Improving Male Fertility Using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Improving Male Fertility Using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Link copied! If you and your spouse have been actively but unsuccessfully trying for a child, please know that you are definitely not alone. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), infertility will be the third most serious health condition after cancer and cardiovascular diseases plaguing humanity in the 21st century. About 40 per cent of married Singaporean couples who are actively trying for a baby are “not happy” with their progress, according to a recent survey on fertility health released in July 2019. While women traditionally bore the stigma of infertility and childlessness, the man’s role in infertility issues is gaining awareness. Recent statistics show that married couples experiencing infertility are due to problems arising from the male partner.1 While there is a lack of nationwide data regarding male reproductive health, doctors say rising male infertility rates here mirror the global phenomenon of declining sperm quality in the last 40 years. How is infertility defined? Infertility is defined as a failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. How can Oriental Remedies Group help men who are experiencing infertility issues? Note: All words in Italics refer to the TCM organ-system and not the anatomical organ referenced in western medicine. Step 1: Full analysis of the semen analysis report The first step to understanding male infertility involves making sense of the semen analysis report. According to the 5th edition of the WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen, a normal semen sample should fulfil the parameters below: An example of a semen analysis report A sex hormone test (testosterone, estrogen, FSH, LH and prolactin levels) can be very helpful in providing the physician with baseline information about your endocrine health. This report combined with other findings mentioned above helps the physician determine the number of courses required for treatment. An example of a sex hormone test. Source: Reddit In a typical consult, our experienced physicians would encourage our patients to bring their past health reports especially any fertility test results for a holistic understanding of the couple’s health conditions. Step 2: Understand the root cause issues from a TCM perspective Male infertility can be due to many factors ranging from congenital factors, dietary habits, emotional extremes, external pathogenic factors, external injuries and maltreatment among various others. However, not every male exposed to the same external factors results in infertility. This can be attributed to the health of the individual’s Kidneys. With this understanding, modern eminent TCM andrologists like Professor Xu Fu Song(徐福松) and Wang Qi (王琦) have successfully treated numerous patients for many decades by combining continual research in TCM and use of scientific advances in semen analysis and endocrine testing. TCM believes that the Kidneys govern the pre-natal essence or Jing(精) in the human body. This pre-natal essence is what determines the quality of our reproductive ability to carry on the family line. Having said that, the quality of the Kidney essence depends largely on the surplus Qi(气) which our other organs produce. TCM handles male infertility by understanding if there are excess or deficiencies in the body. Tonifying deficiency and removing excess is a fundamental technique used to restore balance and harmony to the body. The semen analysis content is first divided into classifications of excess or deficiency. For example, when there is a diminished sperm concentration, it could signify a deficiency in the body resulting in Kidney deficiency. When the percentage of sperm with normal morphology is low, it usually signifies that there is an excess in pathogenic factors that have to be cleared in order to restore balance to the body. Other than the semen analysis, the sexual function of the male is also assessed as different symptoms of erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation could provide clues as to which organs are not functioning optimally. Examples like erectile dysfunction during stressful periods is a signal of Liver Qi stagnation whereas premature ejaculation combined with frequent sweating alludes to Lung Qi deficiency. Step 3: Customised treatment approach at Oriental Remedies Group (ORG)? Because everyone is unique and lead dissimilar lifestyles, a one size fits all approach will be insufficient to manage this issue. Only a holistic approach taking into consideration all factors that result in poor fertility can TCM manage this condition. This means that not only will you regain your reproductive health, your general health will also see visible and perceptible improvement. Through our TCM diagnosis and observing how our body reacts to our diet, lifestyle and environment, we can empower you to make the right choices and tailor-make a treatment course most beneficial to your reproductive health. What are the treatments offered for fertility improvements? Herbal Medication Our experienced and well-trained physicians will go through with you your body condition, daily habits and so on to gain a better understanding about the root causes of the imbalances in your body. For example, if the root cause is due to spleen deficiency and dampness, the physicians may prescribe Bai Zhu, Fu Ling and Yi Yi Ren to tonify the Spleen and remove dampness. If the issues are more related to Kidney Yin deficiency, the physicians may use Gou qi zi, Shu Di Huang, Shan Zhu Yu to replenish Kidney Yin. As for damp-heat, Tu Fu Ling, Bi Xie and Che Qian Zi to clear heat and drain dampness. For infertility patients, common herbs that are prescribed to help boost the quality of sperm include Gou Qi Zi, Tu Si Zi, Wu Wei Zi, Fu Pen Zi and Che Qian Zi. These 5 herbs combine to form a decoction called Wu Zi Yan Zong Wan, the premier fertility decoction of ancient and modern times. However, the components of each infertility patient’s medication would differ based on the root cause(s) and deficiencies they may have. Acupuncture Acupuncture uses very fine needles into specific points along the meridians to correct the imbalances of the various organs. In one study regarding acupuncture and abnormal semen parameters, acupuncture was used to stimulate 4 points on the body namely, BL23 (Shen Shu), ST36 (Zu San Li), CV1 (Hui Yin) and CV4 (Guan Yuan). A placebo control group together with a blank control group were included in the study. The researchers found that the patients who underwent the acupuncture