Overcoming Age Related Infertility with Traditional Chinese Medicine

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by Aina Zhang

 Introduction

One of the most common causes of female infertility is age. It is a simple fact of life that female fertility decreases significantly after the early thirties. However, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with its holistic approach, can help infertility patients to turn back their biological clock, to a certain degree. In our clinic, we have helped many aging patients, to get pregnant.

In recent years, acupuncture and herbal medicine have become increasingly accepted as an effective alternative and complement to Western Medicine in the treatment of female infertility. In Canada, it used to be the last option for patients, but now, more and more patients are seeking TCM fertility treatment prior to or in conjunction with western medical treatments.

1. It is relatively effective in the treatment of infertility caused by functional abnormalities, which are more frequently seen in aging women.

2. It has virtually no negative side effects, regulates menstrual cycles, diminishes PMS and menstrual pain and improves overall health.

3. It is relatively inexpensive. A weekly three-menstrual-cycle acupuncture treatment costs less than $1000, and it may be covered by the private insurance.

4. Even if a patient fails to conceive at the end of the treatment, she is as fertile as she can be, and therefore, her chances for future IVF are increased by as much as 40 percent, according to a study conducted by W. Paulus and M. Zhang (Influence of Acupuncture on the Pregnancy Rate in Patients Who Undergo Assisted Reproduction Therapy; Fertility and Sterility, April, 2002).

5. It is non-intrusive and is actually a very comfortable treatment that relieves the stresses associated with infertility and its treatments.

From the perspective of Chinese medicine, the kidney, spleen and liver are the three most relevant internal organs affecting the functions of female reproductive system. Bear in mind that names, such as kidney, spleen, liver and blood, are more meaningful than their anatomical and physiological definitions in western medicine.

Kidney – One of the major functions of the kidney is to store the kidney Jing (the essence of life), which includes prenatal Jing (inherited from parents, and not replaceable) and postnatal Jing (acquired from food and replaceable). The kidney Jing can be transformed into blood and kidney Qi, which becomes the source of human growth, development and reproduction.

According to Chinese medicine, the variation of kidney Jing supply produces significant physiological changes in a woman’s life every seven years. At 7, a girl starts to mature into a young woman; at 14, she has her first menstruation and is able to conceive; at 21 and 28, she reaches her most fertile years; at 35, her fertility starts to diminish; at 42, her fertility is mostly lost and at 49, a woman’s kidney Jing is depleted, and therefore, she has her menopause.

Spleen – The main functions of the spleen are to transform food nutrients to Qi, blood and postnatal Jing and to keep the blood circulating within the vessels.

Liver - Two of the major functions of the liver are to regulate Qi (vital energy) and blood and to store blood.

Everyday, our spleen transforms food to Qi, blood and postnatal Jing. At the same time, all life activity consumes both Qi and blood. When blood is insufficiently formed or excessively lost, Jing is transformed to blood to ensure an adequate amount of blood is present to support the proper functioning of our body. If postnatal Jing is not sufficient to cover the needs, then prenatal Jing is withdrawn to meet the demand.

As a woman ages, the spleen becomes less efficient at transforming food to Qi, blood and postnatal Jing, and her menstruation is a monthly drain of blood. In addition, many events in a woman’s life, such as malnutrition, constitutional insufficiency in digestive

system, digestive disease and a stressful lifestyle, will further hinder the formation of blood. liver blood becomes deficient as a result. Without a sufficient supply of blood from the liver, the womb can not be sufficiently nourished and warmed, thus the womb is unable to support the embedding and growth of a fetus. 

Other factors, such as chronic disease, abortions and miscarriages, multiple childbirths and childbearing and an overly taxing lifestyle accelerate the consumption of Kidney Jing.

With age, a woman naturally has less and less kidney Jing and blood available to support reproductive function. On the other hand, the reproductive function (including menstruation) depends heavily on kidney Jing and blood. Without sufficient kidney Jing and blood, infertility results. There are many other pathologies of female infertility, but the aforementioned two are most common ones.

A woman’s menstrual cycle is often a true reflection of her blood formation and kidney Jing reserve. An abnormal menstrual cycle is the most important symptom of diminished reproductive function; consequently, the treatment of female infertility always starts from regulating the menstrual cycle.

One of the most important principles in TCM is called Bian Zhen Shi Zhi which means identify and treat the root cause for each patient. The following table contains more information concerning the common pathology and treatment orientation for female infertility:

In a very general sense, Chinese medicine can be more effective in the treatment of infertility caused by functional anomalies and western fertility treatment is more effective in the treatment of infertility caused by structural anomalies.

With over 2000 years of continually documented clinical history, Chinese medicine has developed comprehensive theories, diagnosis procedures and treatment protocols, independent from those of the western medicine. For a Chinese medical doctor who studied both Chinese and Western medicine, western medical diagnosis is often a useful reference tool, and can be used to increase the treatment efficacy. Advanced assisted reproductive technologies are very good tools for the treatment of structurally related infertility. Overall, an integrated approach provides the best of both worlds for our patients.                                   

About The Author: Aina Zhang is a licensed Acupuncturist with a L. Ac., M.D. and Masters in Gynecology (China). She has over 20 years of clinical experience in both Chinese and Western Medicine. She can be reached at ainazhang@sinocare.ca, and you can find more information about her practice at www.sinocare.ca.