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Infertility
Infertility is not just a medical problem…and you are not alone in your battle. In fact 9 million people in the United States are affected by infertility and many of those people deal with medical, psychological and financial stresses. Recent research shows that 60% of cases are due to female infertility and 40% of cases are due to male infertility factors.
What is Infertility?
Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after 1 year of active trying. Infertility is classified into two types:
- Primary infertility - no previous pregnancy; approximately 40% of infertile couples.
- Secondary infertility - if there was a previous pregnancy whatever the outcome; approximately 60% of infertile couples.
What are the causes of Infertility?
- Ovulation factors
- Cervical/uterine factors
- Fallopian tube factors
- Immunology factors or inflammatory factors-both specific and non-specific
- Endometriosis
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Ovarian Cysts
- Premature Ovarian Failure
- Uterine Fibroid Tumors
- Endocrine Imbalances
- Luteal Phase Defect
- Diabetes
- Elevated FSH
- Thyroid Disease
- Stress
- Lupus
- Amenorrhea
- Birth defects-due to fetal development from mother taking DES (diethylstilbestrol)
- Hyperprolactinemia
- Advanced Maternal Age
- Unexplained Infertility
- Male Factors
Chinese Medicine Impact on Infertility:
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine works to enhance both men and women’s fertility by restoring health and balance to the body, mind and spirit. There have been a multitude of research studies in the past decade showing how Acupuncture and TCM increase the success rate of conventional infertility treatments. In fact in the April 2002 issue of Fertility and Sterility, the German study showed that using acupuncture pre and post IVF increased the success rate to 42.5% as opposed to those not using acupuncture at 26.3%. Acupuncture is very effective when combined with assisted reproductive technologies and can also assist in achieving natural pregnancy. For maximum benefits using Chinese medicine, we recommend at least 3 months of preconception care as well as doing maintenance treatments post conception.
Major Benefits
Preconception Care
- Ability to overcome common fertility challenges
- Increased chance of conceiving naturally
- Increased effectiveness of western procedures
- Reduced side effects of drugs prescribed during IVF, IUI and GIFT procedures
Prenatal
- Improved energy and balanced emotions
- Reduced chance of miscarriage
- Shortened labor time
Post Partum
- Improved long-term reproductive health
- Lessens post partum depression
- Improves breast milk quality
Major effects of Acupuncture in the treatment of Infertility:
- Regulates the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis
- Reduces stress and cortisol levels
- Increases the thickness of the uterine lining
- Increases blood flow to the uterus and pelvic region
- Relaxes the uterus
- Stimulates ovulation
- Enhances the immune system
- Decreases morning sickness
Chinese Medicine Treatment of Infertility:
Western medicine concentrates solely on the health of the reproductive organs whereas Chinese medicine works to strengthen and balance all systems of the body. To achieve balance we use acupuncture, herbs, Reproductive Organ Massage, dietary measures, nutritional supplements, and stress reduction.
Our protocol also can involve the use of diagnostic testing like the following:
- BBT charting-shows fertile days, anovulation, luteal phase defect, thyroid conditions. Ovulation causes a temperature increase of .2 degrees that lasts for 3 days.
- Cervical mucus detection - egg white mucus consistency means fertility.
- LH surge urine test - the surge precedes ovulation. Conception most likely to occur within 2-3 days after the surge.
- FHP - Female hormone panel test-non-invasive test taken over course of menstrual cycle. Detects estrogen/progesterone/testosterone levels well as follicular stimulation, luteal phase indicators, corpus luteum responsiveness.
- MHP - male hormone panel, DHEA, Androstenedione, Testosterone, Dihydrotestosterone, Estrone and Progesterone.
- ASI - Adrenal Salivatory Index-measures cortisol during a circadian cycle. Evaluation of hypothalamic-adrenal function
- Hair sample test-test shows deficiencies or excess in mineral and vitamin concentrations as well as toxic metals.
Western Treatment of Infertility:
Western medicine practitioners tend to treat according to their diagnosis and can offer assisted reproductive technology as a solution. Some examples would be: IVF, IUI, GIFT, ZIFT. About 90% of infertility cases are treatable with medical and alternative therapies. |
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