Address Infertility Conditions
Conception After the Diagnosis of Unexplained Infertility
Unexplained infertility usually involves tons of testing and surgical exploration with no explanation why you can't conceive. Hormone levels are normal, cycle is regular and you have positive PK testing results, but still no baby. Most women are aware that "something is wrong" but no one will listen to their concerns. Usually, Western medicine will encourage couples in the direction of ART procedures or tell them to go home and keep trying.
Chinese medicine is very effective in treating unexplained infertility. From an Eastern perspective unexplained simply means certain parts of the reproductive system have been weakened and once back into balance conception can occur. By listening to the messages given by the woman's body often an imbalance will be found, such as:
During treatment it is important to cover all the aspects of the menstrual cycle, listen to the messages given by the body and hearing a woman's input. This information provides the tools to address the "little bumps", which could be impeding conception. Treatment will focus on smoothing out the "little bumps" in the menstrual cycle and often result in conception.
Premature Ovarian Failure, Ovarian Insufficiency and the Poor Responder in Healthy Women
Sally is thirty four, gets her period regularly and her FSH is 7. She has been trying to conceive for 2 years. In her first IVF cycle she only had 2 mature follicles. In the second cycle, Sally produced 1 mature follicle. Her doctor informed Sally she has ovarian insufficiency, the beginning stage of premature ovarian failure. How can a young woman with a regular cycle, have problems producing follicles?
This is a common hurdle in 30% of my clients. Western medicine has a limited treatment protocol and most women are told to start the process of donor egg. I find frequent threads of past health history which could result in POF, such as:
I believe with ovarian insufficiency a lack of communication between the brain, the pituitary gland and ovaries allows the follicles to be poorly stimulated. As hormones fluctuate the pituitary-hypothalamus-ovarian axis becomes resistant to hormonal signaling. Visit my blog for more information specific to POF and poor ovarian response.
Even with large doses of fertility drugs, the ovaries can be unresponsive and follicles do not mature. Though it is still under debate, it is believed that some fertility drugs given to poor responders can degrade the quality of follicles. Thus, women can end up with the diagnosis of POF and poor egg quality.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbs can provide a treatment option. For women with the above diagnosis, she will need at least 3 months of weekly treatments of acupuncture and daily herbal formulas. By increasing the sensitivity of ovaries through increased pelvic flow and hormonal circulation, women can have a chance of improving the number of follicles produced in IVF.
Treating Immunology Factors with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs
Currently infertility clinics are discovering the importance of immunological factors in failed conception. Some clinics are actively testing new clients for these issues. Immunological factors may not cause any outward physical symptoms; the hyperactive/improper immune response can have physical symptoms, such as:
I believe the best treatment protocol for immunological problems is the combination of acupuncture/Chinese herbs and immunosuppressant drugs. Modern drugs can re-modulate the immune system by suppressing and neutralizing certain immune cells. The treatment lasts for a short period of time after the drugs have been stopped.
While acupuncture and Chinese herbs can enhance the normal functioning of the immunological response of the body, the treatment can take several weeks to change the immune system. Yet, Chinese medicine is long lasting and constant, while western drugs are potent and fast acting. The combination provides a great synergistic effect and produces positive outcomes.
Treating Luteal Phase Defect (LPD)
After a follicle has been release from the ovary, it starts to release progesterone to help maintain the uterine lining. The corpus luteum, a structure found in the follicle, is responsible for the secretion of progesterone.Β The corpus luteum acts like a little pump, pulsating and releasing progesterone to maintain uterine lining for implantation.
When the corpus luteum does not perform correctly, progesterone is secreted in an inconsistent manor. As the cycle reaches the end, progesterone is so low that spotting occurs and menstruation can come early. Since progesterone is low, the environment is not welcoming enough for the implantation of an embryo.
When the corpus luteum is not functioning, it is related to poor follicle growth in the beginning portion of the cycle, called the follicular phase (day 1 through day 14). If the corpus luteum is secreting correctly, then progesterone receptors in the uterus might not be responding to progesterone.
Women with luteal phase defect will share some common symptoms:
Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are the best combined treatment for LPD.
Research has found the modalities help the ovaries to produce a better quality follicle, thus improving the functioning ability of the corpus luteum. Some Chinese herbs can increase the sensitivity of progesterone receptors to the body's own hormones. Treatment time can vary, but women will usually notice a decrease in symptoms by the following period. Visit my blog for more information about LPD.
Have questions pertaining to your case? You can email me at guipiwan@hotmail.com or visit my facebook site.
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Cramping around ovulation