Many people who have had fertility success with Chinese Medicine probably have no idea how Chinese Medicine helps fertility, or gynaecological issues. They are just thankful that it does!
Recent research shows that acupuncture on its own can increase the pregnancy rates of people using IVF by up to 40%. (It can deliver the same rates for those not using IVF procedures too.) The studies used showed that these success rates could be achieved by using acupuncture for just one day shortly before and after the transfer of embryos. Wow! Just one day of acupuncture can produce those results! And that’s just one study. Other studies and protocols can produce even better results.
From my clinical experience, recent research and experience of my professors, this rate can be increased to around 70% by combining both chinese herbs and acupuncture for, and support throughout, IVF. These figures hold out for non-IVF patients too. We must point out, however, that approximately 5% of couples will never be able to conceive despite all combinations of both Chinese and Western treatment methods.
Large numbers of patients who have tried IVF several times and were unsuccessful, have become pregnant soon after Chinese Medicine treatment. Medical imaging shows that after acupuncture, the colour of women’s ovaries change from cloudy to bright and clear. The follicles double in number and the uterine lining becomes thicker. Patients experience less side effects from the Western drugs and feel better emotionally (that’s a good thing).
In male patients, the sperm quality significantly improves and the sperm count increases. Research has now proved this. Research has also shown that the healthier a male is at conception, the healthier the sperm are, thus producing better embryos. Unhealthy males, and especially smokers, generally produce poorer embryos.
Chinese Medicine can improve fertility and pregnancy rates in several ways:
- improve ovarian function to produce better quality eggs
- regulate hormones to produce a greater number of follicles
- increase blood flow to the uterus and increase the thickness of the uterine lining
- relax the patient and decrease stress levels (my favourite)
- prevent the uterus from contracting
- lessen the side effects of drugs used in IVF and gynaecology
- strengthen the immune system (very important as Western Medicine treatments usually decrease immunity)
- improve the sperm count and motility to produce better quality embryos
- decrease and prevent the chances of miscarriage
Just goes to show the difference between falling pregnant and not falling pregnant. It’s just like an athlete preparing for a big race, those who put in the training and get the body ready, both physically and mentally, have a much better chance of reaching the finishing line.
– this article kindly supplied by Andrew Orr, Shen Therapies, Brisbane