Treatments

Initial Consultation and Fertility Evaluation

During the first visit, you will have the opportunity to have your questions answered and to participate in developing a plan for further evaluation and/or treatment.

We strongly encourage both partners to be present for this meeting. The initial consultation is a comprehensive evaluation of your general health, history and medical records, and symptoms. The questions may be very extensive, including:

• Stress, life style, emotion
• Sleeping, eating and drinking habits, urine and stool
• Fear of coldness and hotness, sweating, rapid heartbeat, energy, etc
• The quantity of the menstrual blood, menstrual cycle, blood color, menstrual abdominal pain, breast cyst, etc
• Secretion during the ovulation period (watch when you will ovulate)
• Irregular discharge from vagina
• Reduction in menstrual blood after cessation of the use of contraceptive pills
• Changes in menstruation after abortion

How can Chinese herbal medicine help infertility?

A physical examination using traditional Chinese diagnostic methods will be performed, including taking your pulse and examining your tongue to determine its color and coating. In addition, the abdomen, back and other body areas may be palpated.

At this time, scheduling can be done for further diagnostic testing that has never been performed and possibly repeat tests in which results may be outdated. This may include:

• Hormone test
• Blood test
• Urine test
• Semen Analysis
• Ultrasonography

Once the above information is collected, an analysis is made on the causes of the symptoms to determine the root cause of your infertility based on the theories of Chinese medicine and western medical diagnosis. During the consultation, our doctors will explain to you what needs to be done to address your infertility and provide answers to your questions.

Then our specialists will prescribe the best Chinese herbal formulas to the patient to eliminate the root cause of his/her infertility and thus help to increase the pregnancy rates.

You may begin treatment immediately following your initial consultation, or you might return to discuss the results of your blood tests, initial sonogram, and semen analysis (if this was done) and determine the best fertility care strategy based on your goals.

Psychological Counselling

Infertility is a highly stressful experience and a painful journey. We believe that providing resources for psychological and emotional support during the treatment process is an important element of fertility care.

Couple with vast experience and knowledge about aspects of infertility counseling, our doctors can help you develop strategies to handle the personal stresses that may occur and offer assistance with communicating your feelings to each other and family and friends.

You will receive emotional support through this process for a holistic approach to infertility. You can expect and pleased by the personalized attention you receive at our medical centre.

For more information on counseling, contact Dr. Khoo & Dr. Lai.

Fertility treatments with Chinese Herbal Medications

We utilize the natural Chinese medicine to treat infertility. Chinese medicine maintains that Qi (vital energy or life force), blood and body fluids are the body’s basic components. These components form the material basis of energy for the viscera and organs to perform their physiological functions, thus making it possible for the human body to be active in its activities. Chinese medicine emphasizes the harmony of Qi and blood and the balance of Yin and Yang and pays special attention to deficiency or excess of the function of organs.

Deficiency is “less than normal” or hypofunction; excess is “more than normal” or hyperfunction. Both Qi and blood circulate through the whole body. Any congestion, deficiency or excess may cause an imbalance and lead to disease. The Yin deficiency is the result of Yang’s hyperactivity. Therefore, the root cause of Yin deficiency is Yang excess. To make it clear, Yang deficiency is hypothyroidism, Yang excess is hyperthyroidism. Usually it is called Yin deficiency in Chinese medicine.

How can Chinese herbal medicine help infertility?

Here we use the best chinese herbal medications to improve your reproductive system and regulate your endocrine system, to improve the qualities of semen and follicles, to improve your general health and fertility capabilities, to make sure you have the best pregnancy and a beautiful delivery. A typical approach of Chinese medicine is to improve Qi, blood, energy and reproductive organs, stabilizing and strengthening your hormones.

For female infertility, while some patients fail to ovulate, others may have too thin lining in the uterus. Some may suffer from endometriosis, others may have an overgrown endometrium. Pregnancy is also jeopardized when something goes wrong with the immune system or when the primary metabolism is in disorder. We offer the successful Chinese medicine infertility treatment based entirely on natural herbs in treating female infertility. The herbal medicine developed by our doctors help women enhance their reproductive potential by harmonizing the endocrine system, which regulates the menstrual cycle. The effects of the herbs vary. They may act on the ovulatory phase; they may regulate the secretion of mucus; they may stimulate the uterus; or they may assist in the production of adequate progesterone.

Most cases of male infertility involve some form of kidney deficiency, which can be treated effectively with our kidney tonifying Chinese medicine treatments. Many of our patients with semen abnormalities were treated with our herbal formula. Semen analysis after treatment showed sperm parameters improved tremendously. Not only does the motility, speed, count, concentration and morphology improve but sperm fragmentation is often successfully treated using our medicine.

Conception means the union of the sperm and the ovum. It depends on the couple’s overall health. Stress, depression, endocrine hormone, uterus condition and the body’s primary metabolism may all impact conception. For instance, if the female’s blood is deficient, the egg may not be healthy enough to be fertilized, much less to develop into a viable embryo. If the uterus has thin lining, fibroids, cysts or low temperature, then embryo is unable to be implanted. Therefore, stress, anxiety, negative emotions, malfunctioning metabolism, thyrosis or disorder of endocrine function can cause an imbalance in the body, which can lead to infertility or miscarriage. Pregnancy cannot be achieved unless the whole body of the couple is functioning normally. Conception is impossible when the male has a low sperm count which may be related to low hormone level or deficiency of kidney function. In Chinese medicine, kidney function includes the production of adrenocortical hormone. There may be other causes of male infertility, such as high body temperature or spermophlebectasia.

