Enhancing Fertility with Chinese Medicine

Conception is an incredible event   involving many intricate processes that depend on a well-functioning  physiology. Getting pregnant is a smooth journey for some and a challenging one for others. When a couple is not able to conceive after one year of trying, the condition is called infertility. At this point, many couples turn to reproductive assistance. In the U.S., infertility affects approximately one out of every six couples, according to the American Pregnancy Association. For those having difficulty with conception, about one-third of cases are due just to the man, one-third to just the woman, and the remaining third involve issues with both. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), including acupuncture and herbal medicine, has been shown to optimize many aspects of the physiological functions associated with infertility. The most common cause of female infertility is infrequent or absence of ovulation. According to studies conducted at Shanghai Medical University in China, acupuncture helps to harmonize the relationship between the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, thus normalizing ovulation. As well, adequate endometrial thickness and uterine artery blood flow is essential for successful embryo implantation, and acupuncture can help increase both. Chinese herbs, such as angelica sinensis root and rehmannia root, are often used for regulating a woman’s ovulation cycle and promoting a healthy uterine lining.

Dealing with infertility is stressful for many couples, and stress has an impact on the reproductive system too. TCM is extremely effective for managing stress. Acupuncture can decrease the stress hormone cortisol and increase endorphins—hormones that create a sense of wellbeing and relaxation.

TCM is not only beneficial for women in their journey towards motherhood. It is also very effective for men—helping them increase sperm count, improve sperm motility (movement), morphology (shape), and even enhance sexual interest.

Many couples undergo modern fertility treatments such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) to help them get pregnant. Chinese medicine has been proven to enhance these fertility treatments by strengthening the overall health of the body making it more receptive to the procedures. According to a study in the British Medical Journal, the use of acupuncture as a complimentary therapy with IVF increases the chance of pregnancy by up to 65%.

At the Tao of Wellness, we offer comprehensive treatments to support fertility including: acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutritional counseling, fertility massage, fertility chi gong, meditation sessions, and InfiniChi energy treatments, providing numerous options to help make conception possible.