We have been suspicious of the use of some non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for some time in terms of their link with ovulation function. Zita West advises us that women who take high doses of NSAID’s such as ibuprofen may be compromising their ovulation. This can be an issue for women who have painful periods and rely on pain alleviating over the counter drugs to manage their pain (this includes brands of ibuprofen such as Nurofen). When we work with this group of women, who wish to conceive, one of our aims is to reduce period pain so that they no longer need to take pain control medications.
A recent study has just reported their findings that taking other other NSAID’s such as diclofenic, naproxen and etoricoxib for just 10 days reduces the likelihood of ovulation that cycle by 73-94%! Diclofenic is commonly sold as Voltorol in the UK and naproxen can also be found in drugs such as Sudafed 12 hour pressure and pain tablets. These are commonly prescribed medications for pain such as back pain, frozen shoulder and rheumatoid arthritis. Read more here.
Acupuncture can help women who are trying to conceive by managing other symptoms of ill health. Acupuncture seeks to get to the root of the problem as well as reducing symptoms such as pain and we often see people who quickly can reduce or stop the pain medication that they are taking. At the same time we can work on the body’s hormones, prompting ovulation and ensuring that the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian function which controls ovulation is regulated and in balance.
Our advice for women trying to conceive who require pain relief is to talk to your GP and pharmacist and ensure you are being prescribed an ovulation and pregnancy friendly medication. This may mean that paracetamol is the only medication that is safe to use. Consider other helpful strategies such as heat (hot water bottles, wheatbags, heat patches), massage, stretching, and physical therapies such as acupuncture.