In Australia, 10%–15% of married couples experience infertility, a major reproductive disorder, as one of the main causes. Techniques for assisted reproduction (ART) are now widely accepted and used. For some couples, ART is their only hope of conceiving. TCM will greatly improve the outcome of ART procedures.
For thousands of years, acupuncture has been used to treat reproductive and gynecological issues.
Similar to the hypothalamic-pituitary axis theory in modern medicine, the "kidney-Tian Gui-Chong Ren-uterus" theory in TCM. The following infertility mechanisms inform the choice of acupoints:
1. Ovarian hypofunction
Basic pathological conditions include kidney deficiency, Chong and Ren disharmony, and blood and Qi disorders. Thus, the guidelines for choosing acupoints are stimulating the kidney, enhancing Qi and blood, and controlling Chong and Ren.
2. Promoting embryo implantation
The selection of acupoints is based on the idea of stimulating the kidneys and nourishing the blood.
3. Ovulation induction
Selecting acupoints is based on the idea that deficiency should be treated with tonification, fullness with relief, and prolonged stagnation with elimination. This is based on the idea that stimulating the kidney, calming the liver, stimulating blood, and regulating Chong and Ren should all be beneficial effects.
4. Asthenospermia and oligospermia
TCM holds that stomach weakness, spleen weakness, and renal inadequacy are the root causes of asthenospermia and oligospermia. Acupoint selection is based on the effect of energizing the kidney, in accordance with the theory of "to treat deficiency with tonification."
It has also been discovered that Chinese herbal medicine enhances the results of ART. A clinical trial was carried out to evaluate the pregnancy and embryo implantation rates in women who had frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) after receiving Bushen Wengong Decoction (BSWGD), a Chinese herbal preparation, together with a low dosage of human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG). According to the study, a low dose of hMG in conjunction with a scheduled cycle of BSWGD could increase the rate of FET pregnancy and embryo implantation. Additionally, it was discovered that the Bushen Yiqi Hexue Recipe enhanced the expression of pinopode on the endometrial surface, which in turn enhanced uterine receptivity and enhanced embryo implantation.
TCM is becoming increasingly widely used in the field of assisted reproduction when acupuncture is used in conjunction with contemporary reproductive care. Patients especially like acupuncture because of its many benefits, including its ease of use, non-invasiveness, and painless procedures. It might be seen as an example of how TCM and contemporary medicine can work together harmoniously.
Reference:
Qu, F, R Li, W Sun, G Lin, R Zhang, J Yang, L Tian, et al. "Use of Electroacupuncture and Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation in Reproductive Medicine: A Group Consensus." Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B 18, no. 3 (2017): 186-93.
Zhou, J, and F Qu. "Treating Gynaecological Disorders with Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Review." African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines : AJTCAM 6, no. 4 (2009): 494-517.
