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

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.