by Sharon McDermott, MS, LAc
As women have pursued their careers and become breadwinners, they have delayed their family planning. A woman’s most fertile time is between the ages of 17 to 30. Environmental factors, such as chemicals, pollutants and hormones in foods, can decrease male and female fertility.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides a natural approach to gently nourish and encourage the body toward conception. TCM views the egg and sperm as our most vital essence that is transmitted by our parents. The first step toward treatment is for the TCM practitioner to find out if a woman is having regular menses. The practitioner will ask the patient to take her temperature daily and chart it along with changes in vaginal mucus to get a better picture of her cycle. If a couple has been having timed intercourse for a year without a pregnancy, then they are candidates for fertility treatments.
Weekly acupuncture treatments will be given with various herbal formulas to coincide with the menstrual cycle. Men can also be treated weekly for fertility issues with acupuncture and supplemented with an herbal formula. Dietary and lifestyle changes will also be discussed.
In order to facilitate the most optimal conditions for conception, couples should expect at least three to six months of treatment. Many times, couples may need as much as a year of treatment. Fertility treatments with Western medicine can be especially stressful. Acupuncture is a proven therapy to relieve stress and calm the nervous system.
A 10 to 15 percent increase in conception can occur when used adjunctively with Western reproductive techniques. For example, conception rates with IVF (in vitro fertilization) of 25 to 30 percent can jump to 35 to 40 percent, depending partly on the woman’s age. If Chinese herbs are used in addition, the rate can increase to 50 percent.
TCM is a wonderfully natural way to increase a couple’s chance of conception with virtually no side effects. If you have been struggling to conceive, you may want to consider acupuncture and Chinese herbs to assist in your family planning.
Sharon McDermott is a licensed acupuncturist, and a board-certified Chinese herbologist specializing in fertility, women’s health, and pain and stress management. For more information and to set up a consultation, visit HealthyHealingli.com.