We emphasizes on using natural Chinese medicine in treating infertility. The focus of our treatment is not just to nourish, to tonify or to enhance the function of a particular reproductive organs, or to address the body’s deficiency or excess but to bring Yin and Yang into harmony and to ensure the normal function of the whole body and it's systems.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is integrated into our Chinese medicine to achieve optimal physical and mental health. Acupuncture is a method of encouraging the body to promote natural “well-being” and to improve functioning. This is achieved by inserting needles in the skin at various precise acupuncture points. The precise points provide channels of energy called meridians. The meridians can be influenced by needling the acupuncture points; the acupuncture needles unblock the obstruction and will re-establish the regular flow through the meridians.

Acupuncture can help restore the body’s balance, and energy production activities, and improve the circulation of energy through the meridians. The improved energy and biochemical balance produced by acupuncture results in the body’s natural healing abilities, and promotes physical and emotional well-being. This approach is key in creating overall health which will affect reproductive health.

Some of the benefits attributed to acupuncture during fertility treatments are:

• Increased blood flow to the uterus resulting in uterine wall thickening and increased implantation rate.
• Increased endorphin production which is believed to affect the release of GnRH, involved in regulating reproduction.
• Lower stress hormones responsible for infertility.
• Improvement in plasma levels of FSH, LH, estradiol and progesterone, all fertility hormones.
• Normalization and regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis.
• A positive effect for women with polycystic ovarian syndrome, to improve follicular growth and ovulation.
• Improve the overall fertility success rates and general health.

Tai Chi Quan

Many couples who are experiencing difficulties getting pregnant have turned to natural fertility methods that involve a more holistic and meditative approach to improving fertility. Among these alternative infertility treatments is Tai Chi – a practice that values tranquility, reflection, and the integration of body, mind, and spirit.

Tai Chi involve slow and graceful movements that focus on concentration and deep breathing techniques. Tai Chi is based around the concept of Chi, a life energy that flows through the body through different pathways, sustaining physical health and calming the mind. Since blocked chi is believed to be a source of illness and disease. Tai Chi aims to improve the flow of energy through the body, thereby improving energy balance and restoring blocked Chi. For couples who are looking to increase their chances of getting pregnant, Tai Chi exercises may just be an ideal treatment to improve natural fertility.

Tai Chi offers a low-impact exercise method based on the key principle of “wu-wei” or the power of “non-action”. In other words, Tai Chi are not forced or subject to a strict regimen, and are instead fluid and meditative.

Some of the common Tai Chi positions and basic Tai Chi movements involve the following:

• deep breathing, relaxation and concentration
• focused attention to relax the mind and body, and cultivate mental alertness
• exercises that strengthen muscles and bones through weight balance of the body
• weight bearing exercises (often balanced on one leg) that improve coordination, balance and control

Benefits of Tai Chi

Today, many practitioners and researchers are finding a variety of health benefits as a result of regular Tai Chi practice. Apart from improving fertility, regular practice of Tai chi exercises has been linked with the following benefits:

• building strength and enhancing muscle tone
• improving circulation
• improving balance, flexibility, and posture
• improving coordination and range of motion
• lowering blood pressure
• reducing levels of stress hormones
• easing arthritis pain and preventing osteoporosis
• increasing relaxation
• increasing energy
• improving concentration

Studies have shown that Tai Chi reduces levels of stress hormones in individuals, making it a great way to relax and prevent additional infertility complications due to stress. In addition, this helps individuals sleep better and relieves any tension or anxiety.

Qi Gong

Qi Gong is also incorporated into one of our therapies to achieve optimal physical and mental health. Qi Gong is a meditative movement exercise performed in Chinese medicine wellness practices.

The intention of Qi Gong is to tap into, balance and enliven the flow of energy in the body. The mind is stilled as energetic blockages are released and flow is restored to the center channel or microcosmic orbit, also known in Western medicine as the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Qi Gong assists with opening up the meridians that lead to the uterus and ovaries.

Qi Gong for fertility is a simple and effective technique that can increase the connection between the mind and the body. Similar to Yoga, it helps increase the circulation to the reproductive organs, alleviate stress, and quiet the mind.

Meditation

Learning relaxation breathing through meditation is one of the most effective, yet simple way that we offer to increase fertility. Mind-body practices that produce a relaxation response have been used by people across cultures for thousands of years to prevent and treat diseases.

When you are at ease and release stress and worries, your body enters a state of rejuvenation and healing. This state can assist women who suffer from hormonal imbalances, have luteal phase deficiencies, have anovulatory cycles or are going through in vitro fertilization treatments. The relaxation breathing technique you will be learning here is meant to assist your body re-create balance at the mental, physical and emotional level.

Relaxation breathing is a very easy way to learn the practice of meditation and visualization. This may take some time, but once you feel how relaxed and at peace you can be, you will not be able to go without meditating a little every day.

Fertility meditation and visualization practice through relaxation breathing should become your daily bread and butter if you want to achieve conception faster and it will help especially if you are going through in vitro cycles.

Meditating helps your mind become in tune with your body. When your mind is at ease, not wondering around or overwhelmed by worrying thoughts, your body receives messages of wellness and healing can occur.