If you are trying to conceive, it can be alarming to receive laboratory blood test results that point to reduced fertility.
The two main hormones imbalances that lead doctors to give a negative diagnosis of “low ovarian reserve” or “poor egg quality” are: A low AMH (Anti-Mullerian Hormone), which is produced by the small follicles in a woman’s ovaries and/or a high FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone), which is secreted by the anterior pituitary gland to promote the formation of ovarian follicles.
The first thing I like to remind patients is that any blood work is a snap shot in time and not an exact predictor of fertility. Also, keep in mind that no blood test can tell the whole story about a person’s state of health.
I have treated countless women who have been told by their reproductive endocrinologist that they will never conceive because of low ovarian reserve or poor egg quality and yet go on to fall pregnant naturally with the help of acupuncture and Chinese herbs.
I create a personalized treatment plan to address any underlying imbalances and work from all angles to bring my patients to the conception tipping point.
When AMH first began to be widely used as a marker for fertility, it was considered to be an immutable predictor. However, in my practice, I have seen women with low AMH fall pregnant on their own or with the assistance of reproductive technologies such as IVF or IUI. I have also seen my patients show improvements in their AMH levels after receiving acupuncture and making changes in diet and lifestyle.
I have also had good success in helping patients bring down their FSH levels through acupuncture and lifestyle changes. In addition to other suggestions, I often recommend cutting out alcohol and caffeine and improving sleep habits.
Egg quality can be positively influenced by acupuncture, food therapy, and Chinese herbs. An egg is like a seed. How we “water” it (by increasing blood and qi circulation and nourishment to the ovaries and uterus) can be the difference between a negative and positive pregnancy test.