Unexplained Infertility and How Chinese Medicine Can Help

Unexplained infertility is when standard infertility testing has not found a cause for a couple’s or a woman’s inability to get pregnant.  A couple who are confirm fertile may be diagnosed as having unexplained infertility because they have not been successful in reproduction after one year (or longer) of normal unprotected sex.

Some fertility physicians think that a likely cause of unexplained infertility is that the tests performed to assess infertility in the first place may have missed subtle defects due to imperfect testing methods. Other possible causes may include inconsistent or poor quality of egg and/or sperm, intercourse not timed perfectly to coincide with ovulation, and other undetected blockages that prevent proper embedding of the fertilized egg.

Common treatments for unexplained infertility included Intrauterine insemination (IUI), and In vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.  Before using these Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), conventional doctor will probably use hormone or other method to stimulate egg production or increase sperm count.  The couple will also be educated to better time their sexual intercourse and make lifestyle changes that may improve their odds of natural fertility.  Many lifestyle factors such as the age at which to start a family, nutrition, weight, exercise, psychological stress, environmental and occupational exposures can have substantial effects on fertility; lifestyle factors such as cigarette smoking, illicit drug use, alcohol and caffeine consumption can negatively influence fertility while healthy eating and stress management may be beneficial.

From a Chinese medicine perspective, fertility function is closely related to the rise and fall of the innate kidney energy. We believe that visceral energy deficiency, stagnation of energy or imbalance conditions will block an individual’s qi and blood flow, impair one’s yin-yang balance and compromise his/her fertility function. The goal of our treatment is to tonify, remove stasis or re-harmonize the individual’s energy (qi) and blood flow, regulate the female’s menstruation cycle, and strengthen the related visceral systems, while enhancing the individual’s general health.

Focusing on the individual’s body constitution and the most probable causes of the unexplained infertility, TCM offers several effective remedies.

Chinese Herbs: Chinese medicine practitioners often use a variety of herbs to enhance the kidney energy, rebalance the liver and spleen system. The proper functioning of these 3 visceral systems plays a key role in preserving fertility, enhancing the quality of sperm/egg, and facilitating natural conceiving and nurturing of the embryo.

Acupuncture:  Acupuncture serve well in releasing blockage and promoting blood and energy flow. it can also rebalance the endocrine system and help regulate hormones that are essential for ovulation and implantation, such as estrogen and progesterone. Improving energy and blood flow to the ovaries and uterus, can promote egg maturity and improve the chances of a fertilized egg implanting in the uterine lining.

Stress can have a negative impact on fertility by disrupting hormone levels and ovulation, while trying to deal with infertility itself is a very stressful process. Acupuncture can help reduce stress and promote relaxation, making it easier for the body to conceive.

Moxibustion: TCM theory holds that moxibustion has the functions of warming and dredging the meridian system, regulating qi and blood, dispelling cold and relieving pain, and strengthening health. It is often used in conjunction with acupuncture in treating uterine coldness which might lead to infertility, menstrual pain, and other gynecological symptoms. Modern medical research suggests that moxibustion can also improve ovarian function by inhibiting apoptotic events of naturally aging ovaries and enhancing antioxidant defense ability.

Apart from the treatments, the TCM doctor will also give suggestions on diet and lifestyle change to enhance the chances of natural conceiving. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been used to enhance fertility for thousands of years. Whether you are planning for a pregnancy, preserving your fertility, or actively treating infertility, our Chinese medicine fertility program can also help. Feel free to contact us for more information.

Tel: +852 2530 3315
Whatsapp: +852 5693 0178