Acupuncture and Infertility

Mary P

The meridian system consists of 20 meridians interconnecting about more than 400 acupuncture points. These acupoints are located on specific areas on the surface of the body, which demonstrate higher electrical conductance because of the presence of higher density of gap junctions (special connection along cell borders to transmit iron and other intracellular signaling molecules). They act as converging points (or sinks) for electromagnetic fields. A higher metabolic rate, temperature, and calcium ion concentration, are also observed at these points. In principle, positive (anode) pulse stimulation of a point inhibits the organ function, whereas negative (cathode) pulse stimulation enhances that function. This forms the basis of electroacupuncture. Acupuncture has been approved to help optimize all the hormone levels by working through the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Ovary axis. Traditional Chinese Medicine stimulates the body's own natural production of hormones while restoring the health and harmony of the entire system. We cannot simply say that acupuncture increases certain hormones, it has a dual role: it micro adjusts different kinds of hormones in the different levels of the hypothalamus pituitary ovary axis (HPOA) and restores a subtle balance.

From the Western medical point of view, the influence of electrical acupuncture on the change in estrogen receptor expression in the brain may be one of the mechanisms of normalizing the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis. Chang R et. al published an article in Ferill Steril 2002, suggesting that acupuncture positively impacts opioid production in the central nervous system, which in turn, influences gonadotropin secretion from the hypothalamus.