Read this article to discover how integrating Chinese medicine and acupuncture with your fertility treatments can improve your chances.

Chinese Medicine for Fertility

Modern infertility treatments such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF) are performed on thousands of females each year.  Assisted reproductive therapies (ART) are able to give prospective parents an improved chance at conception.  Unfortunately, these procedures tend to be very costly and can put any couple’s relationship to the test.  Therefore, to maximize their chances of becoming pregnant, couples are seeking all possible avenues which will increase their odds at achieving parenthood.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been treating infertility naturally with acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for thousands of years.  However, the integration of TCM and modern infertility treatments is relatively new.  Research has shown that when you combine the impressive technology of modern IVF treatments with the time tested, holistic therapies of TCM and acupuncture, you can significantly increase the chances of conception. TCM and acupuncture addresses each persons situation individually and ultimately “tailors” a unique treatment plan to fully address those needs.  Moreover, acupuncture is a safe, cost-effective treatment which balances the recipients body and mind which is an important step in TCM to conceive.

Current Research on Chinese Medicine and Fertility

Many positive studies exist in peer reviewed journals when observing the efficacy of acupuncture with infertility and research has expanded into a number of related areas (male sperm motility/morphology etc).  A group of researchers from the New York Weill Cornell Medical Centre reviewed a number of existing studies and concluded that acupuncture can help with the following obstacles to conception:

1. Acupuncture can reduce stress hormones which interfere with ovulation
2. Acupuncture can help normalize hormones which regulate ovulation so an egg is released.
3. It increases blood flow to the uterus thereby improving the chances of a fertilized egg becoming implanted.
4. It regulates ovulation cycles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) which makes getting pregnant difficult.
5. As shown above, it improves pregnancy rates in women undergoing in-vitro fertilization.

(Prevention, 2004)

A landmark study published in the Journal of Fertility and Sterility where 160 individuals undergoing ART (Assisted Reproductive Therapy) were randomly selected into two equal groups.  One group received traditional acupuncture immediately before and after their embryo transfer procedure while the other group received no acupuncture at all.  Clinical pregnancy was determined by way of ultrasound, 6 weeks after embryonic transfer.  Positive results for the control group (non-acupuncture group) was 21 out of the 80 individuals (26.3%) while the results for the experimental group (acupuncture group) was 34 out of 80 (42.5%).  The study concluded that traditional acupuncture does indeed increase the chance of pregnancy in combination with ART. (Fertility and Sterility 77, 4, April 2002)

How TCM Observes Infertility

Just like all other conditions treated by TCM, the individual having difficulty with infertility is observed holistically.  There is a saying in TCM with respects to infertility, “One must cultivate the soil before planting the seed”.  So to a TCM practitioner, cultivating the soil may include, regulating menstruation, improving digestion or taking steps to optimize sleep and energy.  In general, the concern is to bring the persons health back into balance and focusing on reducing anxiety and stress. That being said, there are a number of TCM related imbalances which ultimately can cause infertility, most of which are connected to female aspects of infertility with fewer relating to male infertility.  Please remember that the terminology used in TCM is from a time where things like interstitial fallopian tube obstruction and PCOS didn’t exist.  The following descriptions may sound strange but to a trained TCM practitioner, they provide us with vital information which will determine what acupuncture points we use or which herbs we will prescribe. (the following descriptions do not mean that there is a problem with the associated organ, such as the “Kidney”…it is merely the way Traditional Chinese Medicine describes Western health conditions).

Kidney Yang/Yin Deficiency:  In TCM, the Kidney is responsible for growth, reproduction and aging and is intimately connected to ones ability to conceive.  The TCM practitioner must skillfully differentiate whether it is the Kidney Yin, Yang or a combination of both to properly bring the Kidney energy back into balance.

Blood Stasis:  A common diagnosis in TCM infertility.  Often connected to females who suffer great pain during menstruation with clotty, dark menstrual blood.  Females with blocked fallopian tubes, fibroids and PCOS will sometimes fit into this category.

Liver  and Heart Qi Stagnation:  The Liver is often out of balance if ones emotions are unpredictable or their stress levels are high.  Irregular periods with PMS can also indicate a Liver imbalance.  TCM believes strongly that stress needs to be under control before and during pregnancy.  Heart Qi stagnation occurs with those suffering from excessive anxiety often coupled with sleeping concerns like insomnia; both of which need to be in balance for the body to regulate its hormones.

Damp-Phlegm Obstruction:  Dampness or phlegm in TCM is most often attributed to certain female problems like fibroids, vaginal discharge and PCOS.  The Dampness or Phlegm has the tendency to obstruct the normal pathways of conception which ultimately leads to infertility.  It is often part of a TCM diagnosis in people who are overweight or obese in conjunction with infertility.

Damp Heat:  Much like the Damp-Phlegm diagnosis above, this diagnosis has the added problem of Heat.  Heat can cause many different symptoms in TCM, especially when it comes to menstruation.  Heat can lead to spotting between periods, early periods or a heavy flow. Heat (as in nature), causes things to be red and warm to the touch, like common inflammation or infection.

Blood Deficiency:  Blood is required during conception to engorge the uterus so it can provide nourishment for the fertilized egg.  People with Blood deficiency typically have pale signs like pale face, tongue and nails.  Blood deficiency can be caused by loss of blood due to trauma, miscarriage, improper diet, or under functioning organs.  With a Blood deficiency diagnosis, TCM herbs and diet therapy are important factors to restore the body back to balance.

What Should I Expect During a TCM Infertility Treatment?

In order for the TCM practitioner to achieve optimal balance of the body, at least 10-12 acupuncture visits are necessary, which amounts to weekly visits for a period of approximately 3 months prior to conception.  Treatments are approximately an hour in length but can be longer.  These treatments are used to regulate menstruation, the digestive system, bowel movements and stress levels.  By regulating these important systems, the TCM practitioner can create the ideal physical environment for conception.

Chinese Herbal Medicine and Infertility

The inclusion of Chinese herbal medicine is paramount when treating infertility and will be used in most cases.  When used correctly, Chinese herbs are a powerful ally when treating any health condition but are particularly important when treating either male or female related infertility.

Acupuncture and IVF

TCM treatments will also help your body adjust and prepare for IVF treatments giving you the advantage you may be looking for.

People going through IVF treatments may also be interested to know that it is now common to receive acupuncture “hospital visits” during their Embryo Transfer (one before ET and one after), It is recommended that one takes the time to choose an experienced TCM practitioner with familiarity performing hospital visits along with open minded physicians and hospital staff.

Male Factor Infertility

Males account for 30% of all cases of infertility.  The good thing is male related infertility is a relatively easy area to treat.  With the use of both acupuncture and herbal medicine, sperm count can go up, sperm morphology can be corrected and motility can be improved.  Due to the ease of treatment, we encourage all males to seek treatment even if all their fertility tests are considered in the normal range.

Importance of Seeing a Traditionally Trained Practitioner

It should be noted that it is rare for a person with infertility to have a clear case of only one of the above diagnoses.  Almost always will there be a combination of 2 or 3 different types. This is why it is so important that people see a well qualified practitioner in Traditional Chinese Medicine when looking for the best results possible.  This way, you can be assured that the “soil” will be properly cared for so the “seed” will receive all the nourishment that it needs.

When you are ready to discover the benefits of seeing someone who is trained in both Acupuncture and Orthomolecular nutrition for the treatment of infertility, contact Drew to see visit his Toronto clinic on the Danforth.