Infertility

This week’s article discusses the correlation between low ovarian reserve and bone density.  From a Chinese perspective this makes sense, especially when women are experiencing hot flashing (HF) and night sweating (NS).  These two symptoms are commonly found in the kidney yin deficiency pattern.  The kidney energy is the primary source of reproductive reserves.  Just like a car, we have a tank of energy and if we travel too far without fueling up, the energy can run out.  That tank of energy is found in the kidneys and as the tank starts to get low the emergency light comes on […]

Since I started specializing in fertility, I have noticed a common belief in which women trust their fertility will stay strong until the early forties.  As part of the treatment process, I discuss family planning with all reproductive aged women.  There are so many misconceptions around fertility and beliefs about when to conceive, most young women (late teen age years to late twenties) don’t comprehend how this is will be a long journey for some.  Too many women see other ladies in their forties pregnant and believing it occurred naturally.  Women don’t realize the pregnant forty something moms have undergone […]

As part of the process of helping women conceive, a complete discussion of their menstrual cycle history is an important factor in Chinese medicine.  When asked “Do you have problems with your menstrual cycle?” most women will answer its normal.  It has become clear to me that women have little knowledge of what a normal menstrual is like.  From a Chinese medicine perspective a normal cycle will be:

 
*Regular 27 to 30 days between bleeding

*No spotting or very little spotting before the period.

*No breast tenderness

*Minimal mood swings or changes in bowel movements before or during the period

*Minor cramping (cramping should […]

Inositol, a member of the B-vitamin family, has been center of great interest.  Forms of inositol have been found to improve insulin levels in diabetic patients and improved follicular growth/ovulation/menstrual cycles in PCOS women. 

What is inositol?    It is a B-vitamin and the sweet nature of inositol comes in part from the properties that make up the nutrient, in particular the component of cyclohexanehexol. While still a form of sugar, inositol works differently from glucose. Inositol is a compound that has nine different forms. The most well-known and nutritionally active form is "myo-inositol", which most people simply refer to as […]