Acupuncture is traditionally known as an Eastern practice, and involves a trained acupuncture professional inserting needles into pressure points in their patients' bodies. Acupuncture has been used to treat a variety of illnesses and diseases, from headaches to indigestion- but it is currently considered a possible treatment.

Exactly how can needles stuck into your skin result in a pregnancy? The science behind acupuncture is that the needles are placed in pressure points that result in certain body reactions. When placed in the appropriate places, the needles of acupuncture can help regulate your body and in turn- the hormones will function better. treatment involving acupuncture is said to increase the health of a female's ovaries and uterus by improving blood flow to the reproductive organs.

Western medicine isn't convinced that acupuncture is a valid treatment; however, most doctors believe there is no harm in trying the natural treatment method. Some Western trained doctors are referring their infertile patients to receive acupuncture as treatment.

In the reproductive journal, Fertility and Sterility, released in April 2002, a study was published by German researchers. The treatment involved 160 women who participated in the acupuncture treatment study, with half of the women agreeing to use acupuncture in combination with in vitro fertilization

Angola: Over 100 Families Seek Family Planning
At least 169 families joined the family planning programme in December, 2008, at maternal and infantile centre of northern Uige province, informed Tuesday the institution's chief, Rosa Laurindo António.
Uganda: Tetanus- Immunising Pregnant Women, Hygiene Will Save the Babies
AFTER years of waiting, Jane was blessed with a healthy baby boy.
South Africa: Refugee Moms to Receive Formula
Hundreds of refugee mothers across the Cape Flats may be off to a better start in the new year as they are set to receive milk formula for their babies.
Nigeria: Lagos Honours New Year Babies
New Year babies born in Lagos were showered with gifts by Abimbola, the wife of Governor Babatunde Fashola, who visited hospitals and urged the mothers to exclusively breast feed for six months to ensure their survival.
Nigeria: New Year - Seven Babies Born in Lagos
As Nigerians join the rest of the world in ushering in the New Year on yesterday, at least seven new babies were born at four public hospitals in Lagos State, with the first arriving at about 12.01 am at Ayinke House, Lagos State university Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja while the set of twins were born at Island Maternity Hospitals, Lagos Island and another at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) at exactly 1:30 am.
Nigeria: Governor's Wife Presents Gifts to Eight New Year Babies
The Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs Abimbola Fashola, yesterday presented gifts to eight babies delivered on New year in Lagos.
Zimbabwe: Boost for Maternity Clinics
THE United Nations Population Fund says it has delivered emergency reproductive kits, medicine and surgical supplies to maternity care units in central hospitals in the country enough to benefit an estimated 900 000 mothers for at least three months.
Uganda: Enact Law on Surrogate Mothers
In-vitro fertilisation, popularly known as the process for getting test tube babies, has become a reality in Uganda.
Uganda: First Test Tube Baby is Four Years Old
UGANDA'S first test tube baby celebrated her fourth birthday on October 2, 2008.
Zimbabwe: Chitungwiza Hospital Records 58 Births
CHITUNGWIZA Central Hospital has recorded 58 normal births so far this festive season with 10 having been born on Christmas Day.
Uganda: Christmas Abortion - Doctor Held
Police are holding a doctor working with Kansanga life care Health clinic, Guy Kintu for abeting abortion.
Nigeria: Ajabor Wants Law On Regulation of IVF Delivery
A gynaecologist and obstetrician, Prof Linus Ajabor, has canvassed the enactment of a law by the National Assembly to regulate ethical services in the In-vitro Fertilization delivery in the country.
Nigeria: Experts Call for Increased Attention Towards Prevention of Infertility
Irked by the growing number of infertility in the country and the fact that about 25 percent of couples in then developing countries are infertile, medical experts have called for more focus on prevention of infertility than cure.
Nigeria: Nkanu East Flags Off Free Maternal Care Programme
The free maternal and child healthcare embarked on by Enugu State government has been flagged off at Nkanu East Local Government Area.In his speech on the occasion, the council chairman, Ani Ejikeme, noted that what was happening was as a result of a careful, conscious and deliberate planned partnership between the state and his local government.
Uganda: Abortion is Inhuman Whatever the Reason
I read with disappointment the article titled: "Kadaga Backs Abortion After Rape", The New Vision, December 9. The Deputy Speaker of Parliament was responding to women lawyers who said abortion should be legalised as demanded by the Maputo Protocol.
Nigeria: Pregnant Widows Get Free Ante-Natal Kits in Akwa Ibom
Free ante-natal kits worth thousands of naira have been donated to 93 expectant widows who lost their breadwinners while they were pregnant.
Rwanda: 27 Percent Aware of Family Planning - Officials
Some twenty-seven per cent of people that require family planning are using different methods to control births, officials from the ministry of health said on Sunday.
Nigeria: NHIS Seeks Intl Community's Cooperation On Maternal, Child Health
Executive Secretary of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr Mohammed Dogo, in Bayelsa recently for the flag-off of a special health Insurance coverage for pregnant women and children in parts of the state, appealed for cooperation from the international community on the country's moves to facilitate access to good health care for pregnant women and young children.
Uganda: Kawempe Health Centre Gets Maternity Equipment
THE Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA) Uganda Ltd has donated delivery beds worth sh10m to Kawempe health centre.

and half of the women choosing in vitro fertilization as the only method of treatment. The results of the treatment showed that of the 80 patients that received two rounds of acupuncture with their in vitro fertilization, 34 pregnancies resulted; while of the 80 women who received in vitro fertilization without acupuncture, only 21 pregnancies resulted.

Acupuncture may not be a traditional treatment, but for couples unwilling or not ready to try some of the more chemical or surgical treatment methods- it's definitely an option.