ACUPUNCTURE & CHINESE MEDICINE MAY RESOLVE THESE INFERTILITY CONDITIONS:

Ovarian Aging   |  PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)  |  Thin Lining  |   Irregular Menses

More and more women are using Chinese medicine to enhance fertility and ensure a healthy pregnancy. Today, Chinese medicine is used in combination with modern fertility treatments such as IVF and IUI.

Researchers at Cornell Medical Center concluded that acupuncture helps to do the following:

• Increase blood flow to the uterus, which improves the chances of an ovum implanting on the uterine wall.
• Reduces anxiety and stress which significantly decreases fertility.
• Balances hormone and endocrine systems that regulate ovulation.
• Positively affects the hypothalamic – pituitary and ovarian axis which promotes ovulation.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS is a hormone imbalance caused by multiple cysts in the ovaries and normal follicles which make it extremely difficult to develop a mature egg. Many women have irregular menses or no menses at all, delayed or no ovulation, acne, obesity, hair growth and can also become insulin resistant. PCOS is one of the major causes of infertility for many women. A women’s body is wondrously designed and will function ever so well as long as the balances are maintained.

What is the Chinese medicine view of PCOS? PCOS occurs when the liver, kidney and the spleen system (not the physical organs) are out of balance hormonally. According to Chinese medical theory the liver is responsible for Qi and free blood flow. The liver affects the menstrual cycle as well as female emotions. Multiple cysts in the ovaries result from an actual combination of liver Qi and blood stagnation. In some cases, if the woman has weight problems, is insulin resistant or also suffers fatigue, PCOS can result from the spleen system being out of balance. (Note however, that the spleen system is responsible alone for the digestive system). We can help to balance the kidney, liver and spleen systems to dramatically improve PCOS. We have helped many women establish regular menses and then become able to experience ovulation regularly as well as get pregnant within months of this change.

Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR)
Diminished ovarian reserve is thought to reflect both a decreased number of eggs and a decrease in egg quality. It mostly happens to women after the age of 35 but also can happen to younger age in their 20’s. For many people, this is the major cause of difficulty in conception and/or miscarriage.

What is the Chinese Medicine view of diminished ovarian reserve? Chinese medicine believes diminished ovarian reserve is the result of kidney system deficiency (not the physical kidney). According to Chinese medicine, kidney systems are responsible for the reproductive system, urination, bone, hair and marrow functions, etc. Kidneys restore essence and yin and yang. They are inherited from the parents. You cannot get more of them after you are born, (like the number of eggs you were born with) there are several causes of kidney deficiency. If your parents have genetic problems or were physically unhealthy and that was passed to you; or you have chronic sexual overactivity, you then can have chronic physical illness impacting your kidney system (quality of egg), etc. To improve the quality of egg production you have to restore the kidney system.

What are the common causes of DOR? Here are the common DOR conditions we can treat: Kidney Yang Deficiency; infertility, low libido, frequent miscarriage, cold hands and feet, low basal temperature, fatigue, frequent urination, hair loss, profusely clear or no vaginal discharge, lower back pain, loose stools, insomnia, pale complexion, pale tongue, as well as a weak pulse. These conditions can also be linked to vaginal dryness, hot flushes, night sweats, dry skin, lower back pain, light flow of menses, low libido, constipation, red tongue and this pulse.

In our clinic, we use acupuncture and Chinese herbs to balance the kidney and enjoy normal health. We have helped many women to get pregnant and stay pregnant. The oldest person with IVF is 44 years old. Many people who are 40 with IUI or without any Western medical treatment do get pregnant and stay pregnant.

Paulus W, et al., Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy. Fertility and Sterility, volume 77, April 2002, 721-724.
5 Ways Acupuncture Can Boost Fertility. Prevention.com, 2002.
Dieterle S., et. al., Effect of acupuncture on the outcome of in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic spern injection: a randomized, prospective, controlled clinical study