Many women today are having great success with IVF and other fantastic methods of conception that our medical system has come up with. And others still are using acupuncture and other natural therapies to either complement the conventional therapies they're using, or as their first effort, hoping to forego the drugs and test tubes. But there are still women having trouble getting pregnant. Why?
It's certainly not fair that one woman who tries the same methods as the next can get pregnant while the second woman cannot. And it would be great if we could say why, after repeated attempts with IVF, and after tens of thousands of dollars spent, some women still can't get pregnant. It would be great if we had answers for them, because then maybe they wouldn't feel so awful, blaming themselves, their partners, or whoever they can think of. Sometimes, there's just no one to blame, and that can hurt just as badly, or worse.
We certainly live in a great time: there are seemingly endless options available for couples trying to get pregnant. The flip-side, of course, is that one has trouble choosing which therapy should work for them. IVF seems to be a popular choice, but it is very expensive. I have been practicing acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for several years, and have had the opportunity to treat some women who were looking to conceive. Their results with me were mostly very positive, especially for those who were able to come for the recommended amount of treatments and follow my advice regarding lifestyle changes. But for those without insurance, who are forced to pay out-of-pocket, even a few acupuncture sessions at a reduced rate can seem financially daunting, especially when results cannot be guaranteed. So what can you do?
Until the Ontario government covers IVF and acupuncture for fertility under OHIP, we're left in a bit of a void concerning the 'right' choices one can make with regards to becoming more fertile. And many women need help at a point when they're of a certain age, thus a very real time limit is set. In the end, like so many things in life, what to do about fertility treatment is a personal choice. I advocate acupuncture (of course), and also recommend trying certain changes in your diet. You can even try yoga, which has been used for centuries to make women more fertile. And most importantly, make the choice to be happy. Whether you end up conceiving or not.
By Richard Lobbenberg, Acupuncturist and TCM Practitioner
