|
| Do you specialize in treating infertility and pregnant women or do you treat "everything"? |
| In British Columbia, traditional Chinese medicine bylaws currently do not allow us to state we specialize in any specific area. However, we can tell you that our clinic is focused on treating infertile couples and pregnant women. The majority of our client population is represented by the above categories and therefore our experience and skills lie in treating infertility and pregnancy related conditions. I have opted out of being a general practice and have chosen to cater to women's gynecological issues, and in particular, infertility and pregnancy related conditions |
| What is the oldest person you helped with infertility? |
| My oldest client came to me at the age of 42 and had been trying to conceive for 8 years without success After a few months of acupuncture and herbal treatments she became pregnant and gave birth at age 43 to a healthy 8 pound plus baby boy. |
| I was told I require IVF to get pregnant. Can acupuncture help increase my chances of success? |
|
Acupuncture can help increase the chances of IVF by reducing the risk factors involved in IVF failure. Acupuncture can help increase the uterine lining and therefore make it more receptive for implantation. Receiving acupuncture twice on the day of transfer, twenty-five minutes before and immediately after transfer of the embryo, has shown to increase the success rate of IVF. I prefer to prepare the women for IVF by treating for her at least 3 months before beginning IVF. I have witnessed a female client in her early 40's conceive naturally who was told it was impossible for her to get pregnant without IVF due to her blocked tubes and age. She was not given much hope for IVF being successful because her first IVF which ended in miscarriage recruited very few eggs and even less embryos. However, in a short period of time after herbal treatment she conceived naturally and did not have to enroll in her second cycle of IVF. Miracle? No, just following the tenants of TCM regarding correcting any imbalances so the body can regain its vigor and fertility. |
| Should my male partner be treated? |
| If your partner has a pathological presentation, which is a contributing factor, then of course he should be treated. Remember, our goal is not simply for you to get pregnant, but to give birth to a healthy baby. And to increase the chances of having a health baby it is best to increase both partners' well being before attempting to conceive. |
| What types of infertility can acupuncture and herbal medicine treat best? |
|
Acupuncture and herbal medicine best treat infertility due to hormonal imbalances. For example: acupuncture is suitable for women wanting to normalize their FSH levels to be considered a "good" candidate for an IVF cycle. There are other clients whose uterine lining fails to thicken properly; acupuncture and herbal medicine may be quite effective in helping the lining to increase in thickness. An excellent candidate for acupuncture and herbal medicine are those diagnosed as "unexplained infertility". There is no apparent explanation as to why this individual is not conceiving; she is perfectly healthy and presents with no pathology from the western model and understanding of the body. There is usually a TCM explanation for "unexplained infertility" as well as a treatment plan which makes sense from the TCM perception of the human body. |
| How long will I have to be treated for infertility? |
| The typical acupuncture protocol consists of 12 - 15 sessions given over a three-month period of time. Herbal medicine is taken two three times daily for at least three months. This is the average protocol length of time. Depending on your age, health and the number of times you have undergone A.R.T, may require less or more than the average three month protocol. |
| What are some of the benefits of TCM & Acupuncture relating to Fertility? |
Improves sperm parameters |
| Do you think stress can affect ones ability to be fertile? |
| Yes. Please see the section on Stress and Unexplained Infertility for further explanation. |
| Why do you recommend a minimum 3-month preconception treatment phase? |
| We have not invented anything new. Chinese medicine recommends that to regulate a women's menstrual cycle she should be treated for at least 3 full menstrual cycles. Western medical science has documented that the eggs are recruited about a 100 days before ovulation. The three-month preconception period of treatment and healthy diet & lifestyle are one way to enhance egg & sperm quality and your child's health. Basically, we believe it greatly increases your chances of conceiving and carrying the baby full term. Our goal is not only to get you pregnant, it is for you to give birth! |
| I do not live in the Vancouver area. How do I find someone who practices Chinese medicine and acupuncture in my area whose focus is treating infertility? |
| A referral from a friend who has been successfully treated by a Practitioner of Chinese Medicine and acupuncture for infertility is an excellent means. A referral from another health professional that is familiar and confident with the practitioner's work with infertility is also an excellent way to find someone. So ask your friends or health professional if they know of someone they could recommend who has expertise in these areas. |
| How do I know I've found the right practitioner for helping me with infertility? |
| Interview your practitioner. When you call their office the first thing you should do is ask them what is the main area they focus on. Treating women's health is still too general and not specific enough when it comes to treating infertility and pregnancy related conditions. Find out how successful they are and what percentage of their practice consist of treating infertility and pregnancy. Also, if they list many areas of focus then they are really general practioners and not focusing on your area. You want to be confident that they have abundant experience in treating infertility and working with pregnant women. |
| Why do you treat pain if infertility and pregnancy are the areas you focus your practice? |
| In my practice I focus on women's health and pain. My interest and experience lies in all three areas. Acupuncture is an excellent non-drug treatment method to relieve many forms of pain, so I have maintained this area of my practice, as acupuncture is so effective at providing relief especially when combined with motor point acupuncture. I sometimes like the change of pace and diversification I experience when treating pain. Infertility is a pass or fail condition unlike pain. When treating injuries the client can see the rapid improvement and reduction in discomfort following each treatment. Since improvement is not always obvious with infertility, it can become frustrating for the client and occasionally emotionally draining for me. Witnessing quick results when treating pain provides me with a lift in my day. I experience my greatest high when a couple show-off their week old baby to me. My practice is dedicated to treating the infertile couple and pregnant women. |
FAQ - Infertility
Printer-friendly version
