Treatment

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient therapy method, which has been used by the countries in the Far East for several millennia. In the West, the method has become popular in the 18th century and has been considered as effective in the last 30 years. The word “acupuncture” comes from Latin: “acus” meaning needle, “punctura” meaning puncture – it literally means to puncture with needles. As acupuncture are various procedures considered that include puncturing the skin with very fine needles to stimulate certain points of the body. Clinical testing has proven that this method could help patients with a number of diseases. In the moment, acupuncture is one of the most popular alternative and supplementary therapies. It has been used more and more by Western clinics that offer integrated treatments.

Acupuncture in SBALAGRM “Sofia”

SBALAGRM “Sofia” offers its patients acupuncture as an additional form of therapy in sterility treatment and as a way to treat migraines, chronic headache, functional diseases of the nervous system, diseases of the peripheral nervous system, and dysmenorrhea. The procedures are done by a qualified and experienced doctor in a quiet and cozy atmosphere. Applying acupuncture as a supplementary form of treatment is done after a consultation with your reproductive specialist. For more information and to schedule an appointment, please ask at registration.

Acupuncture and Infertility

In women: some clinical data has suggested that acupuncture could be effective in disturbances in the woman’s fertility. Acupuncture can help in a number of ways:

• Regulation of the sexual hormones in hypothalamo-hypophyse-ovary axis disorders resulting from stress;
• Improves the blood supply of the reproductive organs, which leads to an improvement in the endometrium lining thickness;
• Improves the functions of the corpus luteum;
• Improves the FSH expression;
• Reduces the stress and stimulates the implantation of the embryo.

In men: the clinical data gathered thus far has shown that acupuncture has a favorable supplementary effect in improving the sperm cell parameters.

Acupuncture and Assisted Reproduction

The results of the acupuncture testing gathered so far show that it is a reasonable addition to treating infertility and that it increases the chances of achieving pregnancy and giving birth to a healthy child. The treatment’s side effects are limited. More and more reproductive medicine clinics around the world offer their patients acupuncture as a supplementary form of therapy to IVF. Acupuncture is especially appropriate for couples with recurring reproductive problems and sterility.

Application

The patient must undergo several procedures for the acupuncture to have a therapeutic effect. If it is applied as a supplementary form of therapy to assisted reproduction, the procedures are usually done before the insemination / embryo transfer. In most cases, 4-5 procedures are needed in a treatment cycle, according the specific case. Every procedure lasts around 30 minutes.

Specifics:

• Acupuncture is painless and does not leave scars;
• The needles are sterile, covered in antiallergic coating, and for single use only;
• The procedure is not uncomfortable;
• Acupuncture is performed by a qualified and experienced doctor;
• The procedure practically does not entail any risks or side effects;
• Acupuncture should not be applied to patients that have problems with blood clotting or take blood thinning medication.