When a woman cannot ovulate or when her egg is not released from the ovaries during menstruation, she probably is suffering from a condition known as anovulation. Infertility usually occurs when a woman experiences anovulatory cycles.
Amenorrhea is a missed period or lack of blood flow. Symptoms of menstrual and ovulation disorders include Irregular menstrual cycles or absence of periods and no rising basal body temperature during the expected time at mid-cycle.
Chinese herbs and acupuncture can help address almost all menstrual disorders and ovulation problems by aiding the body in achieving endocrine and hormonal balance.
One benefit of acupuncture is that it boosts blood circulation to all reproductive organs; this boost means that the organs are receiving the maximum amounts of nutrients and oxygen, and that there is regulation and adequate production of hormones. From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the chi or energy of the body is allowed to circulate without hindrance which nourishes and heal the body in a safe, effective and natural way.
The likeliest cause of a lot of menstrual and ovulation issues are usually a disturbance in the endocrine system. A problem with the hypothalamus or pituitary gland may arise. They are responsible for the regulation of the reproductive hormones. For example, a woman might suffer from hormone disruptions due to a disorder such as PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). There may also be too much or too little estrogen in a woman’s body. Absence of ovulation is oftentimes not the cause of infertility: there may be other health issues she’s suffering like stress, fibroids, or endometriosis. If you’re suffering from an irregular menstrual cycle because of the stoppage of oral contraceptives, Chinese medicine and acupuncture can help return your body to a natural cycle.
For non-pregnant women, a few common reasons for irregular menstrual cycle or no period, including no ovulation, are:
• Obesity
• Low body weight
• Endurance training or intense exercise
• Bulimia or anorexia
• Birth control pills and other drugs
• Stress due to travel, illness or emotional swings
• Use of illicit drugs
• Hormone imbalances, including thyroid problems
• Breast feeding – often your menses will not return until breast feeding is complete
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
As mentioned a while ago, acupuncture increases blood circulation to the reproductive organs providing those organs with the maximum amounts of nutrients and oxygen. It also helps the hormones move easily through the body. Chinese medicine can help your body return to a natural cycle if you have an irregular menstrual cycle because you stopped taking oral contraceptives.
TCM practitioners can also provide treatments for menstrual cramps, PMS, endometriosis, stress and other problems that are able to interfere with your normal menstrual cycle. A major factor in hormone imbalances is anxiety which acupuncture can easily treat. Most acupuncture patients report of dramatic improvement with their menstrual health and ovulation while the treatment is still ongoing. It usually takes three to six months of regular treatment to see significant results. One of the best things about acupuncture is that its benefits are all natural without the need for synthetic hormones or other medications.
If weight problems are causing you to anovulate, a TCM practitioner will be happy to support you in searching for a healthy relationship with your weight in order for you to attain greater reproductive health. Food, in Chinese medicine is one of the nourishing building blocks to good health. Certain foods that are often eaten can disrupt the qi of the body. Changing the kinds of foods you eat, excluding others and adding some, can help readjust your systems so they can work optimally. If you have a healthy body, it means that every aspect of your body becomes healthier in a natural way.
Amy-SuiQun Lui, L.Ac.
Asian Health Center
27059 Grand Army of the Republic Hwy
Cleveland, OH 44143
Tel: (440) 833-0983