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Traditional Chinese Medicine conditioning and IVF success stories

Premature Ovarian Failure

Dr. Huai Ling Wang
Navigating POF at 38
Changing Strategies for Success: Ms. L's Journey Through IVF

Facing advanced maternal age, low egg count, and higher risks of chromosomal abnormalities, how can one adjust their strategy to achieve a successful outcome? At 38, Ms. L struggled with ovarian insufficiency, and after a difficult first egg retrieval, it took three tries before she successfully became pregnant. Two years after giving birth, she embarked on her IVF journey again.

Collecting Eggs to Increase Success Rates

During her first egg retrieval, only two eggs were harvested, but unfortunately, none could be successfully cultured into viable embryos. With no embryos to implant, she faced the challenge of continuing her treatment.

After extensive communication and deliberation, they decided to change their approach by adopting an egg collection strategy. This would allow for more embryos in the future, increasing their chances of successful culture and potentially passing preimplantation genetic screening (PGS).

After six egg retrievals, including two additional rounds, Ms. L accumulated 19 eggs, resulting in 13 blastocysts. Ten of these were suitable for PGS testing. However, when the results came back, none were normal; only three were classified as mosaic embryos, which was disheartening. The first implantation attempt involved selecting two other embryos with average appearance, but that too failed.

Dr. Wang's Strategy: Implanting Four Embryos

Sometimes life doesn’t go as planned. With four embryos remaining (three mosaics and one without biopsy), they decided to take a bold gamble. If this attempt didn’t succeed, they would consider it the end of their journey. After all, they already had a lovely daughter, and they felt they had done their best. This mindset brought a sense of relief.

Fortune smiled upon them, and they successfully became pregnant with one of the four embryos. After confirming that the baby had normal chromosomes, they continued their journey toward happiness. Best wishes for their growing family!
Dr. Hsiang Ping Lee
TCM Helps 35yr With Chocolate Cysts, POF
Successful Pregnancy Journey of Ms. C: Overcoming Challenges with Traditional Chinese Medicine

Ms. C, a 35-year-old civil servant with big, gentle eyes, discovered a 3.6 cm chocolate cyst on her left ovary last year. Her AMH level dropped dramatically from 1.3 to 0.5 within a year, resulting in suboptimal egg retrievals.

Health Challenges: Chocolate Cyst and Ovarian Insufficiency

Ms. C faced issues with small and uneven follicles, while her husband struggled with low sperm count due to work-related stress. In December of last year, they came to NUWA TCM for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments to prepare for conception.

Ms. C reported symptoms of constipation, bloating, vivid dreams, swollen gums, and lower back pain. Her tongue appeared red, and her pulse was thin and tense, indicating a pattern of liver qi stagnation and excess heat. I prescribed herbs to nourish yin and clear heat, as well as acupuncture treatments. Gradually, her symptoms improved, and her husband’s sperm count increased.

Coordinated TCM Treatment Leads to Successful IVF

Within five months, they underwent three egg retrievals, successfully collecting a total of 13 eggs, all of which developed into good-quality embryos by day three. Due to Ms. C's endometriosis, her Western doctor administered a medication to suppress her menstrual cycle one month before implantation (in May 2023) to manage the endometriosis lesions, aiding the upcoming embryo transfer.

In addition to Western treatment, I provided abdominal moxibustion and uterine conditioning through TCM. In June, they saw a positive result on the ultrasound, confirming three viable embryos. The first transfer occurred at the end of June, and by mid-July, Ms. C had confirmed her pregnancy.

Navigating Pregnancy Discomforts

During her pregnancy, Ms. C experienced various discomforts, including dizziness, constipation, bloating, nausea, and loss of appetite—sweet burdens of pregnancy.

Now, she has successfully reached the three-month mark, and I wholeheartedly congratulate Ms. C and Mr. H. We are all eagerly anticipating the arrival of their lovely little dragon baby!
Dr. Horng Shan Gwo
29yr Suffers From POF, Successful IVF After First Try
Successful Pregnancy with Ovarian Insufficiency: A Case Study

A 29-year-old patient came to consult about ovarian insufficiency after a friend, who had a similar issue, suggested she get her AMH level checked. Her results showed an AMH of 0.4.

Ovarian Insufficiency and Irregular Menstruation

She was also troubled by her very irregular menstrual cycle, sometimes going nearly two months without a period. Given her low AMH level, she worried that she might be approaching menopause.

Recently married and hoping to start a family, she felt overwhelmed by this unexpected diagnosis. I performed an ultrasound and found no visible primordial follicles, indicating her follicle count was indeed very low and their development was extremely irregular, making natural conception challenging.

I explained that with such ovarian function, she might enter menopause quickly, and while the quantity and quality of her eggs would be low, her youth still offered a chance for pregnancy. I advised her to start taking DHEA to support ovarian health, as she wasn't yet mentally prepared for artificial reproductive techniques.

Poor Sperm Quality and IVF Decision

A few months later, she and her husband returned for a follow-up. I arranged fertility tests, which revealed her husband had poor sperm quality. After discussing their options, they decided to proceed with IVF.

