November 30
I have recently met many women suffering from diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). They often present with similar conditions: low antral follicle count (AFC), low AMH, or elevated FSH and E2. Many of these women have tried to conceive for years and have undergone multiple medical treatments, including IVF. Some were even encouraged to consider donor eggs.
DOR can occur at any age. While aging is a significant contributing factor, other risks—particularly in younger women—are less well known. Causes of DOR may include lifestyle, diet, genetic factors, infections, and hospital-related interventions. Women with lower ovarian reserves often also have lower egg quality. Most do not realize they have DOR until they experience difficulty conceiving. Conventional treatment typically involves hormones or hormone receptor modulators. Many of these patients have also tried timed intercourse, IUI, or IVF, but results are often disappointing.
Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture have been used for decades to support patients with DOR. Clinical studies indicate that these approaches can increase the chances of pregnancy.
Kristy is one such case. She was a 38-year-old mother who had been trying for two months to conceive a second child. We had previously helped her conceive her first baby naturally after two failed IVF cycles, multiple IUIs, and one miscarriage two years earlier. Her son was eight months old when she returned. After finishing breastfeeding, she noticed that her menstrual cycles were becoming shorter—only 21 to 23 days per cycle—which prompted her to seek help for preparing for the next pregnancy.
Kristy was a thin woman, standing 5’5” and weighing 110 lbs. Her past blood work had shown positive cardiovascular antibodies (CVA). She was a businesswoman under significant stress, which consumed her body’s essence and led to a condition of essence deficiency. Her recent test results were: FSH 3.8 IU/L, LH 2.47 IU/L, Estriol 143 pg/ml, AMH 0.39, with an AFC of 5. Based on her test results and CVA history, we diagnosed her with essence deficiency accompanied by blood stasis.
Kristy began a daily regimen of Chinese herbal medicine and received acupuncture treatments twice a week. By the third month of treatment, she conceived, and she continued acupuncture until week 18 of her pregnancy.
