Acupuncture for Men's Health and Fertility

Written By:

Christine Davis

PDtM Acupuncture Director & Acupuncturist

It's no secret: stress is bad for our health.

It's no secret: stress is bad for our health. And when it comes to male infertility, stress can play a huge role. “Men who feel stressed are more likely to have lower concentrations of sperm in their ejaculate, and the sperm they have are more likely to be misshapen or have impaired motility,” says Pam Factor-Litvak, PhD, associate professor of epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health. Stress for men can come from many places in our current world: work/life balance, relationship issues, finances, stigmas around sexual “performance,” body image, mental and physical health, to name a few. Luckily, there’s help. 

Acupuncture can be a useful, non-pharmaceutical tool in managing and reducing the detrimental effects that stress has on the body, particularly when it comes to reproductive health. Researchers have found that, “Acupuncture treatments increase the synthesis and release of endomorphin, beta endorphin, enkephalin, serotonin and oxytocin from the central nervous system, which strengthens the individual’s resistance period to cope with stress…and is also used in the treatment of diseases caused by stress.”

In addition, acupuncture helps shift the nervous system from a ‘fight or flight’ sympathetic response to a more parasympathetic-dominant response of ‘rest and digest’ Our brains and nervous systems evolved to keep us safe from existential threats—activating or restoring as necessary based on circumstances. For example, if our ancient nervous system was activated by running away from a bear (fight or flight), it would have little desire (or time) for sex or pleasure (rest and digest). Unfortunately, our current society throws many perceived existential threats at us all the time, often with few coping mechanisms to ease the stressors. It’s no wonder stress and infertility issues are rising rapidly.

There is also unnecessary stigma and shame around men asking for and receiving help. Men make up half of the pregnancy equation, and often are the ones who don’t get the help they need to support them and their partners in the reproductive journey. Acupuncture helps balance the body’s hormones, regulate the nervous system, improve circulation, and promote the rest and digest response. All of this significantly helps to reduce what's been called the “silent killer”: stress. Acupuncture has also been shown to be a natural, cost-effective way to improve circulation to the genitals for men dealing with problems with erectile dysfunction (ED), one of the most common effects of stress on men. 

In East Asian Medicine, the reproductive organs are considered our deepest well of reserves and potential. And they can be affected very easily by repeated and ongoing stressors of daily life, especially among men. To reiterate: “Life stress measured both subjectively and objectively was associated with sperm concentration, motility, and morphology. Higher perceived stress was associated with decreased sperm concentration and a decreased percentage of morphologically normal sperm.”

In our society, many men have trouble asking for help or don’t think they need (or deserve) it. This stigma creates an unnecessary burden on top of whatever shame or guilt may be already present in men struggling with health issues, particularly surrounding problems with ED or sperm count or quality. Acupuncture is a safe, natural way to assist men in addressing their health concerns. If you are trying to conceive and feeling burdened by stress, anxiety, ED, or issues with sperm quality and function, acupuncture may be right for you. 

Try an Acupuncture Initial Consultation with one of our practitioners today!

1.  https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/profile/pam-r-factor-litvak-phd
2.  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230739052_Role_of_acupuncture_in_stressmanagement
3. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2022.1038945/full#:~:text=Acupuncture%20activates%20the%20PVN%20hypothalamic,subsequent%20reduction%20of%20cardiovascular%20excitation
4. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/reproductive-problems-in-both-men-and-women-are-rising-at-an-alarming-rate/
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9110168/
6. https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282%2814%2900381-1/pdf

Meet Christine Davis

View Profile: Licensed Acupuncturist for Pulling Down the Moon

Christine is a Licensed Acupuncturist and the Acupuncture Director at Pulling Down the Moon, a fertility-focused integrative complementary medicine center in Chicago and surrounding suburbs. Christine holds a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from the Midwest College of Oriental Medicine. She has been a Board Certified practicing acupuncturist since 2004.

She has studied Chinese Tai Ji Quan at Wu Dang Mountain and Gong Fu at Shao Lin Temple in China. In addition, she studied Chinese herbology at the Beijing University of Traditional Medicine in 2003. She is a Certified Hatha Yoga Instructor in the Iyengar method and has been practicing for over 20 years.

Christine focuses on helping people achieve maximum, lasting wellness by giving them the tools to heal themselves. She believes that health can be improved by using traditional methods of moderation and balance. Christine has helped support many couples on their journey to conceive.

She believes it is important to address both the body as well as the mind and the spirit, especially while trying to conceive. When Christine is not treating patients, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two sweet daughters, listening to all kinds of music, strolling through the Chicago Botanic Garden and reading.