Between Fertility and Pregnancy

Statistics show that 10%-15% of couples are unable to conceive. The source of infertility in percentages is divided almost equally between men and women (slightly more in women), with 5%-15% of cases where the source is unknown.

If infertility is of male origin, the cause is most often related to sperm quality and/or quantity. Chinese herbal medicine may be worth exploring alongside or before fertility treatments — ideally giving it a 3-6 month window.

This article will focus on female infertility:

According to conventional medicine, there are five main factors for infertility in women:

•  Ovulation dysfunction

•  Tubal dysfunction

• Endometriosis

•  Cervical problems

•  Unidentified factors

The body is a whole system, and its mental and physiological functions have an impact on all the system's parts.

Great mental stress can affect the uterus's function. Almost every woman would agree that emotions are not separated from the uterus – we have all had our menstruation early or late due to a stressful event.

This is the reason why I don't like statistics; In the end, the numbers don’t count - it's always either a yes or a no. Having difficulty conceiving is stressful enough, and the thought that one might be on the unpleasant side of statistics would probably only make things worse.

Also, statistical data is leading the focus to the uterus alone, ignoring the mental and physical state of the woman who is trying to conceive, which neglects other factors and often makes the woman feel invisible.

Another challenge is the age we live in; Modern life's pace is very fast, so we expect things to happen immediately and forget that this may be suitable for technology, but not for our bodies. Did you know that the chance to conceive each month is only 15%-25%? And that's with optimal conditions!

Unlike in Western medicine, where statistics are very important for diagnosis, they are not quite relevant for Chinese medicine diagnosis and treatment, except for the existence of a Western diagnosis, which certainly helps. But I use them as one input among many, not as a determining factor.

One last statistic: it's true that physiologically, things become less straightforward after 30. But having children at a younger age is becoming less possible or convenient for many women. Here, Instead of hoping you inherited the right genes, investing in a healthy lifestyle is one of the best things you can do for your body, and it's never too late to start!

Fortunately, Western medicine has made enormous advances in fertility treatment. Chinese medicine has supported many women through this process, combined with Western medicine or as a single treatment. Some studies suggest that acupuncture and herbal medicine may support ovarian function, endometrial thickness, and the environment in which the egg matures, though more research is needed.

Acupuncture can support stress reduction which can remove many blockages, that cannot be detected with modern tools. The treatment is non-invasive and is individual - each woman receive a personal treatment based on her personal diagnosis, which means the possibility of side effects is very low.

Instead of listing diagnoses and treatment methods, I would like to share three cases from my own clinical experience:

N., age 30

N. came to my clinic after a year of failed attempts to conceive, one month before she intended to start IVF treatment. She had a miscarriage accompanied by severe pain and bleeding, which had left its mark emotionally. Hormonal tests showed an imbalance (Inverse of the LH-FSH). Three months of Clomiphene to stimulate ovulation had not helped. Apart from this hormonal imbalance, all tests were proper.

I treated N. with acupuncture twice a week. On the seventh treatment, she told me that when her next period arrived in a few days, she would begin hormonal treatment. But menstruation did not arrive. She was already pregnant - completely natural.

In her second pregnancy, she no longer needed my help.

K., age 27

K. came to my clinic after 10 months of trying to conceive. Her main complaint was extreme mental stress accompanied by diarrhoea, weakness, increased hunger, low libido, and lack of motivation, especially before and during menstruation. K.'s cycle was regular and painless with relatively low flow. She also experienced excessive vaginal discharge accompanied by itching.

After the first treatment, K. noticed a significant improvement in her mental state. After the third treatment, the premenstrual symptoms that had always appeared did not come.

After several sessions, K. told me she was planning to start IVF treatments. I suggested she wait a little longer and give the Chinese medicine approach at least three months. She agreed.

After 11 weekly acupuncture treatments, K. got pregnant.

M., age 34

M. came to my clinic after a year of failed fertility treatments. She had a Polycystic ovary syndrome diagnosis (PCOS). During that year she had undergone one artificial insemination with hormonal therapy, two egg retrieval cycles, and three embryo transfers - all these procedures have failed.

Two weeks after beginning Chinese treatment, another egg retrieval and embryo transfer failed. Two months later, a further embryo transfer also failed.

One month after M. began the weekly acupuncture treatment, I prescribed her a herbal formula to support uterine function, and at the same time, a slight diet changes. M. also agreed to take a 3-month break from the conventional treatments.

About five months after M. began the Chinese treatment, her doctor was surprised to see that her endometrium was significantly thicker than usual and that there were many follicles. The next embryo transfer was successful. M. was pregnant.

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This blog post reflects my personal clinical experience and perspective. It is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. If you are experiencing difficulty conceiving, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.