Treated Conditions > Female Infertility

Female Infertility

Are you trying to conceive naturally? Are you planning to have IVF? Were you told by your fertility doctors that you are not a good candidate for IVF? However you are thinking about conceiving, and no matter where you are in process, it is likely that acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can help you with any fertility issues.
Pregnancy is a complex process. For a natural pregnancy to occur, these steps have to take place at the right time.

1, Mature egg is released from one ovary.

2, This egg is picked up by the fallopian tube.

3, The egg meets healthy sperms in the Fallopian tube and fertilization occurs.

4, The fertilized egg travels through the fallopian tube to the uterus.

5, The fertilized egg implants itself in the uterine lining and grows in the uterus.
Female infertility can result from the disruption of any one of these five stages. Common disruptive factors include:
  • Ovulation disorder caused by PCOS, Premature Ovarian Insufficiency, and etc
  • Blocked or damaged Fallopian tubes caused by chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, surgery, and etc.
  • Damaged uterus
  • Thin uterine lining
  • Endometriosis
  • Inflammation
  • Stress
How do We Treat Female Infertility with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine?
Both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are effective treatments for female infertility.

First of all, we regulate the menstrual cycle by balancing the hormones. At this stage, if inflammation presents, we address the inflammation with Chinese herbal medicine. If the fallopian tubes are blocked, we use certain herbs to dissolve any adhesions or scar tissue causing the blockage.
After the menstrual cycle is regulated, we use different treatment protocols at different phases of the cycle to improve the chances of pregnancy.
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Phase 1 (menstrual phase): During the menstrual (bleeding) phase, the treatment focuses on ensuring that the uterine lining (endometrium) sheds completely. The menstrual phase is the best moment for treating endometriosis and dysmenorrhea (painful period).

Phase 2 (follicular phase): During the follicular phase, the treatment focuses on nourishing the ovaries, helping the follicles to mature, and improving the quality of the follicles.
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Phase 3 (ovulation phase): During the ovulation phase, the treatment focuses on promoting ovulation.
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Phase 4 (luteal phase): During the luteal phase, the treatment balances estrogen and progesterone and nourishes the growth of the uterine lining to prepare for implantation.
Stress relief is included in the treatment during all phases, as stress is a main factor in infertility, especially unexplained infertility. Adrenalin, a hormone that is released by our bodies during stressful times, signals to our body that this is not the right moment for conception. Adrenaline inhibits the utilization of the hormone progesterone, an essential hormone for fertility. It also causes the pituitary gland to release higher levels of prolactin, another factor in infertility.