Fertility Support
Support & Guidance in Bairnsdale
Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to aid fertility.
In Australia, acupuncture is used as a support therapy for primary fertility treatments including IVF.
Dr Sonya can help guide, coach and support you through the fertility maze.
Thousands of couples have found it invaluable to boost their base health and have a caring, passionate and knowledgeable natural therapy practitioner in the corner as they take the steps required to bring their dream of having a child to life.
The Fertility Essence Method TM uses acupuncture, medicinal herbs, supplements, diet and lifestyle modifications to address health imbalances to boost natural health and vitality.
It has been developed from over 20 years of practice supporting thousands of couples who were struggling with fertility issues.
Our strong belief is that vibrant health is the cornerstone of fertility health.
With vibrant health comes your best chance to conceive either naturally or through other assisted fertility treatments.
Evidence of how Chinese medicine may help people with fertility issues.
What Causes Infertility?
Around 1 in 6 couples now have trouble conceiving. There are many potential causes of infertility on both the female and male sides.
Common factors include endometriosis, PCOS, tube structural issues, period problems, ovulation issues, thyroid issues, etc…
Factors also include age, diet, stress and toxin load.
Sometimes there can be no cause found in Western medicine. This is unexplained infertility and can be extremely frustrating to deal with. In these cases, support by Chinese Medicine can assist by helping to return the body’s base health so it can better self-regulate. This gives you body the best chance to sort out whatever is preventing you from conceiving.
Important Hormones for Reproductive Health
There are particular hormones that play aa important role for a woman to conceive.
1. Follicle-stimulating Hormone (FSH)
FSH stimulates the growth of ovarian follicles in the ovary prior to releasing an egg during the ovulation phase. This hormone prepares the maturation of the egg to be released.
2. Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
LH produces oestradiol (female sex hormone) in the first week of the cycle and then will release an egg from the ovary in the second half of the cycle. The follicle is the corpus luteum, which produces oestrogen and progesterone. These two are critical to endometrium development and aid the fertilised egg to implant and develop.
These two hormones must to be balanced for a couple to successfully conceive.
Hormone imbalances can also be an aspect of conditions such as endometriosis, PCOSor pre-menopause – all potential causes of infertility in women.
3. AMH
Anti-Mullerian Hormone is produced by Granulosa cells; which surround each and every egg in a woman’s ovary. The more eggs the more granulosa cells and obviously the more AMH produced. To conceive a woman maintain or improve their AMH production.
Low AMH level is typically below 9 pmol/L (4 ng/mL). Some women with a low AMH level can still produce a good egg, conceive and have a healthy pregnancy with Acupuncture and herbal medicine therapies used alongside Western medical intervention. (Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26455718)
Who Do We Love to Help?
- Women who are over 30
- Women who have a history of period and ovulation problems
- Women who have endometriosis, PCOS, diabetes or thyroid issues
- Women who have a history of miscarriages
- Women who have tried IVF or IUI
- Men with sperm quality issues
- Women who would IVF support acupuncture
Research and clinical observation suggests that Acupuncture and herbal medicine may increase the body’s progesterone level and regulate the levels follicle stimulating hormone, Estrogen (increases as the follicle grows), and luteinizing hormone, which, in women, heralds the impending release of the egg. (Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2645571)
Male Infertility
The greatest focus is initially on the female partner, but it’s equally important to review the male’s reproductive health. Stress, toxins, age and emotional state may all affect male fertility too.
Males are reported as infertile in 8-9% of cases, 15% of Australian couples are infertile and of these couples with fertility issues, a staggering 40% of males contribute to the infertility dilemma. (Source: https://rbej.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12958-015-0032-1)
We look at sperm motility and morphology and how his base health level may be affecting these.
Simple things like smoking or regularly using a laptop on his lap (the heat from the laptop can affect sperm production) can have a significant impact.
As with females, males who are strong, healthy and vibrant have a better chance of helping their partner conceive.
A Healthy Sperm count with good motility and better shape is desirable in any fertility treatment. A combination of therapies including Western Medicine and supportive herbal medicine and Acupuncture appears to be of greatest assistance in achieving this goal. (Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26333228/)
The Chinese Medicine View of Infertility
As an adjunct therapy to primary Western Medical treatments for infertility, Chinese Medicine takes a very different view. In fact, it is this different view that can help provide a more complete picture of why a couple is experiencing infertility and one of the main reasons to embrace Chinese medicine.
According to Chinese medicine principles, fertility is most impacted by how well both the Liver and the Kidneys are functioning. The Liver has significant influence over the cycle and is often a factor with irregular or painful periods and PMS.
Healthy Kidney function is at the foundation of a healthy reproductive system.
Fundamentally, if organ function is healthy, the body is healthy. And a healthy body with good vitality is so important to successfully conceive and carry to term.
Helping You Feel More In Control of Your Fertility Health
Part of the stress of dealing with fertility issues is not really understanding what’s happening and not feeling in control of your situation.
- Helping you understand fertility and Chinese medicine.
- Review your Western Medicine results including blood tests, scans and other tests.
- Assess your overall health from a Chinese Medicine perspective including pulse and tongue diagnosis.
- Do a complete Case Review of your health history, diet and supplements.
It’s a comprehensive review of your overall health and fertility situation.
Your General Health & Your Fertility
Falling pregnant, carrying to term and having a healthy baby takes a LOT of energy. Your body needs to be strong.
Good health and vitality means your body is in the best position to do what it is designed to do. And in the case of fertility, that’s to conceive, have a problem-free pregnancy and to have healthy children.
We often tell our patients that symptoms are markers of ill-health. If you are in perfect health, you have no symptoms. So generally, the more symptoms you have the greater the challenges you have with your health.
If you experience any of tiredness, anxiety, digestive issues like bloating or reflux, stubborn pain, headaches, PMS, period problems, skin issues, allergies, bowel problems, depression or a whole raft of other symptoms, then something is not quite right with your health.
This may put your fertility out of whack enough to create challenges.
If you improve your base health you give yourself the best chance. Medicinal herbs, targeted supplements, acupuncture, diet and lifestyle advice can help you improve your base health.
Free 15 Minute Fertility Support Consultation
At this free consultation, a Dr of Chinese Medicine will assess your general and fertility health from a Chinese Medicine perspective and let you know how they may be able to help you on your fertility journey.
It’s an ideal way to see if Chinese medicine is for you.
* This free consultation is genuinely free and not subsidised by any other appointments.
Dr Sonya (Chinese Medicine)