Infertility
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Definition
- Primary infertility: Couples have never conceived at any stage.
- Secondary infertility: Couples will have had a pregnancy, although not necessarily a successful one.
Causes and Pathological Mechanisms
The causes of female infertility are quite complex, but are mainly due to the deficiency of both Kidney Yin and Yang, a Qi and Blood Deficiency causing poor egg quality or depression of the Liver (Qi causes ovulation). Phlegm may also have an effect as Dampness and Blood Stasis causes difficulty in implantation. Endocrinal causes can also exist.
Patterns
- Symptoms: Delayed menstruation; light-coloured bleed; watery discharges, low libido; cold sensation in the lower abdomen accompanied by gloomy complexion, soreness and weakness in the waist and knees, loose stools with copious urine in the night.
- Tongue: Pale tongue with white coating
- Pulse: Deep and Thready
- Treatment strategy: Warm the kidneys and tonify Yang
- Formula: You Gui Wan
- Acupoints:
- Symptoms: Delayed menstruation; scanty and light-coloured menstruation; lack of mucus; low libido; sensation of weakness in the lower back; constipation with copious urine in the night.
- Tongue: Pale tongue and lack of coating
- Pulse: Deep and Small
- Treatment strategy: Nourishing the kidney Yin
- Formula: Zuo Gui Wan
- Acupoints:
- Symptoms: Delayed menstruation, scanty and light-coloured menstruation, pale complexion, dizziness and tiredness.
- Tongue: Slightly pale tongue and light coating
- Pulse: Small
- Treatment strategy: Tonifying the Qi and Blood
- Formula: Ba Zhen Tang
- Acupoints:
- Symptoms: Irregular and/or clotted menstruation; premenstrual distending pain over the nipples and breasts; oppressive sensation in the chest plus hypochondria, bloated stomach, headache, mental depression or restlessness and irritability.
- Tongue: Pale tongue with light white coating
- Pulse: Wiry
- Treatment strategy: Soothe the liver to promote the flow of Qi
- Formula: Xiao Yao Wan
- Acupoints:
- Symptoms: Delayed menstruation or even amenorrhea, heavy or sticky discharges, obesity, dizziness, chest distress, nausea, sleepy or tried.
- Tongue: Pale tongue with white and greasy coating
- Pulse: Slippery
- Treatment strategy: Dispel phlegm and dampness and regulating the flow of Qi and Blood
- Formula: Qi Gong Wan
- Acupoints:
- Symptoms: Scarce and purplish dark menses mixed with blood clots; abdominal pain aggravated by pressing; relief of pain after discharge of clots. Pelvic inflammation and endometriosis often exists.
- Tongue: Purplish dark tongue with ecchymoses
- Pulse: Wiry and Slippery
- Treatment strategy: Expel blood stasis
- Formula: Ge Xia Xu Yu Tang
- Acupoints:
References
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