November 30
Aging is a sensitive topic for most women. No one wants to grow old, but no one can stop the process of aging—the onset of wrinkles and gray hair. While we cannot stop time, we can moderate how it affects us. In modern society, our lifestyles can accelerate aging: stress, poor diet, inadequate sleep, and other habits all influence how quickly or slowly our bodies decline.
For women, aging is closely tied to the number and quality of eggs in the ovaries. Eggs are present from the time a baby is in her mother’s womb and do not multiply like sperm. As a woman loses eggs throughout her life, she also ages; this process usually ends around age 50, when menopause occurs. Lifestyle factors—stress, diet, and overall health—can influence the ovarian environment, accelerating egg apoptosis and reducing egg quality. Consequently, an unhealthy lifestyle can lead to premature menopause.
Women with such lifestyle factors often have a lower chance of pregnancy compared with peers of the same age with healthier habits. In my career, I have seen many women with premature ovarian failure due to highly stressful lives. I have also treated patients with low ovarian reserve caused by restrictive diets, such as vegetarianism without proper nutritional guidance. Katie is one such example.
Katie, a 44-year-old teacher working with children with speech difficulties, was tense and stressed from her job and struggled to eat properly due to her busy schedule. When she first visited me, she had not had a period for three months and had experienced irregular cycles for the year prior. She reported hot flashes, night sweats, extreme thirst, fatigue, stress, hair loss, vaginal dryness, and low libido. When her period did occur, it was very light.
Katie had already had one child via IVF at age 40. Afterward, she tried to conceive again. She underwent three IVF cycles, but each failed—either only one egg was produced, or the eggs would not mature. Her FSH level, over 50 miu/ml, indicated she was approaching menopause.
“Do you think I still have hope?” she asked during her first visit. I reassured her that she did. I explained that Chinese medicine works differently from Western medicine. Western medicine stimulates the ovaries externally to produce eggs, forcing them to function in ways they might not naturally.
Chinese medicine, on the other hand, balances the body and optimizes the ovarian environment, encouraging eggs to grow efficiently. I explained that she only needed one good-quality egg to have a chance at pregnancy. Though still doubtful, she was willing to try. I evaluated her condition and diagnosed kidney deficiency with qi and yin insufficiency. I recommended daily Chinese herbs and weekly acupuncture.
After the first week of treatment, her hot flashes and night sweats disappeared, and her sleep improved. By the second week, she ovulated, and vaginal discharge increased. After four weeks, she experienced a full period. After 11 months of treatment, she became pregnant. At 11 weeks, blood work and a level 2 sonogram confirmed a healthy pregnancy.
Katie was not an anomaly. In the past, I successfully treated a 45-year-old woman with a similar condition, who became pregnant with twins via IVF at age 46. Another patient conceived naturally at 45 after failed IVF, with acupuncture support.
These cases demonstrate that, regardless of age, egg quality can improve if the ovarian environment is optimized. Chinese medicine and acupuncture enhance pelvic circulation, delivering more oxygen and nutrients to the ovaries for egg and antral follicle growth. This improved environment enhances egg quality: eggs develop more FSH receptors, lowering FSH levels, and mature fully. Additionally, egg DNA remains more stable, reducing genetic variability.
This is a key advantage of Chinese medicine. Western medicine often assumes strict limits on the body’s capabilities, relying on external interventions. In reality, the human body is remarkable, with natural abilities that should not be underestimated. By supporting the body as it was designed to function, we can help it achieve its full potential—and in turn, it responds remarkably well.
