Boosting Fertility Naturally: The Role of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs in Healthy Pregnancy
Infertility can be a gut wrenching condition for couples wanting to start their families. Pregnancy is a process that comes naturally but in today’s world is not without its challenges. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 1 in 6 people worldwide experience infertility. https://www.who.int/news/item/04-04-2023-1-in-6-people-globally-affected-by-infertility Statistically, men and women are equally affected by infertility with 33% attributed to male factor infertility, 33% attributed to female infertility and the remaining 33% being both men and women or unexplained infertility. The global prevalence of male infertility has significantly increased by 76.9% since 1990 with 56,530.4 cases reported in 2019.
The NIH reports that women in their 30’s are half as fertile as they are in their early 20’s and their chance of conceiving declines rapidly after 35 years old. Male fertility also declines with age but not as rapidly as women’s. The complexity of this condition can be overwhelming to both patient and practitioner, and there are many factors that contribute to both male and female infertility. In the remainder of this article, I address the more common conditions that we might see as practitioners, but there are many other issues to consider.
Female infertility factors include a variety of reasons with the most common being age (35 years old and older) and lack of ovulation. Other contributing factors are polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, irregular cycles, premature ovarian insufficiency, abnormalities with the uterus or blocked fallopian tubes, fibroids, polyps, and hormonal imbalances that lead to luteal phase defect, elevated prolactin levels, or thyroid issues.
Male factor infertility more commonly relates to sperm factors such as the presence of zero sperm (azoospermia), low count of sperm (oligospermia), low motility of sperm, abnormal shape of sperm (morphology), and the impairment of blood flow to the testicles. Other factors include testicular injury, undescended testicles, and hormonal imbalances such as low testosterone affecting sperm production. Also impaired function of the male reproductive organ can be a factor with an inability to get and maintain an erection and issues with ejaculation.
Other factors that contribute to both genders decreasing fertility are lifestyle factors and other medical issues. Lifestyle factors include:
- excessive alcohol use
- recreational drug use
- lack of exercise and obesity
- exposure to chemicals, heavy metals, and radiation
- smoking
- high caffeine consumption
- stress and anxiety
Medical issues include autoimmune conditions, sexually transmitted infections, genetic factors, and medications. Diagnosis of infertility includes a wide range of factors and are not limited to the obvious; 15-30% of cases get a diagnosis of unexplained.
While many couples may seek out a reproductive endocrinologist to help them create their family, research has shown acupuncture to offer significant support in improving one’s fertility with or without assisted reproductive technology (ART) such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or Intrauterine Insemination where the sperm is placed directly into the uterus (IUI) and timed intercourse to coincide with a woman’s ovulation. The latter is often accompanied by hormonal medications to improve ovulation. Reproductive endocrinologists will refer patients to an acupuncturist for support during these procedures.
Acupuncture points used frequently for infertility; Ren 4, Stomach 28, Spleen 4, Heart 6 & 7, Kidney 6, Kidney 3, Stomach 36, Kidney 14, Ren 6, Lung 7, San Jiao 5, Gallbladder 41, yin tang, shen men, Du 20, Liver 3, Liver 8, Extra point- ZiGongXue, Stomach 30, Spleen 3, Ren 3.
While patients are undergoing ART, Acupuncture serves as a complimentary adjunct therapy to their fertility treatment plan. For those patients trying naturally or during IUI or timed cycles Asian herbal medicine can be used to balance their body and improve outcomes. Some common herbal formulas are:
- Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan (WZYZ)- Five Seeds for Ancestors Pill- has been used for male infertility and nourishing kidney essence. This formula addresses low sperm counts as it increases the seminal volume and sperm density. It is indicated for spermatorrhea, premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction.
- Liu wei di huang wan (LWDH)– Rehmannia Six Formula- used for Kidney yin deficiency and has been beneficial for women in their follicular phase and also for women that have decreased ovarian reserve (DOR). LWDH has also been beneficial for men with sperm issues stemming from kidney yin and essence deficiency. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7648682/
- Xiao Yao San (XYS) Rambling Powder- harmonizes the liver and spleen. XYS has been shown in research to improve ovulation and pregnancy rates with conventional medicine for women that have PCOS. It has also been shown to help with insulin resistance. This formula is widely used to help regulate a women’s cycle due to liver and spleen disharmony.
East Asian medicine provides patients seeking to improve their chances of pregnancy both naturally and with ART in addition to improving their overall health during this challenging time.