Part 2: Burwood Acupuncture Fertility Support Blog Series
Supporting Fertility with Traditional Chinese Medicine
Introduction:
Part 1 of this blog series focused on key concepts in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory and how they relate to fertility. In particular, we explored the importance of having sufficient vital substances—Essence (Jing), Qi, Blood, Yin, and Yang—and how maintaining balance among these is essential for reproductive health. We also touched on factors that can cause imbalance in the body, including environmental influences, diet and lifestyle, and pathogenic factors such as cold, damp, and heat. The key organs involved in fertility from a TCM perspective—the Kidneys, Spleen, Liver, and Uterus—were also introduced.
This post is a guide to how those theories are applied in clinical practice. We’ll explore specific treatment methods and commonly used herbal formulae. This blog is intended for those considering TCM to support their fertility journey, but it is not a guide for self-treatment. In clinical practice, a person's presentation is often complex—not clearly one pattern or another, and not always true heat or cold, or a straightforward excess or deficiency. A qualified, registered TCM practitioner will take a detailed history and create a treatment plan tailored to the individual's unique needs.
1. Acupuncture for Fertility
Traditionally, Acupuncture has been used for centuries to support reproductive health. It regulates the menstrual cycle, promotes healthy ovulation, improves blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, and reduces stress—an often-overlooked factor in fertility challenges.
Evidence Supporting Acupuncture in Fertility
Recent research supports acupuncture's potential benefits for people undergoing assisted reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilization (IVF):
Improved Pregnancy Outcomes: A 2023 meta-analysis found that acupuncture significantly increased both clinical pregnancy rates (43.6% vs. 33.2%) and live birth rates (38.0% vs. 28.7%) compared to control groups (Xie et al., 2023).
Enhanced IVF Success: A 2021 systematic review concluded that acupuncture as an adjunct to embryo transfer improved outcomes across several measures, including biochemical and clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, and live birth (Zheng et al., 2021).
Stress Reduction and Pregnancy Rates: A 2020 randomized controlled trial observed that acupuncture administered before and after embryo transfer not only reduced anxiety levels but also increased pregnancy rates in women with unexplained infertility (Nagy et al., 2020).
Individualized Acupuncture Treatment Based on Pattern Diagnosis
In TCM, treatment is always tailored to the individual’s specific pattern or diagnosis. For example:
Kidney Yang Deficiency: This pattern may present with symptoms like cold sensations, fatigue, low libido, or delayed menstruation. Acupuncture treatment often includes warming and tonifying points such as DU4 (Mingmen) and Ren4 (Guanyuan). The practitioner will often use moxibustion to warm acupuncture points in cases like these.
Liver Qi Stagnation: Common in cases of stress, PMS, or irregular cycles. Treatment might involve points like Liver 3 (Taichong), Gallbladder 34 (Yanglingquan), and Large Intestine 4 (Hegu) to promote the smooth flow of Qi and emotional balance.
Integration with Assisted Reproductive Technologies
Acupuncture is commonly used alongside IVF or IUI treatments. Sessions may be timed with key phases of the IVF cycle to balance hormonal changes, improve endometrial receptivity, and support embryo implantation. Research indicates that this integrative approach may lead to better fertility outcomes when applied appropriately (Zheng et al., 2021; Xie et al., 2023).
2. Herbal Medicine
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), herbal formulas are tailored to address specific patterns of imbalance that may affect fertility. These formulas aim to nourish Kidney Essence, move Liver Qi, build Blood, and harmonize Yin and Yang, thereby supporting reproductive health.
Herbal Formulas that may Assist Fertility
Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) treats the individual. This means that the herbal formula does not treat infertility, rather it addresses the underlying “pattern” or “syndrome” that may cause infertility.
Ba Zhen Tang: This may be prescribed when there is a deficiency of both Qi and Blood. Ba Zhen Tang may alleviate fatigue, boost energy levels, and promote progesterone production (KPC Herbs, 2023).
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan: This formula nourishes Kidney Yin. A 2020 study showed Liu Wei Di Huang Wan improved ovarian function in patients with DOR (diminished ovarian reserve) (Xiao et al., 2020). In addition it has been seen to restore menstrual cycle, protect ovarian function, and improve ART outcomes Xia and Wang (Xiao et al., 2020)
Xiao Yao San: Primarily used to soothe Liver Qi, strengthen Spleen Qi, and nourish Blood. It is commonly prescribed for conditions such as stress-induced menstrual irregularities, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Results from a 2023 study showed that Xiao Yao San in combination with the conventional therapy significantly improved ovulation and pregnancy rates (Zhou et al., 2023).
Importance of Safe Prescribing
As CHM treats patterns that may cause infertility - not infertility itself, it should only be prescribed by a qualified, registered practitioner. The practitioner will examine factors such as the patient's constitution, the specific pattern of imbalance, and any concurrent health conditions to ensure the safety of the patient.
Conclusion
Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a individualised, holistic approach to supporting fertility. Acupuncture and herbal medicine aim to restore balance, nourish vital substances, and address the root causes of reproductive challenges—not just the symptoms. Acupuncture and CHM affect menstrual regularity, improve ovarian function, and support the uterine environment.
Treatment with TCM is never one-size-fits-all. The use of acupuncture points and herbal formulas depends on careful diagnosis and pattern differentiation, often blending multiple strategies to suit the unique needs of each individual. For this reason, working with a qualified and registered practitioner is essential.
In the next post in this series, we’ll explore the supportive role of diet, lifestyle, emotional wellbeing, and other modalities like moxibustion in enhancing fertility outcomes from a TCM perspective. Stay tuned for more ways to support your reproductive health with Traditional Chinese Medicine.
References
KPC Herbs. (2023, February 17). Reproductive health with traditional Chinese medicine. https://kpc.com/articles/enhancing-reproductive-health-with-traditional-chinese-medicine/
Nagy, B., Bognár, Z., Kozinszky, Z., Török, P., & Sárkány, Á. (2020). Acupuncture treatment before and after embryo transfer: A prospective, randomized controlled study. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, 20(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-020-2856-7
Xiao, J., Song, J., Sa, Y., Yuan, L., Guo, J., & Sun, Z. (2020). The mechanisms of improving IVF outcomes of liu-wei-di-huang pill acting on DOR patients. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : eCAM, 2020, 5183017. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/5183017
Xie, H., Xu, J., Yang, S., Lyu, Q., Liang, X., Li, R., & Liang, J. (2023). Effect of acupuncture on in vitro fertilization outcomes: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 52, 101760. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2023.101760
Zheng, C. H., Zhang, M. M., Huang, G. Y., & Wang, W. (2021). The effectiveness of acupuncture as an adjunct to embryo transfer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2021, Article ID 5584936. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5584936
