Infertility Support For Couples

Treating Infertility With Chinese Medicine

I went to Molly for long-standing and difficult fertility issues. She approached everything with a sense of calm and nurturing that I hadn’t experienced with the five other acupuncturists that I had gone to for help. I was able to get pregnant within just 2-3 months while in her care. This is something that did not happen while I was under the care of the other acupuncturists! Molly was always attentive to my needs and her prices are very fair. Her sincere desire is to help the person foremost while also making a livelihood for herself. I recommend her above any other acupuncturist in Boulder, and like I said, I tried FIVE of the top acupuncturists in the area. They simply could not compete with the individualized treatment you get from Molly! Simply the best in Boulder!
–Julie, Lyons, CO

Natural Approach to Infertility

I work with couples who wish to use a totally “natural” approach, as well as those who are interested in working with a reproductive endocrinology clinic. The treatment of infertility and Chinese Medicine goes back over 3000 years, proving itself to be safe and effective, as well as affordable. In the U.S., acupuncture and Chinese herbs are proven treatment methods for women in pregnancy care and postpartum recovery. More women are waiting until their 30’s and 40’s to start their families. Chinese Medicine can greatly improve your chances of getting pregnant.

After an initial consultation, a treatment plan will be designed which will usually include acupuncture, Chinese herbs, dietary recommendations, lifestyle and exercise modifications, stress management, and self-care treatments that can be done at home. My approach includes educating women about their menstrual cycles – (interpreting BBT charts, understanding how reproductive hormones work, and learning how to identify and enhance cervical fluid).

A normal course of treatment can be from three to nine months, possibly longer if a woman is over 40 and has Diminished Ovarian Reserve. I focus on underlying problems, including correcting hormonal imbalances, recurrent miscarriage, lack of ovulation, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, PCOS, and autoimmune disorders.

I have had many successes with women over 40 who have tried IVF without success, have a high FSH and low AMH, have been told their ovaries are no longer producing viable follicles, and have been advised to use an egg donor. Many of these women go on to get pregnant on their own with supplements, diet, acupuncture and Chinese herbs.

Causes of Infertility

Infertility is defined as the inability of a couple to conceive after one year of trying without using contraception, and six months if the woman is over age 35. Molly treats both women and men for infertility.

Approximately one-third of infertility is attributed to the female partner, one-third
attributed to the male partner, and one-third is caused by a combination of problems in both partners, or is unexplained.

For women, many cases (41%) of infertility are due to hormonal causes, including failure to ovulate. Other factors include: polycystic ovarian disease, fallopian tube abnormalities, uterine problems, autoimmune factors, cervical factors, decreased ovarian reserve, poor egg quality,undiagnosed infection, and unknown etiology.

In men, infertility may be due to poor sperm quality and quantity, autoimmune factors, hormonal imbalance, varicocele abnormality, the use of marijuana, and other medical issues.

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By increasing and balancing hormones, regulating a woman’s menstrual cycle, by strengthening the quality of eggs and sperm; increasing uterine lining and cervical fluid; improving blood flow in the uterus; improve egg quality and quantity of follicles, reducing stress; for luteal phase defect.

It also assists in balancing the immune system to prevent autoimmune complications and decreasing inflammatory conditions; helping to avoid recurrent miscarriage; for endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, and enhancing the effectiveness of IVF medications and procedures (while reducing their side effects.)

If you have tried the medical treatments without success, you may wish to use Chinese medicine to get you back in balance and boost your chances before trying a second IVF (for example).

Re-establishing your natural estrogen and FSH pathways is very important to the health of the eggs, and ensuring a healthy pregnancy following IVF or IUI. It is not unusual for women to experience a decrease in cervical fluid and lighter periods after the use of Clomid, which is something that acupuncture and herbs can correct.

For women who have been deemed “poor ovarian responders”, Chinese Medicine can help strengthen eggs and boost follicular growth. Since it takes about 90 days for eggs to mature to the state where follicles are produced, it is very helpful not to rush the process, and allow time for the body to heal and rejuvenate.

I do not usually do the treatment of acupuncture before and after IVF. That service is provided at the infertility clinics on site. However, I can treat you following IVF at your home for the first few days, to help support a pregnancy by relaxing the uterus, decreasing stress, and nourishing the endometrial lining.

Chinese medical theory believes that other factors, which cause infertility to couples, include poor diet; stress; over exercising; working too many hours, chronic infections, the negative effects of drugs, alcohol, nicotine, and not getting enough rest. Men should avoid testosterone supplementation and anabolic steroid use. It is also important to avoid environmental toxins, including exposure to pesticides, plastics, lead and other heavy metals. Organic food and hormone free animal products are recommended. Avoid junk food, caffeine, tobacco, sodas, artificial sweeteners, refined carbohydrates and sugar. Reduce raw and cold foods and dairy products. Sometimes I recommend doing a cleanse, to clear the body of excess toxicity from exposure to chemicals which are very prevalent in our country.

Questions? Molly is available to consult with you. Contact her at 303-546-0987 or mollygreacen@womanmedicine.com.

Treatment for Male Infertility

WHAT TO CONSIDER

Since 40% of infertility problems can be traced to problems with the male partner, and around 60% both male and female partners, it is highly recommended to have a sperm test. Issues such as low sperm count, low motility, or poor morphology can be treated with diet and lifestyle modifications, supplements, as well as Chinese herbs and acupuncture, yielding very good success.

I often refer male partners to a urologist who can do a workup to determine hormone levels, rule out any mechanical problems or infection, and test for auto-immune factors.