I had my first IVF fail last month as I had 6 eggs fertilize but they weren't great quality & grew too slowly.
Because I'm older I tried to find out what I could do to improve my egg quality & found a lot of people directed to donor eggs with no hope of using their own.
I've always been open to other forms of healing so friends directed me to see a very well known TCM (Trad Chinese Med ) doctor here in Los Angeles. I also started reading some books on the subject.
This philosophy is remarkable!!...I can't wait to see if it works
Basically in TCM, they believe the eggs start at the same quality as a woman in her 20's, but the vessel in which they develop for 150 days (our older bodies) is flawed. What happens in older women is that the kidneys and spleen etc. become weaker. Since we need those organs to survive, the body & hormones direct the blood & nutrients away from the ovaries, (as we don't need those to survive), and over to the more vital organs like the kidney.
This results in less blood and nutrients to the ovaries, effectively starving the eggs.
IVF can stimulate more eggs, but can't make them better quality. They say it's like trying to get a starving ox to work...you don't beat it, you feed it.
So TCM tries to feed the ovaries by strengthening the kidney, spleen or whatever is weak with acupuncture and a mix of herbs. When those organs are strong, it makes sense that the hormones would then be taken out of panic mode to save the kidney and direct blood and nutrients back toward the ovaries. The eggs are then nourished and develop properly.
Acupuncture in itself also directs blood to the uterus and ovaries.
I am doing 3 months of accu twice a week, brewing herbs, and eating the right foods to see if this works before my next IVF in May. I have no idea what will happen, but the philosophy is so much more positive than picturing shriveled crusty eggs, that I can't help but do it. IVF is expensive so i want to do all I can. I know several women who have done it and increased their egg quality tremendously and become pregnant in their 40's. I know everybody rushes to do cycle after cycle but I think it's so important to really give your body a chance to strengthen like this & recover it's own rhythm. It's hard to wait, but if better quality is a distinct possibility ..why not?
I encourage every older woman to do this before resorting to donor eggs as my doctor says you can lower your biological age by 5 years. ( See an actual TCM doctor though, not just a registered acupuncturist)
For younger women, the acupuncture can help with implantation as the stims thin out the uterus & it sends extra blood there and calms contractions.
I'm healthy & healthy weight etc., but so far, I feel even better...more energy & sleeping better. I'm excited, and although my RE isn't convinced about the whole thing he knows of my TCM doctor & is going to work with him through the cycle. So I feel covered on all sides.
Has anyone else done the full TCM program & had success? I would love to hear any stories...good and bad.....this is such a learning process.
Rin
(the highest it's ever been) and my last AF was sparse
I mean, I know it's only one indicator but it seems like the TCM has really helped. AF is different too, with no cramping, hardly any clots & much brighter oxygentated blood.