Trying to Conceive After 35? How Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Can Help
what you can do to support your own FERTILITY.
If you have been considering trying to conceive (or been trying), it can often feel like there can be a deadline. I hear this in my clinic all of the time. People feel rushed, pressured, and even dissuaded by their age. Age 35 seems to be the invisible marker in the sand that screams “YOU WAITED TOO LONG!”
But, our culture and world is changing. People are having children later in life! Culturally it feels like to me we are at a cusp or a precipice of true change in our society.
Let’s look at some statistics.
Average age at first birth: In the U.S., the average age of first-time mothers was about 27.3 years in 2022, up from 24.9 years in 2000. In urban areas, the average is often higher—30+ years is common in cities like New York, San Francisco, and Boston.
Women aged 35–39: Birth rates in this age group have been steadily increasing. In 2022, the birth rate was about 53 births per 1,000 women in this group, more than double the rate from the 1970s.
Women aged 40–44: The birth rate in 2022 was approximately 12.4 births per 1,000 women, up significantly from past decades. This group has seen the fastest percentage growth in birth rates over the past 30 years.
Women aged 45–49: While still relatively rare, births in this group are rising slowly. In 2022, about 0.9 births per 1,000 women were recorded. Most pregnancies over 45 involve assisted reproductive technologies (ART).
So we clearly see some stats are changing on age.
What is the biology behind all of this?
We are born with all of the eggs we will have, this is true. And there is a lot of research that shows as we age, our reproductive health can decline. Randine Lewis (an amazing fertility acupuncturist) mentions that the reproductive organs start not listening to the brain as well and those same organs can have 5x less blood flow as we reach our 40s. Simply put, our bodies start tending their focus elsewhere. Women in older age groups may also experience a longer time to conception and may be at a higher risk for pregnancy complications as well.
But, I think there is a larger picture at play here and one we should consider, especially as our society has been shifting to having children later in life. And it is this: Being older doesn't mean we can't conceive; many people have successful pregnancies later in life.
And the key, in my opinion, is egg quality.
One of the first things I like to focus on for my fertility patients is how I can support their egg quality both through acupuncture and recommended lifestyle changes (re: all of these recommendations). There is plenty of research out there to support that we can influence our egg quality. Fertility is complex. But, the solutions and support I often offer my patients is actually pretty simple.
So what can we do to support our fertility?
Eat Nutritionally Dense and Whole Foods
A lot of the research that speaks to influencing egg quality actually focuses on dietary changes. Less coffee, more fats that are saturated (gasp!), and organic whole foods have been shown to support egg quality and yield better pregnancy outcomes.
Get enough sleep and exercise
Literally the most touted information and recommendations out there. But, hear me out! This can really have an effect on health. Sleep is time for us to process things, detoxify the liver, and balances blood sugar. Exercise does the same and can help to support blood flow to the reproductive organs.
Learn and understand your cycle
If you are trying to conceive, it is time to learn about your cycle! We are only fertile certain times during our menstrual cycle, so it is so crucial to understand this when we are ready to try and have a child.
Get Acupuncture
Remember how I mentioned that reproductive organs can experience 5x less blood flow as we age? Well the good news is that acupuncture has been shown to direct blood flow to the ovaries, uterus, and even cervix (it is one of the only documented interventions that can do this). With blood flow comes oxygen, nutrients, and hormones. Book an appointment here.
Take my Fertility Course: Cultivating the Soil
You can sign up today for my fertility course and have access to all of this powerful information in greater depth and detail. I designed this course to fill a large gap I have been seeing in the understanding of reproductive health and actually becoming pregnant! This course is truly the culmination of all of my experience and the bulk of what I share with my fertility patients.
Becoming a parent and choosing to have a child is a wonderful and scary thing to do! And when that choice is not as easeful as we wanted it to be, it can be incredibly stressful. I want you to feel like you have clarity, help, and understanding during this period.
The truest intention of this course is empowerment, understanding, and support during your fertility journey. Let’s get started! You can get the entire program, it’s ready for you right now.
Our society and culture is changing. We can rise to meet it with healthy and supported bodies.
Acupuncture offers a holistic and natural solution to supporting your fertility & reproductive health as well as pregnancy & postpartum support.
If you’re ready to experience the benefits of acupuncture for yourself, schedule an appointment today.
Raku Acupuncture
(720) 230-3225 | micaela@rakuacu.com
Proudly serving Doylestown, Bucks County, PA. Located near Chalfont, New Britain, Solebury, Perkasie, Newtown, Yardley, New Hope, and Lambertville.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended for the purpose of providing medical advice. All information, content and material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment.
