Treating Infertility with Chinese Medicine

Gynecological disorders Male & Female infertility

Low ovarian reserve

Oriental Medicine offers a non- invasive and efficient way to increase ovarian reserve and to improve the possibility of a natural pregnancy as well as improving the outcome of IVF as well as artificial insemination.

Implementing Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine and Diet improves the production of follicles and eggs. Let’s analyze the meaning of the diagnosis and how to increase the ovarian reserve form both Western and Eastern medicine perspectives.

Low ovarian reserve in Western Medicine:

Low reserve means that the woman is not producing enough follicles to achieve a natural pregnancy or unable to respond satisfactory to the IVF treatment. Usually, ovarian reserve decreases with age.

There is not an exact report of the number of follicles that categorized a low reserve. When the doctor informs you that you have a low reserve, in reality he/she is telling you that there will be a low response to the fertility treatments.

The issues around the idea of low ovarian reserve

Lets dissect the term and approach it thoroughly to better comprehend

Low: there is no a senses in the medical community to determine what is the exact follicle amount based on age. There are 40 year old women have same amounts of ovarian reserve than 35 years old and vice versa.

Reserve: Studies show inconsistent the idea that a woman is born with 200-400 thousand eggs and are consumed throughout her life. These studies have found that stem cells that produce eggs in the ovaries of human beings as well as rats.

Low Ovarian Reserve in Oriental Medicine

There is no such thing in Oriental Medicine as reserve. The ovarian production depends on the state of health and balance of the entire body and not just a theoretical value.

It is a correlation between a woman’s age and the production of follicles and eggs, but it is not a direct and an unchanging association.

There is multiple processes in the body that can affect egg quality and quantity.

Oriental medicine proposes that it is possible to improve the ovarian production through the improving the following processes:

• Hormonal levels

• Stress levels

• Blood flow and oxidation

• Inflammation

To regulate these factors takes 3-9 months, because that is the leghorn of time required for a follicle to mature from the resting state to the ovulatory state. Refer to the two studies [R] [R] Oocyte formation and production of offspring

Failed IVF treatments

A solution to avoid failed IVF treatments is to seek help to Oriental Medicine.

It is documented that acupuncture improved the outcome of successful IVF treatments, specially in the case where there is multiple embryo implantation failures. Herbal medicine is used in many clinics in China, Japan and Korea. Refer to study influence of acupuncture.

• Ovulatory disorders

• Endometriosis

• PCOS

• Blockage of the Fallopian tubes

• Recurrent early miscarriages Immune-related miscarriages

Low sperm count

Male infertility is equally as important as female infertility.

Often, male issues are disregarded because Western medicine, has almost no available medical treatments.

Medical causes

The testicles, like the ovaries, are controlled by the reproductive hormones and lack of balance can impede sperm production.

Lack of blood flow (varicocele) in the scrotum can increase the temperature and slightly reduce sperm production.

Infection. Inflammation of the epididymis (epididymitis), and/or testicles (orchitis), STI including gonorrhea and HIV.

Environmental toxins, antibodies that attack the sperm, tumors, undescended testicles, hormone imbalances, prior surgeries, celiac disease etc.

Drug and alcohol use.

Seminogram or sperm analysis is necessary to proceed for every male that undergoes assisted reproduction.

• Optimal results > 20mill

• Motility Class A> 32%, Class A+B > 40%

• Morphology > 4%

• Most common problems are:

• Teratozoospermia: abnormal morphology.

• Astenozoospermia: reduction in the sperm motility.

• Oligospermia- low sperm quantity

In case of varicocele, surgery is recommended with 50% success rate. No medical treatment for the rest of the pathologies.

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Monika Uriarte-Arri is an experienced health practitioner serving the Miami community. She helps her clients to achieve thriving wellness trough acupuncture, movement therapy, natural remedies, and nutritional coaching.

Her specialties include fertility and woman's health, digestive wellness, stress and pain management, and mai-zen (cosmetic acupuncture). She works in partnership with Clinic Libessart, Coral Gables, and accepts all major insurances. Click here to schedule your session with Monika.