However, during the ultrasound, I still couldn't see her follicles, so I asked her to return a few days later. Eventually, we detected one or two primordial follicles, allowing us to start ovulation induction. We retrieved one egg, resulting in a single embryo. We discussed whether to wait and retrieve more embryos, but due to budget constraints, they decided to wait a few months for another egg retrieval.

Changing Strategy for Successful Implantation

When they returned for another check-up, the ultrasound still didn’t show any follicles. I asked her to come back in 2-3 days, but there were still no visible follicles until about two weeks later. This time, I used a different strategy by prescribing ovulation medications. After a few days, we saw the largest follicle measuring 1.3 cm, and identified 5-6 primordial follicles.

Since they had budgeted for only one more egg retrieval, I advised against taking the largest follicle and instead stimulated the other follicles to potentially retrieve more eggs. In the end, we obtained two eggs, combined with a previously frozen embryo, leading to a successful implantation and pregnancy!

Key Takeaways:

1. Age is still a significant factor affecting pregnancy chances.
2. The timing of ovulation induction should depend on follicle development rather than the menstrual cycle.
3. Egg quality cannot be assessed through ultrasound or blood tests; having a greater number of eggs increases the chances of success.
Dr. Hsin Yi Tseng
Couple From the US Embraces TCM
Ovarian insufficiency does not necessarily mean that natural conception is impossible. We often say that as long as a good egg is produced at the right time, and everything aligns perfectly, it is still possible to have a healthy child.

Ovarian insufficiency, AMH of 0.8, American couple experiences two miscarriages

This is a couple from the United States, and today they can finally share their complete story. Initially, they underwent an egg retrieval procedure at another clinic, where their AMH level (ovarian reserve) was 0.8. A few months earlier, they had tested their AMH in the U.S., where it was only 0.1. Additionally, they had undergone six IUI treatments in the U.S., with two prior miscarriages, and had sought acupuncture treatment in traditional Chinese medicine.

Later, this couple chose to come to Taiwan. While undergoing treatment, they also visited the NUWA TCM Clinic in Taichung for concurrent egg nurturing. Since they only planned to stay in Taiwan for two months, they intended to return to the U.S. after six months. However, due to the husband's work commitments, they decided to return to the U.S. earlier, which further shortened their time in Taiwan.

During their brief stay in Taiwan, the wife had a BMI of 31.2, which is considered overweight. Coupled with long-term sleep deprivation, she also experienced acne and skin issues. A hysteroscopy revealed signs of inflammation. Therefore, our focus during their time in Taiwan was to improve her physical condition and nurture her eggs. As they had to leave for the U.S. earlier than planned, we customized a water-based herbal package (carefully vacuum-sealed by the pharmacist) so they could easily pack it in their luggage to continue egg nurturing back in the U.S.

Traditional Chinese medicine for egg nurturing, controlling pregnancy weight, and successfully conceiving naturally

I also suggested that she continue to find an acupuncturist in the U.S., while we monitored her basal temperature and provided dietary guidance. As a result, she naturally conceived in the second month after returning to the U.S.

Throughout the pregnancy, we maintained constant communication. The mother managed to control her pregnancy weight well, only gaining about 8 kilograms by the time of delivery (according to the guidelines for weight gain during pregnancy, a BMI of 30 or higher suggests that overweight mothers should limit their total weight gain to 5-9 kilograms). In May of this year, their baby was born naturally. The father happily conveyed the news of the successful delivery, and we congratulated them on becoming part of the NUWA family.

The couple chose to do their postpartum confinement at home, and we provided them with postpartum recovery methods during this period (as postpartum centers are not as common in the U.S. as they are in Taiwan). Seeing them joyfully holding their baby fills me with happiness from this side of the Pacific.

As the saying goes, "A good egg, when encountered at the right time, can become a quality fertilized egg and successfully give birth to a healthy baby." In daily life, one should avoid staying up late, eat nutritious food, exercise appropriately, and actively nurture their eggs.
Dr. Li Ling Shen
Is It Possible to Get Pregnant With A 0.6 AMH?
“Dr. Shen, my AMH is only 0.6. Is it still possible for me to get pregnant?” Ms. S, not yet 30, asked me this anxiously during her first visit, as she had been diagnosed with premature ovarian failure and decided to try traditional Chinese medicine at NUWA TCM.

Determining Ovulation, Adjusting with TCM, and Successfully Getting Pregnant

During our first meeting, I encouraged her, explaining that as long as her menstrual cycle remained regular and we could confirm ovulation, there was still hope! I’m thrilled to share that she is now three months pregnant.

Interestingly, she got pregnant during her first cycle of treatment. However, she was surprised when she found out, as her body wasn’t stable enough to hold onto the baby at that time. This experience gave Ms. S the confidence that she could conceive. After resting for one cycle and trying again, she successfully got pregnant and retained the baby.

Ms. S shared, “From seeing the embryo to measuring the heartbeat and overcoming morning sickness, it’s been tough but incredibly moving.” She hopes that by sharing her story, she can encourage others who are still trying and spread good fortune to everyone.
Dr. Ching Hui Chen
44 With Poor Ovarian Function
“Good morning, Dr. Chen! Merry Christmas! I safely gave birth to a son, and he’s three months old today. Thank you for all your help; he’s very healthy.” Xiao Wen is fortunate to have found a sweet second chance at love, hoping to have another child with her husband, though she is now 44.

