It’s amazing that a needle can perfectly solve the ovulation problem!

Ovulatory disorders are one of the main causes of female infertility. In clinical practice, hormone drugs can generally be used to promote follicle maturation and ovulation. However, the use of large doses of hormones has certain side effects. For example, it may promote the development of multiple follicles at one time, which may cause multiple pregnancies; the follicles grow too slowly or too quickly, the follicles do not develop or become empty follicles, which affects the quality of the eggs and may even be detrimental to their discharge; and after taking the medicine, the patient's vaginal secretions during the ovulation period are reduced, which is not conducive to conception.

The acupuncture therapy is to insert a stainless steel acupuncture needle into the subcutaneous tissue and then hold the acupuncture needle to pull and stimulate rhythmically. Reasonable acupoint selection and accurate needle insertion can stimulate the nerve endings in the epidermis and subcutaneous tissues to achieve the purpose of unblocking meridians and regulating qi and blood. In the treatment of ovulation disorders, we often choose the Dazhui point, sacral plexus nerve point, the second lumbar paravertebral point, Qi Chong point, etc. for stimulation, and use different techniques in different periods of the patient's menstrual cycle to make the patient feel comfortable locally or even whole body, and to make the qi and blood flow smoothly. If the patient feels local soreness, numbness, swelling, or a sense of falling, or even radiating to the lower limbs, this is the best manifestation of "needle sensation."

Follow-up found that the pregnancy rate of women who received acupuncture treatment was similar to that of those who used hormones, but their ovulation and hormone level improvements were better than the latter. This shows that by stimulating the relevant nerve points (acupoints) and promoting the "circulation of Qi" through nerve conduction, the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis is regulated, causing a series of significant changes in the patient's endocrine system, thereby inducing ovulation and avoiding side effects such as ovarian hyperstimulation.

This method can be started on the first day after the menstruation is over, and the needle should be inserted once every 3 to 5 days; during the ovulation period, the needle should be inserted once every other day. 9 times constitutes a course of treatment. After 3 cycles, the number of injections and the course of treatment can be determined based on the ovulation situation.

The treatment method is suitable for infertility after two years or more of marriage, with basal body temperature monitoring showing monophasic for more than two months, and sex hormone measurement showing low or normal levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and progesterone 2 to 3 days after the end of menstruation, low estradiol, elevated prolactin and testosterone, and B-ultrasound showing no high-quality follicles, or follicle diameters between 18 mm and 28 mm, with no follicles discharged.

Several Chinese herbal remedies for treating female anovulation

Ovulation disorders caused by phlegm and dampness

Prescription: 15 grams each of Codonopsis pilosula and Astragalus membranaceus, 10 grams each of Pinellia ternata, Poria cocos, Tangerine peel, Atractylodes macrocephala, Arisaema consanguineum, Citrus aurantium, ginger, and Bupleurum chinense, 8 grams each of Epimedium and Morinda officinalis, and 6 grams of Licorice.

Usage: Decoction in water and take in 3 doses, 1 dose per day.

Indications and functions: Drying dampness and resolving phlegm, relieving stagnation and regulating qi. It is used to treat infertility caused by ovulatory disorders, which is classified as phlegm-dampness type according to Chinese medicine. Symptoms include infertility after a long marriage, anovulation, obesity since puberty, delayed menstruation, infrequent menstruation, or even amenorrhea, profuse white, sticky and odorless vaginal discharge, dizziness, palpitations, chest tightness and nausea, puffy complexion, pale and fat tongue, greasy white tongue coating, and slippery pulse.

Ovulation disorders caused by liver depression

Prescription: 10 grams each of Angelica sinensis, white peony root, Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria cocos, Cortex Moutan, Cyperus rotundus, Toosendan fruit, Trichosanthes kirilowii, and Achyranthes bidentata, and 12 grams of Vaccaria segetalis.

Usage: Decoction in water and take in 3 doses, 1 dose per day.

Indications and functions: Soothes the liver and relieves depression, regulates blood and regulates the pulse. Used to treat infertility caused by ovulatory disorders, which is classified as liver depression type according to TCM diagnosis. Symptoms include infertility after a long marriage, anovulation, early or late menstruation, frequent menstrual bleeding, abdominal pain during menstruation, or irritability before menstruation, distension and pain in the chest and flanks, breasts, depression, sighing, dark red tongue or ecchymosis on the edges of the tongue, and a thin and stringy pulse.

Ovulation disorders caused by spleen deficiency

Prescription: 15 grams each of Codonopsis pilosula and Chinese yam, 18 grams of Astragalus membranaceus, 10 grams each of Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria cocos, jujube, Angelica sinensis, Bupleurum chinense, Cuscuta australis, 8 grams of Morinda officinalis, and 6 grams of Licorice.

Usage: Decoction in water and take in 3 doses, 1 dose per day.

Indications and functions: Nourishes the spleen and replenishes Qi, regulates Chong and Ren meridians. Used to treat infertility caused by ovulatory disorders, which is classified as spleen deficiency type according to Chinese medicine. Symptoms include infertility after a long marriage, anovulation, fatigue, poor appetite, dizziness and palpitations, sallow complexion or thin body, loose stools, pale tongue, white fur, and a thready and weak pulse.

Ovulation disorders caused by blood stasis

Prescription: 8 grams each of Trillium, Curcuma, Peach Kernel, and Safflower, 10 grams each of Moutan Bark, Red Peony Root, Angelica, Corydalis, Citrus aurantium, Kelp, and Cyperus rotundus.

Usage: Decoction in water and take in 3 doses, 1 dose per day.

Indications and functions: Removes blood stasis, eliminates cell divisions, regulates the flow of qi and aids pregnancy. Used to treat infertility caused by ovulatory disorders, which is classified as blood stasis type according to TCM diagnosis. Symptoms include infertility after a long marriage, anovulation, delayed menstruation, or normal cycle, abdominal pain during menstruation, or even progressive aggravation, varying amounts of menstrual flow, dark purple menstrual blood, blood clots, pain relief under the clots, or irregular menstruation, heavy bleeding, or intermenstrual bleeding, or anal distension and discomfort, pain during sexual intercourse, dark purple tongue or petechiae on the edges of the tongue, thin white fur, and a wiry or fine and stringy pulse.