Mrs H, a 34 years Old Iranian English housewife, had been attempting pregnancy for 3 years without positive result with an irregular menstrual circle. Her period comes 4-5/ 1-3months with stress, nervousness, and restlessness; due to infertility, the couple felt a lot of pressure.
Her husband Mr. S, 37 years old IT technician, is found some abnormality in his sperm as well lower sperm account (Density 0.10 million / ml), less than 25 % of sperm motility. When they registered to go for an ART treatment and got in a waiting list, they came to see me. She had received acupuncture for two months before she visited me.
Diagnosis of western medicine:
Mrs. H: Polycystic ovary / Irregular menstruation
Mr. S: Sperm disorder
Treatment: both of them were given a regular TCM treatment:
Mrs. H:
Clinical figures: irregular menstrual circles: 4-5/30-90, nervousness, restlessness, tiredness,
Stress, some acnes on chins and chest, loose bowel movement. Light red and plump tongue with teeth marks, wiry-fine pulse.
Differentiation syndrome of TCM: Damp-phlegm accumulation with blood stasis and spleen and Kidney deficiencies.
Acupuncture and moxibustion:
Shenque: Moxi
Acupuncture:
Ren4Guanyuan, Ren6 Qihai, St29 Guilai, Du20 Baihui, Du24 Shenting,
Sp9yinlingquan, Sp6 Sanyinjiao, St36 Zusanli, Sj5 Waiguan, Gb41Zulinqi
Herbal medicine: Shudihuang (Radix Rhemanniae Glutinosae Praeparata) 15,
Xianmao (Rhizoma Curculiginis Orchioidis) 10,
Yinyanghuo (Herba Epimedii) 20,
Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) 10,
Banxia (Rhizoma Pinelliae Ternatae) 10,
Cangzhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis) 10,
Chuanxiong (Radix Ligustici Wallichii) 10,
Chishao (Radix Paeoniae Rubrae) 10,
Yimucao (Herba Leonuri Heterophylli) 10,
Fuling ((Sclerotium Poriae Cocos)) 10,
Xiangfu (Rhizoma Cyperi Rotundi) 10,
Honghua (Flos Carthami Tinctorii) 10
Before ovulation: Zishiying (Fluoritum) 10,
Taoren (Semen Pruni Persicae) 10 are added
Before period: Tusizi (Semen Cuscutae Chinensis) 10-30,
Zelan (Herba Lycopi Lucidi) 10 are added
Mr. S:
Clinical figures: stress, generally feeling good. He didn’t recognize his sperm disorder before. Light red tongue, wiry pulse
Differentiation of TCM: Liver Qi stagnation and Kidney Qi deficiency
Patent herbal medicine: Wuziyanzongwan
Jiaweixiaoyaowan
Explanation:
For the wife—H:
Acupuncture:
Main points:
Ren4 Guanyuan and Ren6 Qihai reinforce Orginal Qi and Kidney Qi:
St29 Guilai and St 36 Zusanli remove excessive damp and phlegm;
Sp9 Yinlingquan and Sp6 Sanyinjiao strengthen spleen and release excessive dampness;
Du20 Baihui and Du24 Shenting calm down in mind;
Sj5 Waiguan and Gb41 Zulinqi eliminate stagnated qi
Sheque is moxied for strengthening the vitality gate and promoting
the original Qi
Herbal medicine prescription:
Shudi, Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), Chishao (Radix Paeoniae Rubrae), Chuanxiong (Radix Ligustici Wallichii) nourish blood and release blood stasis; Banxia (Rhizoma Pinelliae Ternatae), Fuling (Sclerotium Poriae Cocos), Cangzhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis) dry and remove excessive damp and phlegm; Xianmao (Rhizoma Curculiginis Orchioidis), Yinyanghuo (Herba Epimedii) strengthen Kidney Qi and agitate Kidney Yang; Yimucao (Herba Leonuri Heterophylli) , Honghua (Flos Carthami Tinctorii) push blood circulation; Xiangfu (Rhizoma Cyperi Rotundi) pushes the liver Qi to move smoothly.
Before ovulation: Zishiying (Fluoritum) promotes egg growth; Taoren (Semen Pruni Persicae) removes blood stasis and pushes Egg ejaculation;
Before period: Yimucao (Herba Leonuri Heterophylli) regulates endometria circulation and releases blood stasis in the uterus; Zelan (Herba Lycopi Lucidi) dispels all dampness from lower burner.
For the husband---S
Wuziyanzongwan: Tusizi (Semen Cuscutae Chinensis), Gouqizi (Fructus Lycii), Fupenzi (Fructus Rubi Chingii), Sangshenzi (Fructus Mori Albae) and Cheqianzi (Semen Plantaginis) 5 herbal seeds strengthen Kidney and nourish Essence to increase sperm activity;
Jiaweixiaoyaowan: Chaihu (Radix Bupleuri) and Zhishi(Fructus Immaturus Citri Aurantii) remove stagnated liver Qi for promoting general relaxation and blockage release in the testicles; Chishao (Radix Paeoniae Rubrae) and Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) remove blood stasis for healing chronic damage inside testicles; Fuling (Sclerotium Poriae Cocos) and Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) reinforce spleen and dry the excessive dampness; Zhizi (Fructus Gardeniae Jasminoidis) and Mudanpi (Cortex Moutan Radicis) release excessive liver heat for healing chronic inflammation inside of testicles.
Outcome:
After regular TCM treatment for 5 months, Ms. H was having her period every months 4-5/28-30; when they got the Gynecological consultant’ s appointment, the expert was very pleased about her state and relevant hormonal level. The sperm observation of Mr. S also improved (Density 20 million / ml, 50 % of sperm motility)
The expert of laboratory suggested they can accept ICSI.
They were given an ICSI, a sperm in the best quality is elected in the laboratory which was transferred into the wife’s uterus. She got conceived and went through a normal pregnancy procedure and had a healthy baby boy in the full term.
Analysis:
ICSI is a type of ART which elects a sperm in a good quality in the laboratory and injects it into lady’s uterus, so it is suitable for men with sperm disorder. Both of this couple had some problems, which is why they tried 3 years to conceive without a positive result. The wife was treated for her irregular menstruation which might be PCOS, and she got a successful result and had a regular menstrual circle; the sperm of the husband was improved with patent herbs, but they may still need a longer time to have a natural pregnancy. The ICSI technique gave them quick success, after their sufficient preparation with TCM.
Reference:
Dan Jiang, Tianjun Wang, Chapter 8: TCM’s promotion to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), Understanding, Managing and Treating Female Infertility with Traditional Chinese Medicine, Edited by Peilin Sun, Weixiang Wang, Shulan Tang, Dec 2018, Publisher: Singing Dragon.