Restoring Balance

In Chinese Medicine, fertility support begins with the foundations of balance, just as with any other health concern. We look at the harmony of Qi, Blood, Yin, and Yang, and assess how well the organ systems are communicating and working together. From this perspective, infertility often arises when these substances fall out of balance or when internal communication between organ systems is disrupted.

In more familiar biomedical terms, this may resemble excess heat or inflammation in the body, poor circulation or lack of nourishing fluids, excessive vasoconstriction or an internally “cold” state, stagnation of pathological fluids obstructing freeflow, or even a genetic predisposition toward lower reproductive vitality. All of these patterns are addressable through treatment.

Often, the body is temporarily infertile because it is redirecting energy to manage other imbalances. Once the system is supported and balance is restored, the body can naturally shift its priorities back toward conception. The encouraging truth is that infertility is rarely permanent. The body is dynamic and adaptable.

Through acupuncture, herbal medicine, and individualized care, Chinese Medicine helps the body restore internal harmony, addressing root imbalances so it can once again create a healthy, welcoming environment for new life to begin.

Nourishing Life

Chinese Medicine is a highly effective intervention on its own for those who want to pursue fertility support naturally. With that said, it is just as powerful when used alongside Western reproductive technologies. If you are planning or currently undergoing assisted reproductive treatments such as IUI or IVF, Chinese Medicine can support your body in several meaningful ways: preparing for egg retrieval, enhancing uterine receptivity, improving circulation, reducing inflammation, and creating a nourishing internal environment for implantation. For example, meta-analyses show that acupuncture around embryo transfer can significantly improve clinical pregnancy rates (see links below).

Once pregnancy is confirmed, Chinese Medicine continues to provide support for a healthy gestation. It addresses common symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, appetite changes, aches, and emotional fluctuations by restoring systemic balance rather than treating each symptom in isolation. As delivery approaches, Chinese Medicine may assist with optimal fetal positioning; for example, studies of moxibustion for breech presentation report success rates around 60-85% in achieving cephalic presentation.

Fertility support is not just about the person who becomes pregnant. Since fertility is a 50/50 proposition, partners are encouraged to participate in treatment as well. Stress, diet, lifestyle, and circulatory or hormonal imbalances can impact male fertility just as much. Addressing these factors in both partners optimizes your chances of success.

Chinese Medicine is here for you on your fertility journey. Because it views the body as an adaptive, responsive whole, the outlook is hopeful, empowered, and oriented toward renewal.

Key Studies and Links:

Acupuncture on day of embryo transfer: “The effect of acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer on the in vitro fertilization outcomes” (2010) — https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7142313/ PMC

Meta-analysis: “An Overview of Systematic Reviews of Acupuncture for Infertile Women Undergoing IVF-ET” (2021) — https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.651811/full Frontiers

Moxibustion for breech presentation review: “Correction of Breech Presentation with Moxibustion and Acupuncture” (2021) — https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/6/619 MDPI

Cochrane review on moxibustion: “Moxibustion for turning a baby in breech position” (2021) — https://www.cochrane.org/CD003928/moksibusi-untuk-membalikkan-bayi-dalam-presentasi-bokong