PCOS is both an endocrinologic as well as a metabolic disorder. The affected person can exist with polycystic ovaries, hyperandrogenism, hirsutism, and hyperinsulinemia. Furthermore, PCOS sufferers have a tough time conceiving. One of the cause is anovulation. Also, the egg quality is very frequently compromised as there is too a lot testosterone in the follicle. This acts as an anti-estrogen and therefore, the eggs lack appropriate nourishment. In fact, the PCOS people experiences miscarriage more than the non-PCOS population. Acupuncture and natural remedies are 'regulators. They minimize that which is in extra and supplement that which is diminished. In the PCOS patient, we need to decrease the testosterone milieu, increase the follicular estrogen, regulate the menstrual cycle and assist facilitate conception. Acupuncture and herbs frequently accomplish this goal. Another aim of the practitioner of ordinary Chinese medicine is to council sufferers about life-style. If a PCOS people is morbidly obese, she may additionally face gestational diabetes, preeclampsia or eclampsia. This can give serious fitness problems for mother and baby. Through life-style counselling, it is frequently viable to assist this kind of affected person lose weight. Obesity will also increase estrogen levels which can, over time, may lead to cancer as well as lead to infertility. The hormones ought to be balanced. Too much estrogen is as dangerous as not enough. Via the regulatory effects of acupuncture and herbs, weight can be lost, hormones can be rebalanced, menses can regulate, and conception might also occur. I am not suggesting that acupuncture and natural remedy is the holy-grail. It can assist some people, sometimes; simply like IVF. What are the advantages of using acupuncture when treating a affected person with endometriosis? Endometriosis is a pro-inflammatory cytokine disease. In other words, there are inflammatory factors inflicting havoc in the reproductive system. Even though endometriosis is a disorder which happens outside of the uterus, the inflammatory processes make their way into the uterine cavity altering the lining and the environment. This in and of itself is the primary biological element of infertility. There are physical problems as well. For example, tubal adhesions can take place which makes conception by intercourse or IUI impossible. IVF is a need in those cases. Many people with endometriosis additionally have activated Nk cells. These cells are meant to attack cancer cells in the uterus. But in endometriosis patients, these Nk cells frequently mistake the embryo for a cancer cell and attack and kill it. Even after laparoscopic surgery, the patient can STILL have endometriosis. Here's why: endometriotic lesions have more than a few colours; brown, red, purple, power-burn, etc. This tells the physician "this is endo - resect it". The issue is, some endometriosis tissue looks exactly like ordinary tissue. So, the doctor can't even see this tissue, let alone get rid of it. In my mind, even after a laparoscopy, it have to be assumed that the affected person still might also have endometriosis. In endometriosis cases (after laparoscopy always!) our goal is to strive and minimize the inflammatory processes that can also still be manifesting in the uterus and to attempt and regulate immune function. One protein that is a marker for poor fertility results and is frequently seen in endometriosis patients is BCL6. BCL6 in some medical circles is what is notion to reason for infertility in the endometriosis patient. By regulation of immunological function and clearing inflammation, BCL6 can also be down-regulated and the capability to conceive will be improved. What are the advantages of using acupuncture when treating a affected person with sperm anomalies? A regular semen analysis looks at count, volume, concentration, morphology and motility and ph. They all come back normal and the spouse is 100% normal and she's 27 years old and they cannot conceive? Why not? One potential reason is a 'hidden pathology' that is frequently not examined for. The pathology is sperm DNA fragmentation. The frequent consensus amongst reproductive endocrinologists is that the only barrier to fertilization triggered by DNA fragmentation is that the sperm can't penetrate the egg. The affected person is handled through ICSI (the sperm is injected directly into the egg to engender fertilization.) Often these instances end up in non-pregnancy or miscarriage. It is, in my opinion, not recommended to force a poor-quality sperm into an egg and expect a proper outcome. Interestingly, some of these cases do end up with live births. But many do not. Acupuncture can strongly enhance hemodynamics to the testes, supply oxygen, hormones, nutrient and electrolytes. Acupuncture additionally helps facilitate to excretion of dust or dead cells from the testes. This can enhance testicular function and notably minimize sperm DNA fragmentation. Taking antioxidants is extraordinarily vital in these cases as well since there is a tendency in these guys to have excessive levels of oxidative stress in the testicular surroundings which can considerably damage sperm. What are the advantages of using acupuncture to relieve stress in couples experience fertility challenges? Stress is an fascinating and unsure problem when it comes to infertility cases. Yes; all factors involved are stressed. They need a child and cannot conceive. But does stress actually contribute to infertility? I'm not sure. Here's why: In any conflict zone, in any part of the world, in any time in history, the most horrible, stressful, unspeakable things occur. But kids are born in these conflict zones daily. I know for sure that stress can negatively affect sperm count however I'm not sure about the impact on fertility in the woman patient. Nonetheless, acupuncture is remarkable at mitigating stress, which, at the very least, will make the couple experience better, stronger, healthier, and more capable of dealing with the tough journey ahead. What are the advantages of using acupuncture when treating a affected person who has low ovarian reserve and bad egg quality? Acupuncture is very advantageous at enhancing blood flow to anywhere in the physique that the practitioner wants. For example, if a patient has 'tennis elbow' (lateral epicondylitis) and you insert needles near and at the elbow, it will sign recovery immunological materials to the place to repair the damage. So is the case with ovaries. We can stimulate blood to the ovaries directly stimulating supply of oxygen, nutrients, electrolytes and hormones while additionally eliminating dead cells from the ovaries. This will not, under any circumstances grant a woman with more eggs but can, frequently, enhance egg quality. This is very important. Remember, in the IVF placing an egg is retrieved, fertilized and the subsequent embryo is transferred into the uterus, but the reproductive endocrinologist can only work with the materials presented to him or her. So, if the egg quality is bad however a blastocyst is formed, the switch will occur, and pregnancy will not ensue. If through acupuncture and/or natural medicine, egg quality is improved, there will be an obvious increase in the probabilities of a successful outcome.