Does Acupuncture have a Role in the Treatment of Threatened Miscarriage?

Miscarriage is the loss of a pregnancy during the first 23 weeks. Most miscarriages occur before 12 weeks. Did you know that around 10-20 percent of pregnancies end in early miscarriage? A miscarriage can be devastating. It can impact the physical and mental health of the woman.

Causes and Symptoms of Miscarriage

One of the most common causes of miscarriages is chromosomal abnormalities. Women with a chronic condition, uterine abnormalities, or weak cervical tissues also have a higher risk of miscarriage.

In many cases, women do not even realize that they’ve had a miscarriage. One of the most common symptoms of miscarriage is vaginal bleeding, followed by cramping and pain in the lower abdomen.

While some bleeding in the first trimester is common (around 20 percent of women report some bleeding during this phase), this can indicate that the chance a miscarriage may occur will be higher than average.

Other symptoms of miscarriage include uterus contractions that occur every 5-20 minutes, discharge (including clots), and abdomen or lower back cramps (similar to menstrual cramps).

How Can Acupuncture Help?

Acupuncture can help prevent miscarriage by

• Helping correct hormonal imbalances
• Treating Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS, a common condition that affects more than seven million women. Women with PCOS may experience some degree of difficulty in conceiving
• Reducing uterine contractions and improving blood flow to the uterus helping prevent blood clots
• Enhancing the thickness and quality of the endometrial lining
• Helping regulate the immune system
• Helping reduce stress

A trained acupuncturist uses different methods to diagnose imbalances in their patients’ systems that can increase the risk of miscarriage. Once your acupuncturist gains an understanding of the nature of the imbalance (through discussion and physical examination), they will create a treatment plan to correct it.

What Do Studies Say?

In one study, participants were given acupuncture during IVF. At the end of the study, researchers noted a 50 percent decrease in the miscarriage rate.

Another study suggests that acupuncture can be used in adjunct with other treatment methods for threatened miscarriages due to the favorable effects it has on serum cortisol and prolactin levels during IVF.

Stress can cause a chain reaction that may lead to miscarriage. Acupuncture can help prevent miscarriage by reducing stress.

Some Tips to Lower Your Risk of Miscarriage

• Avoid spicy foods as they can trigger contractions. Include cooling foods such as cucumber, celery, leafy greens, citrus fruits, and melons in your diet
• Eat foods rich in magnesium and calcium. Typical examples include salmon, spinach, and brown rice
• Ditch alcohol and coffee

Monarch Acupuncture & Wellness is a top-rated fertility acupuncture clinic near you. We use time-tested acupuncture techniques to treat a variety of health problems ranging from stress to hormonal imbalance. To get answers to your TCM questions, book an appointment online.