Women’s Health – Infertility and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Are you one of the many couples struggling with infertility?

Are you emotionally exhausted by the journey so far, and/or unsure what your next step should be?

Trying to conceive can be an extremely difficult time ordeal for many couples – a roller coaster of frustration, anger, sadness, and regret. Infertility rates have increased dramatically in the last decade, with one in six North American couples experiencing troubles conceiving. Traditional Chinese medicine has been treating infertility for over 2000 years and is increasingly gaining acceptance in the west as a valuable method of restoring reproductive health.

Comox Valley Acupuncture is a women’s health driven clinic with a Doctor of traditional Chinese medicine who has specialized in fertility for over 20 years.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that all aspects of your life – emotional and physical have an impact on fertility. Our treatments provide a gentle yet effective, natural, safe, and affordable way of increasing your chances of getting pregnant.

Traditional Chinese Medicine can improve your reproductive health in many ways, including:

• • Reducing stress levels, which inhibit blood flow to the reproductive organs and negatively affect hormonal balance.
    A 2001 study from the University of California, San Diego found that women with high stress were 93% less likely to become pregnant.
  • Increasing blood flow to the uterus, which thickens the endometrial lining for implantation. A study from Germany found that acupuncture immediately before and after IVF embryo transfer increases the success rates from 26% to 43%.
  • Supporting the immune system for overall health and well being.
  • Stimulating blood flow to the ovaries to produce a larger number of follicles and better quality eggs.
  • Supporting the hypothalamus and balancing hormone levels. Patients report that acupuncture can also lessen the side effects of hormonal treatments.
  • Improving sperm count, motility and morphology. Researchers found that acupuncture treatments reduced the number of structural abnormalities in sperm and increased the overall number of sperm. The medical journal Fertility and Sterility reported in July 2005 that acupuncture therapy led to a significant increase in the motility levels of sperm and the percentage of healthy sperm increased dramatically with the median percentage of healthy sperm increasing more than 4 times after 10 acupuncture visits.
  • Reducing the likelihood of miscarriage. A study by the Reproductive Medicine and Fertility Center in Colorado Springs found that acupuncture significantly reduces the miscarriage rate from 20%, in women not receiving acupuncture to complement their IVF treatment, to 8% in women who combined acupuncture with their IVF protocol. Acupuncture also significantly lessens the chances of ectopic pregnancy.

“Both my husband and I had acupuncture and herbal medicine with Michelle around 3 months prior to our 3rd IVF cycle. We found her to be very knowledgeable and supportive through a stressful time. We believe it definitely helped in our successful IVF, and are now 12 weeks pregnant! Acupuncture is not only relaxing, but empowered me to feel like I was doing something very healthy for my body for a good outcome.”

Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy [70KB PDF]

Role of acupuncture in the treatment of female infertility [85KB PDF]

Traditional Chinese medicine also helps with amenorrhea, luteal phase defect, anovulation, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome and other hormone imbalances, uterine fibroids, advanced maternal age, male factor infertility, recurrent miscarriage, and unexplained fertility.

“After two years of trying to conceive, Michelle created a fertile environment and in only 2 months we have begun our journey into parenthood. Thank you”

Traditional Chinese medicine aims to improve not only reproductive health but also the general health of the individual. This includes energy levels, sleep patterns, digestion, elimination, stress levels and emotions. By improving the condition of the whole body, a healthy environment is created which optimizes the egg and sperm quality and improve the chances of conception and a healthy, full- term pregnancy.

“We had been trying to get pregnant for almost 2 years. I had constant abdominal cramping and my periods were not regular. After 5 months of acupuncture and Chinese herbs we conceived naturally and are expecting a baby in September, Thank you.”

 

Traditional Chinese Medicine Helps With

• hormonal imbalance
• unexplained infertility
• amenorrhea
• luteal phase defect
• anovulation
• endometriosis
• polycystic ovarian syndrome
• uterine fibroids
• recurrent miscarriage
• advanced maternal age
• male factor infertility
• An initial visit is approximately 90 minutes with a complete intake performed, medical records and tests evaluated. If you have been keeping bbt charts please bring these to your appointment. A Traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis will be made and a treatment plan implemented. A personalized herbal formula will often be prescribed and lifestyle and dietary suggestions given to enhance the acupuncture treatments.

“I feel so much calmer and prepared this IVF cycle thanks to the acupuncture treatments. No more headaches, irritability, moodiness or anger.”

 

Course of Treatment

* Every treatment plan will be customized depending on the individual diagnosis and the patients needs.

Preconception

It is recommended that Chinese medicine treatments begin at least three months prior to conception in order to prepare the body for pregnancy and optimize the health of the eggs and sperm. The health of the parents at the time of conception has an effect on the health of the baby. It is important to allow time to regulate the menstrual cycle and optimize egg and sperm quality (70-100 days). Within that period, acupuncture treatments will be given once per week, to both parents.

During Assisted Reproductive Techniques

It is advisable to begin treatment 2-3 months before an IVF or medicated cycle so that the positive effects of acupuncture, herbal medicine, lifestyle and dietary changes are able to create a healthy environment for conception to occur. This improves your chances of conception and promotes a healthy pregnancy and birth.

During drug suppression or stimulation

To help the body relieve stress and prepare the body during drug suppression, treatments are recommended 1-2 times a week. Two treatments a week are recommended during drug stimulation, to improve endometrial lining, assist with ovarian response to the drugs, and relieve stress.

For Transfer or Implantation

A treatment before and after embryo transfer is recommended to reduce uterine contractions and relieve stress. During implantation, at least one treatment is recommended to secure the fetus and help with implantation.

During Pregnancy

After your pregnancy is confirmed, acupuncture treatments once weekly for 12 weeks are recommended to secure the health of the baby and decrease the chances of miscarriage.

Please call 250-334-3630 to determine how traditional Chinese medicine can help increase your reproductive health or book now.

“Michelle I want to say ‘thank you’. You really made this cycle so much easier and opened my eyes to the wonderful world of Chinese medicine. I will definitely not hesitate to let people know about you and what you do!”