What is the cause of Infertility?
Infertility is caused when there is imbalance and disharmony in our body, resulting in difficulty to conceiving naturally. This may be caused by:
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Emotional disturbances
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Irregular diet
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Effects from our surrounding environment
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Lifestyle habits
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Genetics (Innate essence inherited from parents)
How does TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) see Infertility?
From the TCM perspective, three organs are mostly important for facilitating one’s fertility – the Kidney, Liver and Spleen. These organs store and regulate the Reproductive Essence, Qi and Blood in our body, which are essential for ensuring optimal fertility. Below are the most commonly seen TCM systems disorders and patterns with their correlating symptoms:
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Liver Yin deficiency and Blood stasis: Irregular Menstruation, Endometriosis and fallopian tubes disorders.
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Liver Qi Stagnation and Spleen Qi Deficiency: Abnormal ovulation and menstruation, anxiety and stress.
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Kidney Qi and Yin Deficiency: Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) or Early low ovarian reserve (LOR), which means ovaries quit producing or releasing eggs properly before age 40. It is also considered as premature menopause.
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Kidney Qi and Yin Deficiency: Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) which may due to surgical, medical, or congenital conditions, some women’s eggs deteriorate and decline, causing infertility
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Kidney Qi and Yang Deficiency: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): If a woman’s adrenal glands or ovaries become hormonally imbalanced and produce too much testosterone, small ovarian cysts can form. These can interfere with ovulation and cause infertility.
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Kidney Essence deficiency: Luteal phase defects (LPD) which means the uterine lining not thick enough lining making more difficult for fertilized eggs to implant
How does TCM treat infertility?
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TCM is a holistic therapy. It doesn’t focus on a symptom but the root cause of the symptom(s). The primary aim of TCM therapies is to re-establish balance in the body and improve the quality of a woman’s menstrual cycle and a man’s sperm quantity and quality.
During your first visit, Ruth will conduct a thorough examination to identify issues affecting your fertility. She will also check your tongue and pulse and diagnose a pattern of disharmony in your body. She will then customize a WS-TCM treatment plan that's the best for you.
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WS-TCM (Whole system traditional Chinese medicine) is a complex intervention that includes acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, moxibustion, ear-seeds therapy, sound healing, uterus massage, as well as dietary and lifestyle recommendations. They all aim to improve your reproductive health. Ruth may also suggest you to keep track of your basal body temperature (BBT) to identify your fertile period. It also serves as a monitor for the effectiveness of the treatments.
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Since starting a family involves both the husband and wife, your husband is also encouraged to participate in the treatment. He will undergo several treatments to improve his sperm quality.
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How does WS-TCM enhance the outcome of ART or IVF?
For couples choosing to undergo (ART) such as IUI(Intrauterine Insemination), IVF(In Vitro Fertilization) or Egg Preservation, WS-TCM can support and enhance the outcome by:
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Improving egg quality and quantity
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Increasing the thickness and quality of the endometrium lining to support embryo implantation
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Facilitating normal ovulation and menstrual cycle
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Improving men’s sperm quality
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Relieving adverse reactions from the hormonal stimulations during the IVF process
How long does a fertility treatment plan take?
Because primordial eggs cells mature for 120 days before one is released during your ovulation, it is recommended that you take at least a 3-month of preconception treatment to ensure healthy egg quality. This will increase your chance of conceiving and decrease the risks of miscarriage. During your treatment, Ruth will address your underlying TCM pathology, provide emotional support and relieve any adverse reactions you may experience from the hormonal stimulations if you are using ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) at the same time. She will recommend the best tools in the WS-TCM program. Most often, acupuncture, herbal medicine and moxibustion combined will have the best results.
How often should you have your treatment?
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Once a week (Regulation phase)
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Once or twice a week (Ovarian Stimulation)
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On the day of the embryo transfer (once before and after the transfer)