Medical research shows that infertility in Joliet affects almost one out of every six couples. The condition can be a cause of stress and anxiety for many. Infertility can affect a man, woman or both partners. Due to advancements in medicine there are a number of treatments available for people looking to conceive.
Understanding Infertility
Infertility is diagnosed when a couple’s efforts to conceive have been unsuccessful over the course of one full year. Research shows that infertility affects men and women equally with nearly 50% of all infertility cases occurring in females.
One major symptom of female infertility is an irregular menstrual cycle. A cycle that is too long or too short or irregular can mean that problems in ovulation. There are usually no other external symptoms which make it difficult to detect infertility.
Causes of Female Infertility
Age is an important factor for infertility in women. Infertility cases are rare in women under 30. Infertility starts becoming a factor for women when they hit 35. Conception becomes difficult without treatment once women get over 40 and have not been able to conceive after 6 months of frequent sex without birth control.
Another important cause of infertility is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). This occurs due to hormonal imbalance which leads to disruption in menstrual and ovulation cycles.
Modern research shows that weight also has an effect on female fertility. Women who are obese, too thin or athletic with low body fat tend to experience a higher number of irregular menstrual cycles.
Infections can also lead to a case of temporary or permanent infertility in women. Such infections can be caused during sexual intercourse and inflame the muscles or tissues in the pelvis. If a pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is left untreated, it may scar the fallopian tubes blocking the path of the egg making it difficult to conceive.
Another cause of infertility in women is endometriosis. This occurs when tissues that grow in the uterus expand into other locations. The growth can affect the lining of the uterus and disrupt implantation of a fertilized egg by damaging the egg or sperm.
Stress is another major contributor to infertility issues. Stress can create spasms in both the fallopian tubes and the uterus, which can interfere with movement and implantation of a fertilized egg. Women with a chronic case of stress are at higher risk as their pituitary and reproductive glands can be affected and prevent a woman from ovulating entirely.
Causes of Male Infertility
Some of the causes of male infertility are similar to females. Infections, hormonal imbalance and +obesity can negatively affect male sperm count.
Infertility can also result due to ejaculation issues and swelling of veins that drain testicles (varicocele).
Stress is a major contributor to male infertility. Stress can lead to impotency, hormonal imbalances and even cause erectile dysfunction. Chronic cases of stress in men have been observed to decrease sperm count and produce unhealthy sperm, reducing the chances of conception.
INFERTILITY TREATMENT IN JOLIET
Due to advancing technology, there are a number of fertility treatments available for people struggling with infertility at RiverOne Health & Wellness. Sometimes only one partner needs treatment but on other occasions both partners may use a combination of treatments together.
Some of the treatment options include home remedies, fertility drugs and even surgery. People also use in vitro fertilization (IVF), donor eggs and embryos for treatment. Modern healthcare has greatly increased the number of options available for couples struggling to conceive.
Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) such as fertility drugs, IVF and intrauterine insemination (IUI) becomes more prevalent in the public for the several short decades. However, these options can be quite expensive. A single procedure can cost tens of thousands of dollars. The financial costs of infertility have driven the public to search for effective and affordable healthcare like holistic and alternative treatments.
A number of research studies have found a positive correlation between ART methods like IVF and acupuncture. A study published in the British Medical Journal found that women who received acupuncture treatment together with ART had an increase in ongoing pregnancy rates by more than 60% compared to control subjects.
Another study reported by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine found that miscarriage rate was almost halved for women who received acupuncture treatment compared to a control group that did not get similar treatment. The ectopic pregnancy rate was significantly lower as well. The overall live-birth rate was significantly higher in the acupuncture group than the control group.
A third study found a 40% increase in pregnancy rates in IVF patients that had acupuncture treatment as well. The researchers did not use exclusion criteria for the women in this study. One important take away from the study was that women classified as poor responders (elevated FSH, longer history of infertility and poor sperm morphology) demonstrated the same pregnancy rates as normal-prognosis patients.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
There is a major difference in treatment approaches used in Chinese medicine and Western medical practice. Western treatments use a targeted approach where medicine or surgery is used to directly treat the issues affecting organs like uterus, ovaries etc.
The Chinese approach focuses on helping the body recover and correct itself by improving the function of tissues and balance of hormones. This helps the whole body heal itself leading to a positive impact on reproductive organs as well.
The traditional Chinese methods for improving fertility are the oldest medical practices that are still in use. These methods have evolved and improved over thousands of years with additional knowledge added by each generation.
The TCM methods include acupuncture, therapeutic nutrition, an advanced herbal system, a system of body postures called Qigong and a method of targeted massage therapy known as Tuina.
Chinese herbalists, acupuncture practitioners and massage therapists have used these methods to relieve stress, improve hormonal balance and help the body recover naturally. Research on these methods has shown that they support sexual health in men and improve menstrual cycles for women.
Ten Benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Chinese medicine and treatment methods can help improve fitness and general well being in people. The medical practices can also increase fertility in the following ways.
- Improves sperm count, sperm health, motility and ejaculation in men.
- Improves ovarian response and allows better egg production in women.
- Increases blood flow to uterus and ovaries
- improves endometrial lining and increasing implantation rate.
- Reduces the side effects of hormone treatments.
- Helps regulate hormones of the hypothalamus, pituitary and testicles.
- Decreases reproductive immunological reactions.
- Reduces uterine contractility during and after implantation.
- Resolves stress to promote relaxation in the body.
- Reduces the incidence of miscarriage in women.
How Acupuncture Can Increase Chances of Conception
Acupuncture at RiverOne Health & Wellness in Joliet involves the insertion of very thin needles into specific acupuncture points in the body. These points reside on meridians and form pathways in both the exterior and interior of the body. Inserting needles into these points helps regulate blood flow and body functions.
