Information for Couples Seeking To Enhance Their Fertility

“Molly”Amelia Greacen Registered Acupuncturist Dipl. Ac.,Dip. C.H. (NCCAOM)

Thank you for choosing to use Chinese medicine as a natural approach to enhancing fertility.  I offer couples a fertility wellness approach, which looks at the body from a holistic perspective, seeking to correct imbalances that may be contributing to fertility problems.  I work with couples who wish to use a totally “natural” approach, as well as those who are interested in working with a reproductive endocrinology clinic.

My approach includes educating women about their menstrual cycles (interpreting BBT charts, understanding how reproductive hormones work, and learning how to identify and enhance cervical fluid).  Therapies include acupuncture, relaxation and stress management, dietary therapy, Chinese herbal medicine, and lifestyle recommendations.

How can Chinese Medicine Help?
Chinese medicine can enhance fertility in the following ways:

• by strengthening the quality of eggs and sperm
• increasing endometrial lining and cervical fluid
• improving blood flow in the uterus
• reducing stress
• balancing the immune system to prevent autoimmune complications and decreasing inflammatory conditions
• helping to avoid miscarriage
• enhancing the effectiveness of IVF medications and procedures, (while reducing their side effects)

Natural Fertility Treatment
After an initial consultation, a treatment plan will be designed which will usually include acupuncture, Chinese herbs, dietary recommendations, lifestyle and exercise modifications, stress management, and self-care treatments that can be done at home.  A normal course of treatment can be from three to nine months, and focus on correcting hormonal imbalances, frequent miscarriage, lack of ovulation, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, PCOS, and autoimmune disorders. 

I have had success with women over 40 who have tried IVF without success, have a high FSH, have been told their ovaries are no longer producing viable follicles, and have been advised to use an egg donor.  They have managed to get pregnant, just by using acupuncture and Chinese herbs.

Treatment for Male infertility
Since 40% of infertility problems can be traced to problems with the male partner, it is highly recommended to have a sperm test.  Issues such as low sperm count, low motility, or poor morphology can be treated with diet and lifestyle modifications, as well as Chinese herbs and acupuncture, yielding very high success rates.

Using Chinese Medicine along with assisted reproductive technology
Doing a course of treatment with Chinese medicine will definitely improve your chances of success.  If you decide that you are interested in pursuing both the Chinese Medicine and using the services of an endocrinologist, I advise women to begin treatment with me for a period of at least 2 to 3 months before they are planning to utilize drug treatment, IUI or IVF, or use of a donor egg.  This will give us time to regulate menstrual disorders such as light or heavy periods, scanty cervical fluids, irregular or lack of ovulation, as well as work on more serious issues of PCOS, autoimmune issues, and endometriosis.  Sometimes this is enough for women to conceive on their own. 

If have tried the medical treatments without success, you may wish to use Chinese medicine to get you back in balance and boost your chances before trying a second IVF (for example).  Re-establishing your natural estrogen and FSH pathways is very important to the health of the eggs, and ensuring a healthy pregnancy following IVF or IUI.  It is not unusual for women to experience a decrease in cervical fluid and lighter periods after the use of Clomid, which is something that acupuncture and herbs can correct.  For women who have been deemed “poor ovarian responders”, Chinese Medicine can help strengthen eggs and boost follicular growth.  Since it takes about 90 days for eggs to mature to the state where follicles are produced, it is very helpful not to rush the process, and allow time for the body to heal and rejuvenate.

I do not do the treatment of acupuncture before and after IVF.  That service is provided at the infertility clinics on site.  However, I can treat you following IVF at your home for the first few days, to help support a pregnancy by relaxing the uterus, decreasing stress, and nourishing the endometrial lining.

Using Chinese medicine during pregnancy
Chinese medicine is very helpful during pregnancy.  Acupuncture gets great results with morning sickness, digestive problems, pain conditions, edema, viral infections, to induce labor and turn a breech baby.  It helps maintain a healthy pregnancy and prevent problems such as pre-eclampsia, and promote an easier labor.