Fertility Support
Regulation of menstruation > Anovulation > IUI > ivf
Regulation of Menstruation
Condition: The menstrual cycle is broken down into four phases: menstrual, follicular, ovulatory and luteal. For female fertility, it is imperative that a woman's cycle is responding appropriately in each phase to increase her chances of pregnancy.
TCM Approach: In TCM, the Regulation of Menstruation is a cornerstone for reproductive health. Paying close attention to what happens in each phase of the menstrual cycle will reveal any patterns or imbalances that need to be addressed. When each phase is regulated, the hope is that conception can occur naturally.
Proposed Treatment: Women can expect treatment 2 to 4 times a month, depending on which phase of the cycle is having an issue. Chinese herbal medicine is very effective and can be combined with a 45 minute acupuncture treatment to achieve the desired results. On average it can take approximately 3 months to see a difference in the menstrual cycle as every person is different.
Ovulation Support
Condition: Anovulation is when an egg, or ovum, does not release from an ovary during the menstrual cycle. This can have a big impact on fertility; an egg is needed to become pregnant. In some cases, an egg is released, but it happens very early in the cycle known as a Short Follicular Phase. This also can impact conception because the egg has not matured properly, calling its quality into question.
TCM Approach: Ovulation is the key to fertility. By ensuring the egg has enough time to grow, mature and release on its own can greatly influence conception. Depending upon the patterns observed during a woman’s menstrual cycle, including any signs and symptoms felt during ovulation will dictate the treatment plan. The combination of herbal medicine and acupuncture can address Ovulation, but also stress; the fertility process can be overwhelming and keeping stress in check is important.
Proposed Treatment: Without ovulation and healthy mature eggs, the chances of conceiving become slim. Chinese herbal medicine is very effective and can be combined with a 45 minute acupuncture treatment to achieve the desired results. On average it can take approximately 3 months to see a difference.
Intrauterine Insemination or IUI
Condition: Intrauterine Insemination or IUI is a procedure where sperm cells are put directly into a woman’s uterus around the time of ovulation to increase the chance of conception. The semen first undergoes ‘sperm washing’ to collect the highest amount of healthy sperm from a sample. By using good quality sperm and helping it get closer to the egg, the hope is fertilization will occur more easily.
TCM Approach: Regulating Qi, building Blood and nourishing Essence are some of the classic approaches to supporting an IUI. Nourishing Essence refers to strengthening our innermost life force energy; for women, this means producing high-quality eggs. Blood is needed for many physiological processes including creating a uterine lining with optimal thickness for an embryo to implant. At ovulation time, it's important that Qi is flowing properly to help the egg release uninterrupted.
Proposed Treatment: If there are imbalances in the menstrual cycle, it is important for these phases to be addressed; acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine can be employed up to 3 months in advance of the IUI procedure to address any issues. Typically, 2 to 4 treatments a month at key points in the cycle are ideal to implement an effective change.
In-Vitro Fertilization: From Egg Retrieval to Transfer