No two women or couples face reproductive challenges for the same reason. According to TCM diagnosis and treatment, everyone’s health challenges are unique and treated as such.
Together, we will uncover not just the TCM pattern affecting your fertility, but lifestyle factors, diet, and emotional strains. We will help you navigate the complex emotions of this struggle and help you understand what may be hindering your fertility goals.
I am proud to be a direct referral for Zouves Fertility Center, CCRM Fertility of Menlo Park and Kaiser Permanente.
Research has shown that acupuncture can help:
- Increase blood flow to the uterus, which improves the chances of an ovum implanting on the uterine wall
- Normalize hormone and endocrine systems that regulate ovulation, especially women diagnosed with PCOS
- Regulate the menstrual cycle in women who do not menstruate (amenorrhea) and women with irregular periods (oligomenorrhea)
- Reduce anxiety and the stress hormone cortisol, which can significantly decrease fertility
- Positively affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, which plays a key role in fertility
- Male Factor Infertility: Improving sperm count, morphology and motility
- Reduce side effects of hormonal therapies
- Elevated FSH
- Unexplained infertility
- Uterine fibroids (mild)
- Tubal blockage (mild)
- Recurrent miscarriage
- Prevent miscarriage
In order to fully enhance your chances of conceiving, having a healthy pregnancy and delivering a healthy baby, it is recommended that you prepare your body for 3-6 months.
The female reproductive system begins the maturation of your eggs approximately 120 days before they are released. It also takes approximately 100 days for sperm to generate in males. It may seem like a long time to wait after facing fertility problems, but this time is a wonderful chance for you to nurture your body, mind and spirit.
ACUPUNCTURE and Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) and IVF
We highly recommend beginning acupuncture, herbs and making certain lifestyle changes 3-6 months prior to the IVF process. Chinese medicine produces amazing results, but can take time. IVF requires an enormous financial and emotional commitment and TCM can help maximize your chances. If you are not able to receive treatment in the months prior to IVF, 8 treatments (2 sessions per week for one month) prior to egg retrieval can be helpful as well.
For those with very restricted schedules or financial concerns, the 2002 German study of 160 women illustrates that just two acupuncture sessions, one directly before and after your embryo transfer, have been demonstrated to increase the success of an IVF cycle from 26 to 42%.
|
Acupuncture |
Control |
|
|
IVF Success |
42.5% |
26.3% |
Male Factor Infertility
Misconceptions are common in the discussion of infertility. One reoccurring thought is that infertility is the woman’s problem and once she is ‘fixed’, the couple will be able to conceive.
The truth is, nearly 30% of all infertility cases, the cause is attributed to a factor in the male and in an additional 30% of cases the cause is due to both male and female factors.
A 2005 study published in Fertility and Sterility, demonstrated that acupuncture significantly improves sperm quality.
|
Study Results |
Acupuncture |
Control |
|
Increase in Sperm Motility |
Before: 44.5% After: 50% |
Before: 32% After: 37% |
|
Increase in Sperm Structure and Quality |
Before: 22.5% After: 38.5% |
N/A |
|
Increase in Sperm Count |
Before: 0.06% After: 0.26% |
N/A |
Herbs and Fertility
Herbs are almost always necessary to achieve the constitutional changes needed during fertility treatments.
We work closely with many fertility specialists, many of whom are supportive of herbal supplements and some of whom, are not. There are instances where herbs are contraindicated with certain western medications, so it’s important to inform your practitioner of any and all medications during your journey to parenthood. Other supplements may also be suggested such as Vitamin D3, Fish oils, Coq10, or DHEA, which are well received by Medical Doctors.