Feb 8, 2008 6:00 pm US/Eastern
Health: Acupuncture & Pregnancy
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
Medical Reporter Stephanie Stahl has information on an ancient treatment that is being used to help women get pregnant.
Fertility treatments are traditionally long, complicated and expensive. But this new study says acupuncture is doing wonders helping women conceive.
Old City acupuncturist Steven Mavros has a wall full of success stories. It's covered with pictures of babies. He said they were conceived with the help of acupuncture.
"We know it helps boost blood flow into the lower abdomen and into the uterus and the ovaries," said Mavros.
He said acupuncture also helps regulate menstrual cycles to improve fertility.
The new study, that covered 1,300 women, found acupuncture improves the odds of conception by 65 percent when done before IVF fertility treatments.
"It's not a magic bullet. The IVF is doing most of the work. The acupuncture just seems to make it better," said Mavros.
IVF or invitro fertilization combines sperm and eggs in a lab to create embryos that are then placed in the womb.
Mavros said acupuncture is most popular to relieve pain, but it's often an ongoing process.
"Whereas fertility it's like they walk in one day they're not pregnant. They walk in the next day they're pregnant that's great you know you did your job," said Mavros.
Acupuncture can also help with fertility even without IVF treatments and there's a big cost difference. IVF costs about $12,000. Acupuncture costs about $60.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Stumble It!
Reporting
