Are you struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep, or are your sleep patterns erratic? Sleep is essential for physical, mental, and emotional health - and that includes fertility.

Acupuncture for insomnia and sleep disruptions can reset your body’s neurological and energetic systems, bringing a sense of calm and restoring healthy sleep habits.

Healthy sleep habits are associated with:

Better moods
Improved focus
Normal energy levels
Higher metabolic rates and weight management
Healthy immune system function
Reduced stress levels
Balanced hormone levels

That latter point impacts women’s reproductive health and fertility.

Use Acupuncture For Insomnia To Restore Healthy Sleep Habits & Support Fertility

Sleep disruptions have a cascade effect on the body. Anyone who experiences a night of insomnia or less sleep than they need knows how tired, cranky, and foggy they feel the next day. However, in addition to the common side effects of lack of sleep, internal disruptions compromise well-being due to hormone imbalance, which compromises multiple body systems.

Sleep Is Essential For Hormone Balance

The human body is a biochemical factory, and much of the production and regulation occurs during restorative sleep hours. Even something as simple as looking at your screen can start a cascade of hormonal dysregulation. For example, as the sun sets, your pupils dilate. This dilation from lack of natural light tells the brain to ramp up melatonin production and secretion.

However, even something as simple as watching TV or looking at your phone before shutting it off constricts the pupils - signaling daytime to the brain - and melatonin production/secretion diminishes again. After exposure to even the littlest bit of electric light, the brain has a hard time falling asleep - or staying asleep - which disrupts all of the other biochemical chain reactions necessary to rejuvenate, restore, and balance the body’s physical, mental and emotional status - including hormone levels.

By using acupuncture for sleep disorders, including stress-related insomnia, brings the body’s hormones back into balance, improving fertility rates for both timing intercourse at home or while pursuing fertility treatments.

Sleep Disruptions Are Linked To Infertility

Recently, researchers have correlated sleep disruptions and infertility rates.

Both men and women with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have higher infertility rates.
Women with OSA have more failed fertility treatments than those who don’t.
Women with insomnia and other sleep disorders have higher rates of irregular periods, infertility, and more intense menopause symptoms (Sleep Med Review)
Women who do shift work at night tend to have higher infertility rates than those who observe a traditional daytime wake/nighttime sleep cycle - having a 20% harder time getting pregnant (Journal of Women’s Health).

And the list goes on. These studies show how important it is that women address sleep disorders, including OSA and insomnia, to support hormone health and future fertility chances.

Acupuncture Improves Hormone Balance And Sleep Habits

Acupuncture is a natural way to sleep better, and regulate hormone balance, supporting a symbiotic relationship between the two.

During your first acupuncture session, we’ll discuss your experience and what type of sleep disruptions you’re experiencing. Then we’ll create a comprehensive plan to get healthy sleep habits back on track.

Setting healthy foundations for sleep

Healthy sleep habits begin with sleep-friendly lifestyle choices. This includes things like:

Managing diet to exclude stimulants and ingredients that interrupt sleep while increasing your intake of foods that support sleep.
Get moderate exercise at least 30 minutes daily, five days a week (preferably outdoors, as daylighting maintains your natural circadian rhythm).
Creating a relaxing bedtime routine that sets the tone for “sleep time.”
Ensuring the bedroom supports winding down and falling asleep (high-quality mattress/pillows, dimmable lights, blackout curtains, red nightlights, no screens, etc.).
Turning off all screens (including phones and tablets) at least 30 minutes or more before heading to bed.

We can also discuss traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbs and supplements that promote nighttime relaxation and sound sleep without that heavy, dull feeling caused by OTC or prescription sleep medications.

Customize acupuncture treatments to address underlying issues

Depending on what we learn, we’ll customize acupuncture treatments that address the underlying sleep issues, ranging from stress and OSA to hormone dysregulation or anxiety. We’ll look at the original benchmark at each appointment, note what you’re experiencing, and continue tweaking acupuncture appointments accordingly.

Suggestions for additional sleep support

We’ll also discuss recommendations for additional sleep support and hormone balance, including:

TCM herbs/supplementation
Moxibustion, which addresses hormone balance as well as anxiety and sleep issues.
Additional acupressure or massages that can integrate with your acupuncture sessions.

We aim to support you in the most well-rounded and research-based ways we can.

Schedule An Appointment For Better Sleep At Mitchell Family Acupuncture

Are you ready to sleep better and reclaim your nights? Are you doing all you can to create a balanced body for your next family-building journey? Schedule a consultation at Mitchell Family Acupuncture. We can’t wait to help get you back on track and feel like your best self again.