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 treatment with electro-stimulation at 2Hz reported a significant improvement in sperm count and motility compared with the 2 control groups.
ELT – Electro-Lymphatic Therapy
- Electro-Lymphatic Drainage Therapy (ELT) is a gentle and non-invasive therapy that helps to stimulate proper flow and drainage of the lymphatic system, simulating the effects of a lymphatic drainage massage or tuina without the pain and pressure. ELT is performed using an FDA-registered wellness device to boost your overall wellness.
- Good lymphatic drainage can help to reduce stagnation and reducing inflammation/phlegm in the body, especially in the lower limbs and lower abdomen which is commonly plagued by pathogenic factors like dampness and cold. Hence, good lymphatic drainage works well with TCM therapies by reducing the herbal dosage and duration needed for strong dampness-clearing herbs, and tonifying herbs can be used earlier once pathogenic factors have been cleared allowing the course of treatment to be much shortened and more efficacious.
Dietary Changes and Supplementation
- Alcohol must be totally removed from the diet. Mitochondria are the “batteries” of the sperm (and all cells in general) and since alcohol is a mitochondrial toxin, without proper functioning mitochondria, the sperm would be unable to propel itself forward as it would lack the proper “batteries” to do so.
- Nicotine from smoking constricts the peripheral vessels thereby limiting blood flow into the organs. Over time, this can result in loss of flexibility and elasticity of the vessels, and thus impair the proper functioning of the testes as both blood flow in and out is affected.
- Exposure to excess heat should also be limited to a minimum as spermatogenesis(production of sperm) is a temperature-sensitive process. Lifestyle modification includes avoidance of sauna and steam-baths as well as any tight-fitting clothes and undergarments. The temperature of the testes should ideally be 2 degrees celsius below body temperature.
- A proper diet of fresh food eaten at regular time intervals is also greatly beneficial. Fresh produce contains fewer preservatives compared to canned or preserved food, thus lowering the toxicity load on our liver.
Certain medications can affect spermatogenesis, so do clarify with your doctor to ascertain that the medication you are on does not decrease your fertility. - Lastly, find ways to relax and stay positive. Trying for a child can be a tiring process, lowering stress will help both you and your partner achieve a more robust and passionate relationship together and increase the chances of a natural pregnancy.
1 Ammar T, Sidhu P S, Wilkins C J. Male infertility: the role of imaging in diagnosis and management[J]. Br J Radiol, 2012, 85 Spec No 1: S59-68.
Hear from patients treated by our Senior Physician Lim specializing in male infertility!
“After taking the [herbal] medicine by Physician Lim, not only have my headaches and nausea subsided, my sleep has improved a whole lot and my wife is now 4 weeks pregnant! Thank you for the advice given and the care from the team!”
– Mr Pan
Your healing is the most important!
In Oriental Remedies Group, we have more than 10 certified bi-lingual TCM Physicians. Each of them has been trained in both Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) and China for a minimum of 5-8 years, in both Biomedical Science and TCM before being certified to practice in Singapore.
Specifically, we have Senior Physician Lim who have worked with numerous couples suffering from infertility in both Singapore and China. By combining Traditional Chinese Medicine therapies and expertise with modern integrative therapies, we strive to provide the best care possible in your journey with us.
If you or a loved one is suffering from infertility, we would like to help.
Please contact us at +65 8742 2163 for a personalized consultation.
This article is written by Senior Physician Lim Jing Yang, Oriental Remedies Group
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