Fertility
and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Chinese Medicine has been
treating Gynaecology and Fertility problems
for over two and a half thousand years.
Although nowadays as many couples are
putting off starting a family until later in
life the problems presenting in infertility
and gynaecology are not new.
At Acuhealth we have
specialised in the treatment of fertility
and undergone specialist training in
Ireland, China and the UK. Our team have
studied under some of the most famous
Acupuncture and TCM fertility specialists.
More recently we are founder
members of the Zita West Network for
Reproductive Health in Ireland. The Zita
West Clinic is the largest integrated
(medical and complementary) practice in the
UK specialising in all aspects of male and
female reproductive health. The new Irish
network aims to share the unique skills and
experience of Zita and her team of doctors,
midwives and complementary therapists, with
experienced independent acupuncturists
across Ireland and the UK.
For more information on how
you can benefit from the Zita West Network
for Reproductive Health click
here.
Acupuncture and Traditional
Chinese Medicine are very effective at treating what is sometimes called
“unexplained infertility” as well as treating diagnosed conditions. The following
is a brief list of conditions treated by
acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine:
-
Endometriosis,
polycystic ovaries(PCOS), uterine fibroids
-
Hormonal
imbalances, elevated prolactin etc.
-
Anovulation
(lack of ovulation), Luteal phase defect
-
Amenorrhea (no
period), unexplained infertility
-
Advanced
maternal age, recurrent miscarriage
-
Stress,
insomnia, depression, fatigue
-
Premenstrual
syndrome
-
Male infertility
-
Improve the
outcome of assisted reproduction
procedures (IVF,IUI etc)
There are many reasons why a
woman may have difficulty conceiving, age is
just one of them. Other reasons may include
irregular menstruation, hormone imbalance,
cold uterus and blood deficiency to name a
few.
Assisted Reproductive
Technology on the other hand is in its
infancy stage. Currently, Chinese
Medicine both in China and America are used
in conjunction with Western Assisted
Reproductive techniques to enhance
fertility.
How
can Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine enhance
fertility?
-
Assists in normalizing hormones
to increase the number of follicles.
-
Improves
ovarian function to produce better
quality eggs.
-
Increases
blood flow to the uterus and increases
uterine thickness.
-
Reduces
side effects of assisted reproductive
hormonal treatments.
-
Lessens
stress and enhances relaxation.
-
Strengthens
the body's immune system.
-
Improves
sperm count, motility and morphology.
-
Diminishes
the chance of miscarriage.
-
Decreases
uterine contractibility for implantation
How can Acupuncture and Chinese
Medicine help IVF and ICSI?
-
Research
shows that acupuncture and herbal medicine
improves the function of the ovaries to produce
better quality eggs
-
TCM
helps to regulate the hormone levels to help
produce a larger number of follicles.
-
Increased
blood flow to the uterus in turn creates a
thicker uterine lining. The result is better
likelihood of implantation of the embryo to the
uterus.
-
During
implantation of the embryos, acupuncture and
herbs can help prevent the uterus from
contracting, thereby also preventing the patient
from experiencing painful cramps.
-
Lessen
the side effects of the drugs used in IVF, such
as emotional instability, insomnia,
palpitations, etc.
-
Acupuncture
and herbal medicine can strongly strengthen the
immune system.
-
For
males, TCM can improve the quality and quantity
of the semen to create better quality embryos.
Preparing
for IVF with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
It is best
for the preparation to begin three months before IVF
treatments begin. In this time, the goal of the
acupuncturist is to improve the function of the
ovaries to produce good quality eggs. The treatment
method is varied, depending on the patient's
individual diagnosis and factor of infertility. Some
methods used include tonifying the kidneys, spleen,
qi, and blood, smoothing the liver qi, and
circulating the blood. At our clinic, many patients
have seen results of decreased FSH levels, resumed
regular menstrual cycles, and some even became
pregnant naturally!
General
Treatment Services Available To Help Fertility
-
Boosting
Fertility
-
Pre-conception
Planning and Care
-
Preparation
and Support for IVF
-
Fertility
Fitness Assessments
-
Male
Reproductive Health
-
Pregnancy
Planning and Care
-
Ante-natal
Training and Support
-
Post-natal
Care and Support
Lastly,
once the patient does become pregnant, acupuncture
and herbs can help to decrease the chances of
miscarriage. For women over 40 years old,
pregnancies with IVF have an approximate 46% rate of
miscarriage after six weeks. This percentage can be
greatly reduced with the help of Chinese medicine.
At
Acuhealth we have specialised in the treatment of
fertility and undergone specialist training in
Ireland, China and the UK. Our team have studied
under some of the most famous TCM fertility
specialists.
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