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When you and your partner are ready to start your family, it’s a wonderful and exciting time! If you are in a cis-hetero relationship, this is when you begin “trying” and hope to see a positive confirmation on your next pregnancy test. But for many couples, it isn’t so easy. According to a 2023 World Health Organization report, about 1 in 6 people worldwide experience infertility.¹ This is heartbreaking, and the road to having a child becomes a lot more difficult. Thankfully, there are several things couples can consider during their fertility journey, and one of them might be acupuncture. I’ve heard a lot of great things about acupuncture, so I had to learn more and talk to an expert.

Who is Dr. Haley Parker?

Dr. Haley Parker is a State Board Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist in Virginia, Washington, D.C., Maryland, New Jersey, and Georgia. Haley received her Master’s Degree in the Science of Oriental Medicine from Southwest Acupuncture College in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her background as a Division 1 athlete contributed to her successful strategy of working with student-athletes on sports-related psychological and competitive performance. Her passion for teaching was ignited, and she joined the Virginia University of Integrative Medicine in 2021 to teach the practice management and clinical communications curriculum.

Dr. Haley is currently pursuing her Professional Doctorate degree, where she plans to continue teaching and transforming the curriculum at the doctoral level to advance medicine, in addition to her business and community outreach programs. She is inspired to become more informed and involved through her work with colleagues in the State and wants to continue encouraging professional networks and group representation across the state, nation, and beyond.

What Did We Discuss?

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Haley about acupuncture and fertility and what people who are having a tougher time conceiving need to know. Here are several of the questions that we covered in our conversation:

• In what ways can women particularly benefit from acupuncture? 
• Can acupuncture really improve fertility? What’s the science behind it?
• What are some common misconceptions about acupuncture’s role in fertility, and how can they be addressed?
• What specific acupuncture techniques are believed to enhance fertility, and how do they work?
• Can acupuncture be used as a standalone treatment for fertility issues, or is it usually combined with other interventions?
• Are there any risks associated with acupuncture for fertility? 
• Are there any lifestyle changes that you recommend alongside acupuncture for fertility?
• Do you have any tips and first steps for someone who is exploring acupuncture to help with their fertility journey?

Dr. Haley is a wealth of knowledge on this topic and really broke down what people need to know about acupuncture, how it can potentially help with their fertility journey, and what to expect. Be sure to listen to or share this episode with someone who wants to learn more about acupuncture and how it can positively impact their fertility.

Dr. Haley’s Resources:

• Website: VUIM Clinic
• Instagram: @dr.haley.vuim
• Facebook: Dr. Haley Parker
• LinkedIn: Dr. Haley Parker
• NCCAOM

Related:

• Fertility Treatments: Options and What Is Involved
• 5 Ways To Boost Fertility Naturally
• Can You Get Acupuncture During Pregnancy?

Thank you for listening to this episode! Follow us on our podcast Instagram page @thebabychickchat, and let us know what you think and if there are any other topics you’d like us to cover. Cheers to your fertility journey!