In today’s fast-paced and high-stress environment, many couples are finding it difficult to conceive. If the couple has not conceived after twelve months of contraceptive-free intercourse, infertility is diagnosed. Many couples are resorting to expensive and invasive procedures such as in vitro fertilization. However, couples should consider Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a cost effective and natural alternative. With the Chinese cultural emphasis on the importance of family, fertility treatments have been used for over thousands of years and perfected throughout time. 

Dr. Li has helped many families conceive. Her specialization is in women’s health and treating infertility. She is supportive of her patients and works hard to provide the best possible treatment from start to finish in the journey towards motherhood.

TCM treats infertility by getting to the root of the problem. Infertility arises because the female body is imbalanced and under stress. Once the body is balanced and relaxed, it should self-correct infertility. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are common treatments. By stimulating the acupuncture points, qi (body’s natural energy) flows through the body and blood flows to the reproductive organs. Drinking Chinese herbal teas brings the hormones into balance and increases the ovarian functions. Treatment lasts for ~six months, giving the female body enough time to repair itself.

TCM can be used concurrently with assisted reproductive treatments such as in vitro fertilization and intrauterine insemination to increase the success rate. According to the National Infertility Association, majority of women have per-cycle IVF success rate of only 20-35%. When acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are used in conjunction with IVF, clinical experience suggests the pregnancy rate can be raised to >60%. TCM treatments begin at least four weeks before the anticipated date of the embryo transfer and treatments are performed twice per week. Once the embryo transfer is complete, TCM treatment may be discontinued.

Once a child is conceived, TCM can help the woman’s body hold the baby to full term. Mothers drink herbal teas and seek acupuncture treatment to treat nausea and vomiting. Acupuncture also relieves the hip and back pain from carrying a child and regulate emotions to prepare the body for labor.

After the delivery, herbs provide nutrients to body and acupuncture restores balance to the body. This will allow faster recovery of the body.