Infertility is a condition of the reproductive system that impairs the conception of children. It affects approximately 6.1 million individuals throughout the United States (10% of American couples of childbearing age). The diagnosis of infertility is usually given to couples who have been attempting to conceive for at least 1 year without success.

    Conception and pregnancy are complicated processes that depend upon many factors. The growth of this medical problem may be due to women waiting until their mid thirties to start a family, when their reproductive possibilities are lower. 25% of infertile couples have more than one reason that causes change of factors for infertility:

  1) The production of healthy sperm by the man;

  2) Healthy eggs produced by the woman;

  3) Unblocked fallopian tubes that allow the sperm to reach the egg;

  4) The sperm's ability to fertilize the egg when they meet;

  5) The ability of the fertilized egg (embryo) to become implanted in the woman's  uterus;

  6) Sufficient embryo quality.

Finally, for the pregnancy to continue to full term, the embryo must be healthy and the woman's hormonal environment adequate for its development. When just one of these factors is impaired, infertility can result.

How long should a couple try to conceive before going to the doctor?

The American Society of Reproductive Medicine recommends women consult their health care provider when well-timed, unprotected sexual intercourse has not resulted in conception, if she is: 1) under 35 years old and has been trying to conceive for more than 12 months, or 2) over 35 years old and has been trying to conceive for over 6 months.

Is infertility a medical problem related to the woman only?

No, infertility is a medical problem that is related to both men and women. Men and women are affected almost equally.

What causes infertility in men?

The most common male infertility factors include:

• Sperm counts and quality: azoospermia (no sperm cells are produced) and oligospermia (few sperm cells are produced); sometimes, sperm cells are malformed or they die before they can reach the egg;
• Increased testicular abnormalities: a genetic disease such as cystic fibrosis or a chromosomal abnormality;
• Sexual function: a decreased reach of climax is recognized as cause of infertility.

What causes infertility in women?

The most common female infertility factors include:

• Ovulation disorder: abnormal FSH and LH secretion, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), luteal phase defect, premature ovarian failure;
• Blocked fallopian tubes: can occur when a woman has had pelvic inflammatory disease;
• Endometriosis: can also induce fallopian tube blockage;
• Age: aging is also an important factor in female infertility. The ability for ovaries to produce eggs declines with age, especially after age 35;
• Congenital anomalies (birth defects): involving the structure of the uterus and uterine fibroids are associated with repeated miscarriages.

Can you find out if you have fertility concerns earlier?

Yes, you may request that your health care provider conducts a complete exam to determine if either of you has any identified fertility issues. You may also take advantage of at home fertility testing that is available for both men and women.

When is a woman's most fertile time?

• A woman's most fertile time is during ovulation. Ovulation typically occurs within day 11 to day 21 of a woman's cycle.
• Counting from the first day of a woman's last period, day 1 is the first day a woman starts bleeding, the 11th day is most likely the earliest day a woman will ovulate. The 21st day is most likely the last. A woman's period comes between the 28th and 32nd day of the cycle. This may differ slightly because each woman's cycle varies.

Can acupuncture be used to treat infertility?

    Acupuncture, frequently combined with herbal medicine, has been used for centuries to treat some causes of infertility. In fact, recent studies have shown that it dramatically improves fertility rates because it reduces stress. Moreover, as all people know, stress impairs the fertility of women.

    Acupuncture has become well know as an alternative way of treating infertility. It has the ability to regulate the body's system and improve the blood flow ro reproductive organs. It also manages to stablize hormone levels in the body. This can have several effects that include enhancement and improvement of sperm count and production in men and ovarian function in women.

    Acupuncture for female infertility is also considered to be safer. Unlike prescription drugs, it does not produce any unpleasant side effects. In addition, unlike surgical methods, it is generally less painful.

    It has been said that acupuncture can treat infertility to a good extent. According to a German study done in 2002, approximately out of 80% of women who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) and underwent acupuncture, 42.5% of them became pregnant. Out of the eight women who were involved in the study who underwent IVF without acupuncture, mere 21% of them became pregnant. According to a recent study done in the U.S, 114 women had participated out of which 51% of women who had IVF treatments and acupuncture done became pregnant as compared to 36% of women who had only IVF done. A further analysis showed that 8% of women who received acupuncture suffered from miscarriages while 20% of the women who did not receive acupuncture but received in vitro fertilization suffered miscarriages.

What types of fertility patients typically get acupuncture?

Acupuncture can be used to treat any type of fertility disorder including spasmed tubes. (Spasmed tubes are often de-spasmed with acupuncture). Acupuncture is often combined with herbs to treat elevated follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), repeated pregnancy loss, unexplained (idiopathic) infertility, luteal phase defect, hyperprolactinemia (when not caused by a prolactinoma), polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) with annovulatory cycles, and male factors including men affected with sperm-DNA-fragmentation.