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Female Infertility

Female Infertility may be caused by:

1. Decreased ovarian reserve or ovulatory dysfunction

1. 1 Decrease in the quantity or quality of oocytes due to

  • Premature ovarian failure
  • Ovarian lesions

1.2 Abnormal, irregular, or absent ovulation due to:

  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
  • Hyperprolactinemia
  • Hypothalamic dysfunction

1.3 Other disorders that cause anovulatory amenorrhea such as abnormal FSH and LH secretion, luteal phase defect.

2. Tubal dysfunction or pelvic lesions and uterine disorders

2.1 Tubal dysfunction is fallopian tube obstruction or epithelial dysfunction that impairs zygote motility. Tubal dysfunction may be caused by:

  • Pelvic inflammatory disease
  • Ruptured appendix
  • Lower abdominal surgery leading to pelvic adhesions
  • Inflammatory disorders (salpingitis)
  • Ectopic pregnancy
  • Endometriosis

2.2 Pelvic lesions are structural abnormalities that can impede fertilization or implantation. Pelvic lesions that can impede fertility include:

  • Intrauterine adhesions
  • Fibroids
  • Certain malformations
  • Pelvic adhesions

2.3 Uterine disorders:

  • Benign polyps or tumors (fibroids or myomas)
  • Scarring within the uterus
  • Bicornate uterus

3. Abnormal cervical mucus: Cervicitis and Cervical Stenosis

4. Unidentified factors: Infertility in which semen in the man and ovulation and Fallopian tubes in the woman are normal.

The successful rate of acupuncture and Chinese medicines for female infertility depends on the underlying causes. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicines may be used to help infertility patients to conceive naturally or may be used to improve the rates of pregnancy following IVF.

A review of seven clinical trials of acupuncture given with embryo transfer in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) suggests that acupuncture may improve rates of pregnancy. An estimated 10 to 15 percent of couples experience reproductive difficulty and seek specialist fertility treatments, such as IVF. IVF, which involves retrieving a woman’s egg, fertilizing it in the laboratory, and then transferring the embryo back into the woman’s womb is an expensive, lengthy, and stressful process. Identifying a complementary approach that can improve success would be welcome to patients and providers.

According to Eric Manheimer of the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Center for Integrative Medicine and colleagues who conducted the systematic review, acupuncture has been used in China for centuries to regulate the female reproductive system. With this in mind, the reviewers analyzed results from seven clinical trials of acupuncture in women who underwent IVF to see if rates of pregnancy were improved with acupuncture. The studies encompassed data on over 1366 women and compared acupuncture, given within one day of embryo transfer, with sham acupuncture, or no additional treatment.

The reviewers found that acupuncture given as a complement to IVF increased the odds of achieving pregnancy. According to the researchers, the results indicate that 10 women undergoing IVF would need to be treated with acupuncture to bring about one additional pregnancy. The results, considered preliminary, point to a potential complementary treatment that may improve the success of IVF and the need to conduct additional clinical trials to confirm these findings.

In Dr. Xie’s Acupuncture Clinic we use Chinese herbs and acupuncture to improve the rate of natural conception and pregnancy following IVF. Ideally you will have a gynecologist or a fertility specialist who can take care of your infertility condition when you are receiving acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine treatments from us. We will work closely with your gynecologist or fertility specialist. You should consider starting at least 3-4 months prior to your projected conception date.

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