This sweet patient started trying for a baby 1 year 8 months ago. After 6 months of trying, they were finally pregnant. Not unusually slow to get pregnant but not as fast as they had hoped, of course. But their happiness quickly faded. Sadly, our patient had a miscarriage a year ago. She miscarried at 9 weeks, however, her precious child measured only 5 weeks. She and her husband decided they needed some fertility treatments.
She made an appointment with her OBGYN and they immediately suggested the fertility drug, Clomid and intercourse at home. That treatment failed, two months in a row.
Unfortunately that wasn't the only bad thing that happened. For 7 entire months after her fertility treatments with Clomid her ovaries went into shock and the patient never got a positive OPK (ovulation detected on ovulation predictor kit).
A semen analysis had yet to be done so I recommended they get one as soon as possible. I also suggested ruling out PCOS by her doctor (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). The patient had a confirmed diagnosis of Hypothyroidism that can contribute to infertility and increase risk for miscarriage. She also had low progesterone levels that can contribute to anovulation and increased risk for miscarriage as well. She also reported moderate dysmennorhea (menstrual pain) during menstruation. Endometriosis has never been suspected, nor tested, but I could see clearly she had blood stagnation that was impeding her fertility. This blood stasis is more subtle than a blood clotting disorder, that is not tested by an OBGYN or an RE (Reproductive Endocrinologist); it can only be diagnosed by a fertility specialist who uses Multiple System Traditional Chinese Medicine. The patient believed they had ruled out the more severe blood stasis called a blood clotting disorder. None-the-less, from a chinese medical perspective, she had blood stasis that had to be addressed in order to improve her fertility and decrease her miscarriage rate.
When she went to her OB's office to rule out PCOS, for the treatment principle can change in traditional chinese medicine, with new information regarding a patients western medical treatment. her P.A. asked her why she cared about a diagnosis as to why she wasn't ovulating? The PA had said something to the effect that they would check for her and that is was her money she was spending but she didn't understand why the patient, and I, would like to get to the root cause of her anovulation. She felt uncomfortable but insisted that she be checked.
For us, root causes are critical to treat infertility. Yes, we can see patterns and diagnose by looking, questioning, family history, and even feeling. But knowledge is power. Knowledge also helps me assimilate her western medical diagnosis with her eastern medical diagnosis and I can treat more efficiently and more effectively. If we ignore tests or questioning, we may miss a huge contributing factor in often times, complex infertility cases.
One month after treatment of Multi-System Traditional Chinese Medicine fertility program at Eagle Acupuncture, the 28 year year old patient, who had been going through infertility for 1 1/2 years, went from having profuse discharge to 2 days of cervical fluid and got her first positive OPK in 8 months. Her second cycle she reported that her latest period was "weird". When I inquired further she said, well, I had significantly decreased clots, only one the size of a squashed grape, the color of blood was bright red, and virtually no pain. I told her this is not weird, this is healthy! I let her know she was showing signs that she was significantly more fertile. This was good. She felt reassured and a little more hopeful but she still had her doubts.
A semen analysis confirmed sperm quality, quantity and morphology was all within normal ranges.
Interestingly, the patient got another positive OPK on the same days this month as last, Day 19-20. This is common with women whom have ovulatory problems. They rarely ovulate during the typical ovulatory window of Day 12-17. She was also tracking her temperature and it had spiked but it started to drop. We see in our practice that temperature tracking, however helpful, can often be wrong. We also advise our patients if they use temperature readings as part of their fertility, ovulation and pregnancy prediction that they consider this as only one of many ways of checking for ovulation and for predicting pregnancy.
Day 26 the patient reported she was feeling crampy. She was concerned she was getting her period. I suspected she was pregnant and she was feeling first implantation of her baby and then the growing of her uterus and ligaments. If she were to have her period we would have to start tracking to see if addition to Low Progesterone, Anovulation from PCOS and Hypo-thyroidism, the patient may also have a luteal phase defect.
The treatments worked. Our comprehensive fertility program enabled her to ovulate twice in a row and the patient is now pregnant. Her treatment plan does not stop here. She will continue on with our treatments to prevent miscarriage. Due to her history of miscarriage, last year, she will continue with acupuncture twice a week until she is 14 weeks pregnant. This helps her baby establish a strong hold and gets them both past the first trimester.
www.EagleAcupuncture.com
Eagle Acupuncture takes some of the most difficult cases for infertility around the world. Our experts are available for phone consultations. Call our office staff to have your fertility treatment assessed by our experts. (208) 938-1277
Kristen N Burris, L.Ac., M.S.T.O.M. Women's Health & Fertility Expert
Ms. Burris or "The BABY MAKER" is pictured here holding another miracle baby from her practice. The parents of this precious girl were told you have less than 1% chance of ever having your own child.
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