In order to understand how Chinese medicine addresses fertility issues, it is necessary to have a little background regarding Eastern concepts. The first is the concept of “qi” – loosely translated as the “invisible energy” of your body. Qi can be referred to as the “jobs” of your body. It is why you breathe, digest, circulate, and perform all other bodily functions. Each organ has its own “qi”, or its own job. These jobs may or may not be similar to Western ideas surrounding each organ. The second concept is “blood”. Similar to Western medical theory, blood provides nourishment to all the tissues of the body. It is necessary to have good quality and good quantity blood for optimal health.

THE FIRST VISIT

During the first office visit, it is customary to have a discussion regarding standard medical questions, such as medications you may be taking, allergies and sensitivities, surgical history, and any major medical issues that may be present. In addition to this discussion, other questions will likely be very different, such as: Do you like cold or warm drinks? If your body is cold, is it your whole body, or just your hands and feet? Do you have trouble falling asleep? Waking in the night? Do you see spots if you get up too fast? If female, many questions will be directed at your menstrual cycle as well. The other two things that will be done are to feel the pulse and look at the tongue. Areas of the pulse and tongue reflect the inner state of the organs of the body. These provide the practitioner with further insight into how well each organ is doing its “Chinese job”. This is for Chinese diagnostic purposes only and does not indicate Western medically recognized problems with organs.

MAKING A CHINESE DIAGNOSIS

By putting this information together, the practitioner is able to formulate a Chinese medical diagnosis. By knowing the “job” of each organ, it can be determined which may not be doing its “job” up to par. As well, the state of the “qi” and “blood” can be examined. Certain patterns tend to be more prevalent when examining fertility issues.

For example, one “job” of the Kidneys in Chinese medicine is to perform basic life functions, such as reproduction. In both men and women, Kidneys not performing their job can result in fertility issues. In men, it can relate to low sperm count, decreased motility, and morphology problems. In women, it can relate to failure to ovulate, poor egg quality, and repeated miscarriages.

Another prevalent organ is the Liver. In Chinese medicine, the Liver is responsible for cyclical events, like the menstrual cycle (it is responsible for PMS), sleeping and waking cycles, and is most easily damaged by stress and a diet high is fatty, greasy, fried foods. When a liver is affected by stress there is often issue with PMS, migraines, and high blood pressure. When a liver has been overworked, the body can have more signs of fatigue, dry skin, hair, nails, hair falling out or graying prematurely, dizziness. Either situation does not create an ideal environment for fostering a “happy uterus”.

The other organ that is commonly affected is the Spleen. In Chinese medicine, the Spleen is responsible for transformation and transportation of food and nutrients through your body. If food is not being transformed or transported properly, symptoms of gas and bloating, fatigue, muscle weakness, depression, and a thick coating on your tongue may be present. Liver and Spleen issues combined can be present in situations where there are physical blockages, such as fallopian tube blockages, cysts, and fibroids.

In these ways, there are often Chinese medical explanations for infertility when no other diagnostic abnormality may be present. While often more complicated, these basics should be helpful in understanding how a Chinese medical diagnosis is made. As Chinese medicine relates to fertility, the prime goal is create an optimal environment for natural processes to occur. As Mother Nature is ultimately responsible, focusing on optimal diet, lifestyle, and “energetic” balance is key.

After a Chinese medical diagnosis is made, a treatment plan can be discussed. Questions should be welcome at this point. The basis behind acupuncture point selection is that each organ has a recognized pathway named after it. These pathways, also referred to as “meridians” or “channels”, are invisible concepts and correspond to the organs of your body. They run along the body in a fashion such that nerves or blood vessels would run, although they do not correspond to each other. By determining pathology of certain organs and/or their corresponding pathways, acupuncture points and herbal prescriptions that are known to address the varying issues of the organs can be utilized.

THE TREATMENT PLAN

During a typical acupuncture session, the needles are gently inserted and stay in for about 20 minutes. During this time the lights are dimmed and relaxing music is played to encourage rest. Acupuncture offers relaxation as a part of almost all treatments and most people do fall asleep during treatment. Herbal medicine treatment will also be decided.

The amount of treatment necessary will really depend on each individual and their situation. Everyone has a different response to acupuncture. It is commonly found that 6 or more months may be necessary to address fertility when this is being used as the only modality and in situations where there are physical blockages.

USING CHINESE MEDICINE WITH ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY

If being combined with Western procedures, such as Intrauterine Insemination or In Vitro Fertilization, treatment for at least 2-3 months prior to the procedure is recommended. At the time of the procedure, additional acupuncture treatments are used to assist in holding the intended pregnancy. Remember that while it sounds long when speaking of months, there is only one ovulation per month in which to conceive. Therefore, the number of months equals the number of chances to successfully conceive. More detailed information as it pertains to each situation can be discussed during an initial acupuncture visit.

While only published in a few articles, there has been great clinical success in improving egg quality, increasing egg quantity during Western medical procedures, generally optimizing health prior to conception, and decreased chance of miscarriage. For these reasons, acupuncture and herbal medicine can be used for a time period prior to conception for all individuals.