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David Scrimgeour, C.H, L.Ac.

A long history of treating Infertility

Oriental Medicine has been treating the sensitive complexities of infertility for over 2,000 years. Because agricultural societies required as many hands as possible to work the land and the family was held in high esteem, fertility has always been a primary medical focus in Asia. Thus, there is a long history of time-tested, effective approaches as Chinese physicians sought successful ways to treat infertility.

There are three distinctive features of Oriental Medicine:

1. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the physiology of the individual from a holistic perspective.

2. It is based upon an understanding of the concept of “Qi” which may be defined as “vital energy” or “life force.”

3. It provides a model for mapping out the interrelationship between the physical, emotional and psychological components of an individual’s health. This enables the practitioner to understand and treat imbalances which occur on more than one level at the same time.

Causes of Infertility:

Some of the leading causes of infertility are age, heredity, stress, overwork, poor diet, insufficient rest, lack of exercise, illness, emotional influences, and poor menstrual health.

Two Patterns of Infertility:

Oriental Medicine recognizes two main patterns of infertility:

1. Stagnation, which may manifest as fibroid tumors, cysts, enlarged ovaries, endometriosis, and blocked tubes, for example;

2. Deficiency, which may present as inadequate hormone levels, low sperm count, miscarriage, immune disorders, and so on.

Treatment:

Oriental Medicine uses three therapies to treat infertility:

1. Acupuncture, which employs fine, virtually painless needling techniques to open blocked energy and restore balance;

2. Herbal Medicine, which is comprised of a variety of formulas that have been used to treat infertility for centuries. Many of these herbal formulas have been subjected to research studies in contemporary medical clinics in China and Japan;

3. Lifestyle Counseling, which includes recommendations regarding diet, exercise and stress reduction as well as nutritional supplementation.

Length of Treatment:

Treatment usually lasts three to twelve months because strengthening and tonifying of the overall constitution is the objective. In the case of in-vitro fertilization, two to three months are generally required prior to undergoing this procedure for optimal results.

Western Medicine and Oriental Medicine:

Many patients elect to explore the best of both worlds and use modern assisted reproductive technology and traditional Oriental Medicine. This has resulted in a significantly higher success rate. Two recent studies highlight the effectiveness of acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in treating infertility:

1. A study published in the April, 2002 edition of the medical journal Fertility and Sterility, found that acupuncture increases the chance of pregnancy for women undergoing in-vitro fertilization.

2. Research in Europe has shown that acupuncture increases uterine blood flow, an important factor in conception and pregnancy.

Questions and Answers:

Q. I have been diagnosed with unexplained infertility. All my tests are either normal or low normal. I have a very active lifestyle with a busy job, and I exercise a lot. How might Oriental Medicine help me?

A. Because Oriental Medicine treats the whole person, a comprehensive diagnosis could reveal subtler imbalances in the system which may not show up on any tests. An example of this is when a person is under stress, the endocrine system will put out abnormally high amounts of adrenaline. Because of feedback loops, this high value may cause a low value of other hormones down the line. As a result, progesterone levels may be low. This type of deficiency is showing up more and more in infertility. The treatment then focuses on reducing adrenaline by reducing stress and increasing progesterone levels. This is accomplished through acupuncture which counteracts the effects of stress by increasing endorphins and herbal formulas which balance the endocrine system.

Q. I am 40 years old, and we have been trying to conceive ever since my son was born three years ago. My husband has a moderately low sperm count and I find myself experiencing a lot of fatigue, but all my tests, though on the low end, are normal. What would you suggest we do?

A. I would take a comprehensive history of you and your husband. What you describe sounds a good deal like a deficiency pattern in Oriental Medicine. Herbal medicine has been very effective at raising sperm counts. The fact that you have fatigue indicates that you may still be suffering from postpartum deficiency and you may not have fully recovered from your first pregnancy. Oriental medicine can help restore the vitality that was lost and thereby increase your fertility.

Q. I am apparently not ovulating though I have no other symptoms. My menstrual cycle is slightly irregular. Would Oriental Medicine be helpful in this situation?

A. This is often a relatively easy problem to address. It is likely that you are experiencing a hormonal imbalance. Herbal medicine would be applied using four different formulas at corresponding times of the cycle to help regulate and improve hormonal balance. In addition, acupuncture would be used to stimulate proper hormonal function. The advantage of this approach is the lack of side effects and the added benefit of improving your general health as well. Regulating the cycle is a very important aspect of fertility treatment.

“But listen to me

for one moment.

Quit being sad.

Hear blessings dropping

their blossoms around you.”

-- Rumi

Through acupuncture and individually designed herbal formulas, Oriental Medicine has had excellent results with the following:

1. Hormonal imbalances

2. Anovulation

3. Amenorrhea

4. Endometriosis*

5. Recurrent miscarriage

6. Low sperm count

7. Impotence

8. Decreased motility

9. Irregular menstruation

10. Unexplained infertility

11. Fertility drug sensitivity

12. Difficulties of high-risk pregnancy

* Oriental Medicine cannot remove scarring, adhesions or certain other conditions that require surgery, but it can be effective in treating some cases of endometriosis.

1. Paulus, et al., “Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy,” Fertility and Sterility, Vol.77, No. 4, April 2002.

2. “Pins and Needles: Could Acupuncture Help Promote Pregnancy?” ABC News.com, April 16, 2002.

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