It is very important to keep providing the most ideal environment for the growth of ovaries and embryo. Acupuncture treatment will support and provide the nutrition rich ideal environment for them by enhancing the blood circulation to the uterus.
When used for infertility treatment, acupuncture is usually combined with other Chinese herbal medicine to have a better effect on the body. The methods have been used for thousands of years by medical practitioners in the orient to help couples conceive.
Acupuncture Side Effects
When compared to medical drugs or surgery, acupuncture has little to no side effects. The insertion of fine needles into pressure points helps improve blood flow in the same way that drugs do. The needles stimulate hypothalamus and balance the endocrine system of the body to improve male and female infertility.
As no chemicals are used, the needles do not cause harm to any other organs or leave any residue inside the body.
When Should Acupuncture Treatment Start
Acupuncture in Joliet can begin at any time during fertility treatment. You can start the process before taking drugs to prepare your body. Acupuncture during the fertility treatment helps improve recovery and reduces side effects of drugs. Researchers have observed a positive impact of acupuncture on pre and post embryo transfer in several studies.
It is recommended to have the treatment for three to four months while you are trying to conceive. Several sessions during the treatment help improve the success rate.
According to one study by Stener-Victorin et al, women are encouraged to receive acupuncture treatments pre and post embryo transfer during IVF. Clinical observations from the Berkley Center for Reproductive Wellness suggested that the most effective fertility treatments involve a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine.
Studies also shown a similar positive effect of Chinese herbal medicine on patients. A study by Dr Yoshimoto et al.from Osaka University showed that a combined administration of the herbal medicine Wen Jing Tang and clomiphene induced ovulation in patients that did not respond to clomiphene therapy alone.
A combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine, along with IVF or other treatment, gives the best possible results. Patients at RiverOne Health & Wellness should note that supplemental herbs take time to work. Even if you wait to start acupuncture until later, you should start taking herbal supplements as soon as possible.
Good quality eggs take a while to develop. If you get started 3 to 6 months prior to conception, there is a good chance that your eggs will grow in a healthy and nutrient rich environment.
When to Stop the Treatment
After pregnancy, the majority of miscarriages occur within the first three months. Acupuncture helps improve blood flow to the uterus which has a positive effect on development at this stage.
It is recommended to carry out the treatment for the first twelve weeks of pregnancy to reduce the risk of miscarriage.
Tell me about your history with infertility?
My husband and I have been trying to conceive again for over two years and have been unsuccessful. I have an eight-year-old son, so I thought I had no reason to be alarmed or worried when I would decide to have another baby. I went to see an infertility doctor where they stated due to my age (42) they would recommend testing and possible IVF treatment. During my first consultation with the infertility doctor I was very fearful due to the results and assumptions she was making which gave me negative hope for another child. I was categorized into the category of the less than 10% successful rate, so they recommended adoption. But I knew I wanted to have and carry my own baby again. My husband and I chose IVF which failed the first cycle. I made a goal of three cycles of IVF treatment and then I would face the fact there was no other possibility to expand my family. I went for my second round of IVF and started acupuncture treatment for additional help. As of today, I am now 16 weeks pregnant with our little miracle.
What infertility treatment did you undergo?
I had one cycle of unsuccessful IVF. Then, while doing my second cycle I began acupuncture and moxa treatment here at RiverOne Health & Wellness which was very successful, and I believe it helped tremendously.
What helped you get through treatment?
Everything helped me during this difficult and stressful time, between family, the fact that I could have a baby soon, and I wanted the best mindset for a healthy pregnancy.
Can you tell us about your little miracle?
My first IVF treatment was in October 2017. The length of medication was 14 days, and the egg growth was uneven with 12-13 eggs. I only had two fertilized embryos and the embryo transfer took three days. The quality of the embryo was 2 B-C+ which is not good. After 1st cycle of IVF and found that did not work, I felt empty. Should I start all over again or give up on the fact that I may never have another baby of my own again. I decided to give it another shot with my IVF treatment, but this time with acupuncture at RiverOne Health & Wellness. Change happened for the better. My length of medication decreased to 10 days, I had even growth with 6-7 eggs. Rather than the two fertilized embryos I had with my first IVF treatment, with the acupuncture treatment, I now had six fertilized embryos and the embryo transfer took five days. The quality of my embryo went from 2 B-C+, to 3 AA-A which is the best quality for a successful pregnancy!
What is your experience with doctor Lee and at RiverOne Health & Wellness?
Emotionally Dr. Lee provided me a hope and security. Coming from a hopeless, and confused to a happy, healthy pregnancy now I owe him so much due to doing what I couldn’t have imagined.
What words of hope do you have for others?
I believe it’s very important to set goals going into treatments and explore all options before worrying what the result may be. Always keep hope and try your best to control your mind and emotions going through this process. When you think negatively, the outcome will be negative, stay positive and focused on your end goal.
"In the time span of one year I experienced two miscarriages on top of dealing with chronic pain. In the seven years I have dealt with this chronic sciatic pain, I explored hundreds of doctors and thousands of tests. I received no answers and no relief of pain. All the tests that I took came back good. The stress I was experiencing could be the only logical explanation. Dr. Lee and RiverOne Health and Wellness is beyond any treatment I have ever received before. Dr. Lee and his staff take more time than any other doctor before. They all care so much on each individual and their concerns. Today I am 24 weeks pregnant and very healthy. I know it is very difficult to not feel hopeless or alone while dealing with a loss, but finding the right doctor and be key, and Dr Lee is it."
Choose RiverOne Health & Wellness For Your Fertility Treatment
42 year old woman, more than 5 years of infertility
Success rate was less than 10 % and doctor recommended adoption.
The patient used the same dose of IVF drugs in the first and second IVF cycles.
