Infertility is one of
the most stressful conditions for anyone to deal with in their
lives. Dr. Zhou understands that the relationship between a
woman’s emotions and infertility is very real and complex, and
can be associated. She is dedicated to caring for her patients
with compassion and to helping them reduce stress, depression, and
other negative emotional fallout that can result from dealing with
infertility, through acupuncture.
Stress and infertility
Many years experience in treating
patients with infertility have taught Dr. Zhou that stress and
infertility can very often be directly related in a vicious cycle.
She is well aware that, when diagnosed with infertility, many
patients feel helpless and no longer in control of their lives.
When patients seek insemination or assisted reproductive
treatment, the financial impact can be extremely stressful; some
of the hormonal medications can cause mood swings, headaches,
fatigue and emotional upsets, which further exacerbate their
stress levels; and, when they resort to IVF, it is often their
last option and patients are not only under an additional high
level of physical stress with injections, blood work, ultrasound,
etc., but also highly vulnerable to the possibility that the
procedure may fail.
How stress affects the
reproductive system
Stress and other negative emotions
indeed disrupt hormonal communication between the brain, the
pituitary and the ovary, which causes an imbalance in hormonal
function. Such imbalances can lead to irregular or missed
menstrual cycles and may cause the fallopian tubes and uterus to
contract thereby inhibiting the movement of the egg into the
uterus. In addition, many years of emotional stress, depression
and anxiety have been implicated in the complete cessation of
ovulation, resulting in a condition called anovulation.
How acupuncture reduces stress
during the treatment of infertility
Acupuncture, a holistic method,
integrates the body and mind, balances emotional distress,
increases relaxation, and helps women with hormonal dysfunction or
unexplained infertility. Modern science substantiates that
acupuncture affects the autonomic nervous system and activates the
parasympathetic nervous system to decrease stress, muscle tension,
anxiety and irritability. Acupuncture stimulates the central
nervous system and increases the production of endorphins and
encephalins, which are naturally occurring chemicals
in the body that improve a person’s mood and overall feeling of
well-being.
Since the nervous system connects
the brain directly to the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the
uterus, acupuncture, acting on the autonomic nervous system,
influences the ovary’s ability to produce healthy eggs and
hormones, relaxes both the fallopian tubes and the uterus, which
in turn can aid the movement and implantation of a fertilized egg.
Further, acupuncture relaxes the uterus and can promote blood
circulation to the uterine tissue, nourish the endometrium, and
make the embryo more likely to become implanted, which can support
conception and help avoid miscarriage (See infertility
for detail).
As an oriental medical doctor
treating infertility, Dr. Zhou places a strong emphasis on
providing the best possible fertility care addressing both the
physical and emotional concerns of her patients. Her approach is
to help them not only achieve a successful pregnancy, but also
have a natural, joyful, and more relaxed conception experience. |
