Treated in some |
| history of acupuncture practice and explains | | | | institutions as a strict medical discipline, training in |
| modern applications. This should give a clear | | | | the better TCM university courses can be |
| picture of the practice in terms of how it is | | | | intensive. These days, it often incorporates |
| applied today. | | | | teaching on conventional medicine alongside TCM. |
| The Numbers Seeking Help To Conceive | | | | Anyone considering trying TCM acupuncture |
| Statistics indicate one in seven couples in the UK | | | | should enquire as to the practitioner's qualifications |
| have difficulty at some stage in their lives in | | | | and training. TCM is a comprehensive medical |
| conceiving a child (1). One study published in The | | | | system, unlike some other complimentary |
| Lancet medical journal found between 3.5 and | | | | therapies, it has its own complete system for |
| 16.7% reported rates of sub fertility across both | | | | diagnosis and treatment. Understanding TCM |
| developed and developing nations (2). Another | | | | acupuncture is characterized as a complete |
| international study found that 43%-63% of | | | | medicinal system taught frequently at university |
| patients reporting sub fertility problems chose to | | | | level can help explain its continued use in modern |
| seek associated medical help (3). The problem is a | | | | times as a potentially credible therapy with |
| serious one globally and one that has received | | | | patients experiencing sub fertility issues. |
| recent publicity regarding related studies on the | | | | References: |
| effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine | | | | 1. National Collaborating Centre for Women and |
| acupuncture. | | | | Children's Health. 2004. Fertility treatment and |
| Thousands of Years of Traditional Chinese | | | | assessment for people with fertility problems. |
| Medicine Acupuncture | | | | London, UK: National Collaborating Centre for |
| Many people have heard of acupuncture but may | | | | Women and Children's Health. |
| not be aware that it has been a feature of many | | | | 2. Evers, J. L. H. 2002. Female Subfertility. The |
| cultures' medical systems for centuries. Probably | | | | Lancet. 360, pp. 151-59. |
| the most prominent system known in the west is | | | | 3. Boivin, J et al. 2007. International estimates of |
| Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncture. | | | | infertility prevalence and treatment-seeking: |
| From its beginnings, estimated around 2,000 years | | | | potential need and demand for infertility medical |
| ago, the practice has steadily evolved | | | | care. Human Reproduction. 22 (6), pp.1506-12. |
| gynecological theory and practice, as well as | | | | DISCLAIMER: This article is not medical advice, nor |
| intervention theory and applications for men with | | | | can it replace medical advice - please do not try |
| reproductive difficulties. Taught and refined from | | | | to make treatment decisions or diagnose yourself |
| generation to generation throughout the centuries, | | | | just by reading this. Please take care of yourself |
| the practice today is used in China as an | | | | properly and consult a medical doctor. Persons |
| everyday modern medical practice routinely used | | | | interested in TCM please also note the article |
| by physicians who may be trained in TCM alone, | | | | represents very generalised statements on the |
| or in both conventional modern medicine and TCM. | | | | nature of TCM theory and cannot be used as |
| Modern Practice | | | | comprehensive statements of fact about it - |
| Modern practitioners in the West have flourished | | | | TCM theory is complex and practitioners typically |
| since the 1970's, when TCM medical theory began | | | | study for many years. Many thanks. |