Fertility Treatment with Chinese Medicine
By Bindi Zhu, M.D. (China) Ph.D. (Traditional Chinese Medicine)
Dr. Zhu is proud to have helped couples start their families in the Austin area for more than 20 years. As a believer in both conventional and traditional Chinese medicine, Dr. Zhu recommends using both methods to treat fertility issues. For example, acupuncture treatments have been shown to increase the chances of a successful IVF or IUI. For those looking to use natural methods, traditional Chinese medicine offers a non-invasive alternative. If you are thinking about getting pregnant or you are having trouble, Dr. Zhu can work with you to develop a custom treatment plan suited for your needs.
Who Can Benefit From Fertility Treatment
There are many reasons for infertility, and Dr. Zhu will prescribe treatment on a case-by-case basis. However, common situations that may benefit from treatment include:
- Those who want to get pregnant naturally
- Those who are 35+ years old
- Those who are on any hormonal therapy
- Those with irregular menstrual cycles
- Those with sperm/egg quality issues
- Those who are trying for a second child but having a trouble
- Those who want to increase their chances of a successful IVF/IUI
The World Health Organization (WHO), lists infertility as one of the conditions which acupuncture is effective.
Traditional Chinese Medicine vs. Conventional Methods
Though on the surface, the difference seems to be the use of acupuncture and Chinese herbs. One of the key points is that we use traditional Chinese medicine to treat the issue’s root cause.
A straightforward way to understand this is with a story:
“A couple had been trying to get pregnant for two years. Every morning the wife would take her basal body temperature and count the days to ovulation. Then, they had an “appointment” on scheduled days to try to get the job done. Unfortunately, even after two years, they hadn’t conceived. Finally, they gave up and adopted a beautiful baby girl. They felt so happy – no worry, no stress. Soon after, the wife missed a period, and they were unexpectedly pregnant. This story repeats itself time and time again.”
Conventional medicine does not have an explanation for this phenomenon. Dr. Zhu uses traditional Chinese medicine to fill the gaps left by modern medicine.
Conventional medical treatments have been well established and work well for specific disorders. Still, there remain areas where conventional medicine remains unsuccessful. Here are some real patient examples that Dr. Zhu has treated successfully with Chinese Medicine:
Case 1: A 35-year-old woman has tried for 3 yrs to get pregnant.
All exams show no problems, basal body temperature normal, unable to get pregnant. She has a 6-year-old boy from last marriage, Her husband has a child from his first marriage, but She had Hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. This is Kidney Yin deficiency. The principle of treatment is to nourish kidney yin. I used Liu wie di huang wan, a classic formula, and advised using a condom for 3-6 months. Afterward, she got pregnant. This can be explained by immunological infertility – reacting to the husband’s sperm.
Case 2: A 30-year-old woman, suffering from dysmenorrhea since her 20s.
She has taken birth control pills for a long time, on and off. She tried to get pregnant for 2 yrs. She complains of stabbing pain the first two days of her period, with dark color with clots, mood swings, and enlargement of her breasts before menstruation. This is usually due to either a cyst problem or birth control causes female hormone imbalance. Based on the Chinese medicine principle of differentiation of syndrome, this is live Qi obstruction with stagnant blood. I used Dan zhi xiao yao san plus wan bu liu xing and xiang fu to regulate Liver Qi and promote blood. Her period becomes normal, and after three months, she gets pregnant.
Once the cause of infertility has been determined with conventional medicine, Dr. Zhu can customize a plan for the patient with traditional Chinese medicine.
When evaluating a couple, it is imperative to consider the couple as a unit in evaluation and treatment, as multiple causes exist for male and female infertility.
It can be used alone or in conjunction with conventional fertility treatments, such as in-vitro fertilization, hormone treatments, and surgery. Some couples do not require such treatments and respond well to the exclusive use of acupuncture, traditional Chinese herbs, and nutritional counseling to achieve conception. We advise you to consult with your physician and partner to determine which path is right for you.
Acupuncture with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
A study, published in the April 2002 edition of the medical journal Fertility and Sterility, found that acupuncture increased the chance of becoming pregnant for a significant number of women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). Acupuncture and herbs support in vitro treatment, especially in keeping the pregnancy, preventing miscarriage. Pregnancy becomes easier to achieve, and postpartum recovery length is shortened.
It has been well documented that infertility causes stress, and stress affects pregnancy. In this vicious cycle, stress causes the body to release certain hormones. These hormones influence the mechanism responsible for regular ovulatory and menstrual cycles through their impact on the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. A study by Alice Domar of Harvard’s Mind/Body Institute found that stress reduction techniques (such as Qi Gong and acupuncture) can double the pregnancy rates for in vitro fertilization. Our emotional state has a strong effect on our physical bodies!
Dr. Zhu is happy to assist in your goals to start a family. We advise you to consult with your physician and partner to determine which path is right for you.