Acupuncture and improving uterine tone

[PSD]

What do you guys know about the use of acupuncture in improving uterine tone. This is something else my repro vet is using to try and get my mare pregnant this year, along with all the usual protocols (lavaging, oxytocin, cultures (using my own frozen)). We are on out 3rd try this season. She is 15 and has a baby the past 4 years w/o any complications. Maybe nature is trying to tell us something?

[siegi b.]

My understanding is that acupuncture improves blood flow and that, in turn, helps the uterus to get rid of fluids. Older mares have a tendency to retain fluid in their uterus from the inflammatory response to getting inseminated (especially with frozen semen where they react to the extender used).

[PSD]

Thanks, siegi b., that makes sense!!! Thank you!

[Sakura Hill Farm]

I believe that Michelle LeBlanc, the renowned repro vet, has been doing research on repro work and acupunture. She was at UF, then Kentucky, and has returned to UF.

[Equine Reproduction]

Older mares have a tendency to retain fluid in their uterus from the inflammatory response to getting inseminated (especially with frozen semen where they react to the extender used).

Actually several pieces of research have disproven the old dogma that some mares react to the extenders with frozen semen, and have demonstrated that inflammatory response is initiated by the sperm, not the extender. The reason that one may see a greater response from frozen semen is that the sperm are super-concentrated in the insemination dose (hence more concentrated irritant), and also the seminal plasma is removed during the freezing process, and seminal plasma has been demonstrated as having a mitigating effect on uterine inflammation. Hence, with frozen semen, the irritant is concentrated and the mitigant removed! Having said that, judiciously following an oxytocin protocol (http://www.equine-reproduction.com/articles/oxytocin.htm) can have a tremendously beneficial effect with older mares and frozen semen.

Hope this helps.

[ise@ssl]

Accupuncture does increase blood flow. The gal who does my accupuncture does a lot of work with women having Invetro Fertilization and reports that there is a significant increase in success when accupuncture is done prior to insemination.

[PSD]

Thanks guys, for all the replies!!!

[ponygirl]

I believe that Michelle LeBlanc, the renowned repro vet, has been doing research on repro work and acupunture. She was at UF, then Kentucky, and has returned to UF.

When did she return?

[Sakura Hill Farm]

I had been told last summer that she was returning to UF. However, after reading ponygirl's post, I called UF to verify, and they said that she was NOT there. Please accept my correction. I do believe that she has been working on acupuncture to address fluid clearance issues.