What is Infertility?

​​Infertility is a condition of the reproductive system that impairs the conception of children. It affects approximately 6.1 million individuals throughout the United States. The diagnosis of infertility is usually given to couples who have been attempting to conceive for at least 1 year without success. Conception and pregnancy are complicated processes that depend upon many factors: 
    the production of healthy sperm by the man, 
    healthy eggs produced by the woman; 
    unblocked fallopian tubes that allow the sperm to reach the egg; 
    the sperm's ability to fertilize the egg when they meet; 
    the ability of the fertilized egg (embryo) to become implanted in the woman's uterus; 
    sufficient embryo quality. 

Finally, for the pregnancy to continue to full term, the embryo must be healthy and the woman's hormonal environment adequate for its development. When just one of these factors is impaired, infertility can result.
How Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine Can Enhance Fertility

​​Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine has a long history when it comes to enhancing fertility for both men and women. In fact, evidence that acupuncture and herbal medicine have been used to aid fertility can be found in early medical literature dating back to 3AD. According to the principles of Chinese medicine, a person's health is determined by the quality of Qi, the vital life energy, and blood circulating through the body. When Qi and blood are circulating properly, the body is properly nourished and functioning optimally which, in turn, enhances fertility. 
Researchers have confirmed its benefit in the following areas: 
​
  1. Regulate menstrual cycle. 
  2. Improve sperm count and motility. 
  3. Reduce stress and anxiety associated with infertility. 
  4. Normalize hormone and endocrine systems. 
  5. Improve blood flow in the uterus. 
  6. Decrease chance of miscarriage. 
  7. Increase the chance of pregnancy for women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). 

Your acupuncture and herbal medicine treatments will start working right away to get your body back to its optimum balance and ready for conception. Typical changes you may sense quickly include: reduction in the stresses that interfere with ovulation, regulation of menses, and a general feeling of good health. More subtle changes may eventually include a normalization of the hormones that regulate ovulation and allow an egg to be released, an increase in uterine blood flow improving chances of a fertilized egg implanting, or an improvement in ovulation cycles in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. All together, TCM will work to get your body in a healthier and more balanced state which will better lend itself to conception.​
Treatment Plan
​
Fertility treatments vary from person to person, but are usually scheduled for at least three consecutive menstrual cycles (twelve weeks). Treatments can include acupuncture, customized herbal therapy, stress reduction, nutrition and dietary counseling. Treatments work alone but are an excellent addition to any Western intervention. 

Ideally, IVF participants need to have acupuncture treatments during the following times: 
     a. twice a week for 5 weeks before the transfer 
     b. before and after the transfer 
     c. Once a week until pregnant 
     d. Suggest once a week or once every two weeks until first trimester
Research and Studies

1. Acupuncture Increases IVF Success by 65% 

Fertility and Sterility® (an international journal for obstetricians, gynecologists, reproductive endocrinologists, urologists, basic scientists and others) conducted a study of 160 women, all of whom had undergone an average of two previous in vitro fertilization cycles. Their average age was 32. Half of the women received 25-minute Acupuncture treatments before and after the embryo transfer. The control group did not receive any Acupuncture treatment. According to the results, only 26.3% of the women in the control group became pregnant, while 42.5% of women who received Acupuncture became pregnant. 

2. Improves Sperm Quality 

A study published in the July 2005 issue of the journal Fertility and Sterility found that acupuncture helped infertile men by apparently helping improve sperm quality in their semen. In the research project, 28 men received acupuncture in addition to traditional infertility treatments, while another 12 men received only the traditional treatments. All of the men were diagnosed with infertility of unknown origin. Acupuncture was associated with fewer structural defects in the sperm of men who received it, although it had no effect on other abnormalities, such as sperm immaturity or premature death. Previous studies have shown a link between acupuncture and improved sperm production and motility. 

3. The Emotional Factor 

A study was conducted by the University of Arizona consisting of 38 adult women diagnosed with mild to moderate depression. They were treated with Acupuncture according to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, each for her own specific pattern of symptoms. They were treated twice per week for one month and once per week for a second month, for a total of 12 sessions. After completion of their Acupuncture treatment for depression, 70% of the women experienced at least a 50% reduction of symptoms, results comparable to the success rate of psychotherapy and medication, without the dangers or side effects of drugs.
Dr. Kang, I wanted to thank you for all your support and quality care you provided. My pregnancy is going well and our twins look beautiful! Thank you again, I would highly recommend your services to others. 

Signed,  Kathryn
I just wanted to thank you for the outstanding care you provided to me during my infertility treatments. You were such a ray of light during a difficult time and it meant so much that you believed in me, even on days I wasn’t sure I believed in my self, that I could have another baby. What a difference a year makes! Hope you have a wonderful holiday. I’ll never forget your kindness and support. 

Signed,  Erinne
Review more of our patient testimonials . . . .