Fertility

Stimulating fertility with traditional Chinese medicine in conjunction with conventional treatments has been shown to achieve a higher pregnancy rate than when conventional treatment alone is used. In many cases, starting to stimulate fertility with Chinese medicine, before starting conventional treatments, can be successful.

Poor endometrial receptivity is one of the most common reasons for infertility and prevents implantation of the embryo in the uterus. Many studies demonstrated that the use of Chinese plants in encapsulated formulas together with acupuncture increased uterine receptivity.

Premature ovarian failure and insufficient storage function of the ovaries are common reasons for female infertility and are the result of a variety of hormonal disorders. Established plant formulas of Chinese medicine have been found to effectively stimulate the ovaries and increase the low level of hormones.

Chinese medicine uses acupuncture, the Chinese plant formulasand diet to regulate the hormonal system, improve ovarian function and facilitate conception and implantation of the zygote. On the other hand, it also helps those women who are going through an in vitro fertilization process, both to reduce the associated anxiety levels and to improve pregnancy rates.

Acupuncture has been used to treat infertility extensively, including ovarian dysfunction, in vitro fertilization, and embryo transfer.

Acupuncture for ovarian dysfunction

Ovarian dysfunction occurs in women with polycystic ovary or in women with ovarian dysfunction for a known cause. In both cases, acupuncture has proven effective in inducing ovulation.

The mechanisms of acupuncture in the treatment of infertility consist of increasing ovarian and uterine blood flow, improving hormonal regulation due to increasing the thickness of the endometrium and reducing stress that can interfere with the success of conception and implantation.

Acupuncture has an effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and the menstrual cycle by stimulating beta-endorphins, hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and pituitary gonadotropin secretion.

Several researchers have shown that in ovulatory or anovulatory cycles, acupuncture influences serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone, estradiol and progesterone.

Acupuncture for in vitro fertilization

Acupuncture has been shown to increase pregnancy rates when performed during in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. Acupuncture improves the outcome of IVF, increasing uterine blood flow, inhibiting uterine motility, and relieving depression, anxiety, and stress.

Scientific studies on acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for fertility

• Rosenthal L, Bonder J. (2019). Successful Natural Pregnancy Using Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine in a Complex Anovulatory Patient After Multiple Unsuccessful In Vitro Fertilization Treatments: A Case Report. Med Acupunct. 2019;31(5):304-309. doi:10.1089/acu.2019.1388.
• Dong XL, Ran JK, et al. (2019) [Acupuncture combined with medication improves endocrine hormone levels and ovarian reserve function in poor ovarian response patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transplantation]. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2019 Aug 25;44(8):599-604. Chinese. doi: 10.13702/j.1000-0607.180779. PMID: 31475495.
• Sun Y, Chen S, Tan Y. (2018I Influence of nourishing yin and tonifying yang sequential therapy combined with Western medicine on TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway in anovulatory infertility rats with diminished ovarian reserve]. Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2018 Oct 28;43(10):1068-1074. Chinese. doi: 10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2018.10.005. PMID: 30523226.
• Dan Jiang*, Lily Li et al (2017). Treatment of Chinese Herbal Medicine for Female Infertility. International Review of Neurobiology, Volume 135. dx.doi.org/10.1016/bs.irn.2017.02.011
• Xia JF, Inagaki Translated with DeepL.com (free version)