Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine in Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth, Shropshire

Enhancing fertility with Chinese medicine

The Holistic Approach

Nowadays the conventional route for infertility results in Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART) too quickly, even it may not be necessary or appropriate. However, IVF should be the last resort. Couples should start with complementary, natural treatment and end at IVF, not the other way round.

Chinese medicine has been used in China for centuries to regulate the female reproductive system. Our approach of enhancing fertility is to integrate the theory of Western and Chinese medicine. We will examine a whole range of physical symptoms, lifestyle and other factors that may affect your fertility. The focus is to regulate your menstrual cycle.

A good Chinese gynecologist can tell a lot of the internal condition/functioning of a woman from her menstrual characteristics-colour, texture, timing and duration and accompanied symptoms. Integrated with the modern laboratory tests and BBT (basal temperature chart), we will help maximize your chances of conceiving naturally.

Below are some common seen situations we have successfully treated:

Unexplained infertility

It is the "ideal" situation for us. We will look at you from the Chinese medicine perspective to find the underlying imbalance that causes the difficulty to conceive. What you probably need is just a little bit help!

Disorder of ovulation

Commonly seen ones include Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), premature ovarian failure/premature menopause, resistant ovary syndrome, hypothalamic anovulation, post-pill amenorrhoea etc.

Chinese medicine approaches these problems by trying to re-establish a regular menstrual cycle, rather than just one-off ovulation that drugs can achieve. In Chinese medicine, lack of ability to produce eggs is related either to a Kidney or Blood deficiency, or to an interruption somewhere in the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis caused by Qi stagnation, Phlegm-Damp obstruction or Blood stagnation.

Back to Top

Endometriosis

It is a condition which has puzzled doctors for a long time - associated with painful period, pain during intercourse, spotting before periods and infertility. For extensive or bulky endometriosis, it’d better be removed with surgery, hopefully leaving undamaged tubes and ovaries. The drug regimens haven’t been very satisfactory.

The strategy behind all of them is to prevent ovulation and the flux of hormones associated with a normal menstrual cycle. Plus the fact that they produce a wide range of side effects that are not easily tolerated or more treatment is needed for the side effects, the endometriosis often comes back after the treatment stopped!

Is there another way that doesn’t remove or shrink the manifestations of the imbalance but tries to address that imbalance or underlying pathology? Chinese herbs and acupuncture, which aim to regulate the flow of Qi and Blood, strengthen the Kidneys, not only can effectively relieve the distressing symptoms, but also prevent it to reoccur. Also as the patients’ hormone level is more balanced they feel generally better and fertility can certainly improve.

Back to Top

Blockage of the fallopian tubes

Structural blockage can be difficult. If there is extensive damage to the tubes, IVF is the only option.

Chinese medicine often produces a good outcome for functional blockages. Emotional stress can cause spasm and tension in the muscles of the tube walls. You might have heard that sometimes HSG indicated completely closed tubes which, when examined again during laparoscopy and general anaesthetic, prove to be perfectly patent.

Women, who have been trying to fall pregnant for a long time, understandably feel some level of pressure at midcycle. The tension held in the body can translate into tight or inflexible tubes. In this situation acupuncture around ovulation time will help to encourage flexibility of the tubes.

Excess secretions from the cells lining the tubes can also block the tubes. Acupuncture, probably with Chinese herbs that can resolve the phlegm-damp accumulation works well for this situation.

Back to Top

Recurrent miscarriages

There are various known causes that can cause recurrent miscarriages. However miscarriages can result from some unknown factor in a complex series of interactions between mother and foetus. Recent research has revealed the important role sperm quality has on miscarriage rates.

Chinese medicine has always recognised that it is often the same sorts of imbalances that can cause difficulty in falling pregnant and difficulty in staying pregnant. We all can understand that risking having repeated miscarriages is very damaging, but the pressure of time ticking by is strong once a woman is already in her late 30s or has turned 40. But it is wise for them to prepare their body first.

After diagnosing the nature of the recurrent miscarriage according to the constitution of the female partner, acupuncture and herbs will be given to address the cause. Male partner will be treated too if needed.

Back To Top