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Research spotlight – Acupuncture improves outcomes of IVF and ICSI

Recent research from China suggests that luteal phase acupuncture can improve pregnancy outcomes of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). 225 patients undergoing fertility treatments were randomized to receive acupuncture according to Chinese medicine principles or sham acupuncture (picking points unrelated to principles or picking non-points). Researchers found “In [acupuncture group], the clinical [...]

New research – acupuncture improves sperm count

Israeli researchers have shown that acupuncture helps men who had low sperm output to normalize after treatment. Researchers found that acupuncture lowered scrotal temperatures (reversal of hyperthermia of the scrotum) and increased sperm counts. Hyperthermia of the scrotum is associated with inflammation. This increase in temperature damages the sperm. This is why the testicles hang [...]

Semen Analysis – What are normal values?

When considering infertility, both the health of the woman and the man must be considered. The male factor – usually described as mild, moderate or severe – infertility is defined as a deviation from what is normally expected of sperm. These abnormalities are one ore more of the following: the number of sperm present, the [...]

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is bad for your health

I have been writing about bisphenol-a (BPA) for years. BPA is everywhere and in everything… well, nearly everything. There are few easy ways to avoid it: Don’t buy drinks sold in plastic bottles Don’t buy canned goods unless marked BPA-free Don’t use plastic tupperware / storage containers Don’t get take-out in plastic or plastic-coated containers [...]

Foods for fertility

If you are trying to get pregnant, read this article. You MUST! It is the best list of foods to support fertility I have ever seen. It is not common to find everything you need in one place. This article is exactly that. Every food you should be eating if you are trying to get [...]

Yoga helps fertility

It is so nice to see articles about yoga and fertility, specifically yoga helping treat infertility, being posted by Western medical groups. Yoga really can help people struggling with infertility get pregnant. I have said a number of times, and I believe it is deeply true, infertility has a strong basis in anxiety and stress. [...]

Hormones, bones and fertility

In Chinese medicine, fertility is ruled by the Kidneys. Often, infertility is a kidney deficiency, though this is not a rule since there are other causes. The bones are also ruled by the Kidney. In a rare moment of synchronicity, it seems Western biomedicine has found a link we have known about in Chinese medicine [...]