44 Years Old, Near Ovarian Failure: Two Years of IVF Lead to Successful Pregnancy

Xiao Wen traveled from Hualien for her consultation. In her early twenties, she experienced a challenging marriage. After raising her child, she embraced a life of freedom as a public servant, enjoying a simple and regular routine.

During her first visit, despite her husband being significantly younger, the nursing staff and I were eager to ask her about her skincare secrets; the two looked perfectly matched! Though Xiao Wen appeared youthful, her ovarian age told a different story. With her menstrual cycle becoming irregular, she was on the verge of menopause, and IVF was her best chance at pregnancy. The couple held on tightly to each other, determined to grow their family from two to three.

Each visit required us to coordinate schedules, as her job demanded flexibility, and her husband often needed to travel. They would take long journeys by train or car to see me. After two years of struggle, they finally received good news!

Though I could only celebrate from a distance, I cheered and ran out of the consultation room to share the joy with the nursing staff and embryology team. It was a truly happy moment for everyone involved!
Dr. Shen Mung Shun
Poor Ovarian Function Successfully Conceived
At 35 years old, despite suffering from premature ovarian failure, a woman was able to successfully conceive and give birth through IVF treatment. This case demonstrates that even with poor ovarian function, the right assisted reproductive technologies can bring hope. The miraculous journey across the strait culminated in a safe delivery in Taiwan.

Choosing a Reproductive Center in Taiwan Amidst Family Pressure

As one enters a new stage in life, it becomes filled with moments to share and celebrate! Whenever I see friends I previously treated sharing photos of their adorable children, it warms my heart and reminds me of the struggles they faced along the way.

For M, at 35, premature ovarian failure was a significant setback, compounded by pressure from her elders, which left her feeling discouraged. However, two years ago, she worked hard to improve her health and flew to Taiwan to undergo IVF treatment. After accumulating embryos, she successfully had one implanted.

Now, the arrival of this new family member fills their home with joy!

Poor Ovarian Function Doesn’t Mean Low Pregnancy Rates

Mommy explains: Poor ovarian function means there are "fewer ovarian follicles," which is below the average for her age group. However, the number of follicles doesn’t always correlate directly with pregnancy rates; many factors influence the ability to conceive.

With the right adjustments to one’s health and by seizing the opportunity during the optimal age, there remains a significant chance of pregnancy.
Dr. Hsiang Ping Lee
46yr Woman Pregnant After TCM Condoning
46-year-old Ms. C, married for 5 years, is a busy elementary school teacher. She experiences a lot of work-related stress, often goes to bed late, and has limited sleep. Over the past 2-3 years, she underwent multiple IVF treatments, with four embryo transfers, but was still unable to successfully bring home a baby.

Uterine fibroids and ovarian failure resulted in a successful pregnancy through herbal medicine, acupuncture, and umbilical therapy

Ms. C had the following conditions:

✅ Uterine fibroids
✅ Recurrent ovarian cysts
✅ Ovarian failure (AMH: 1.1)
✅ High prolactin levels
✅ Elevated blood sugar

After medical exams, it was discovered she also had thin endometrium issues (0.7-0.8 cm). Last year, she came to NUWA TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) in Taichung and consulted Dr. Hsiang Ping Lee to focus on improving her uterus health. Based on her symptoms, tongue diagnosis, and pulse examination, she was diagnosed with a qi and yin deficiency combined with phlegm dampness, and liver fire. She visited the clinic weekly for herbal medicine, acupuncture, and umbilical therapy treatments. After more than a month of treatment, her endometrial thickness reached 0.9 cm before her embryo transfer.

Congratulations on the golden three lines!

Recently, she shared the joyous news with an ultrasound image of her precious baby. The road to having a child was full of ups and downs and challenges, but we were with her every step of the way, identifying issues and carefully treating them. As long as you don't give up, we will always be here for you.
Cheng Hsuan Wu D. Medical Director
Welcoming A Baby After POF and Low AMH
We recently received the cutest photo of a smiling baby from our patients, who had a hard time conceiving. Looking at the photo, we can’t help but feel touched.

Thinking back on the couple’s consultation, they’ve already gone through several IVF treatments at known hospitals and clinics. After a blood test, the wife realized she has a very low ovarian reserve (AMH), with only a number of 0.16. To their despair, even with ovulation stimulation, only one or two eggs were retrieved each time during egg retrieval surgery.

And through fate, they came to our clinic. After a detailed consultation and explanation, we arrived at the conclusion of using embryo accumulation to increase pregnancy rate.

The process of embryo accumulation is extremely tiresome and exhausting. Because the number of eggs that are retrieved isn’t significant, and poses the risks of the eggs not fertilizing or failed cultivation processes. The only way to go around it is to keep arranging treatments and retrieving eggs; our team and myself were all very distressed, we desperately wanted to help her.

I believe only those who have gone through the same thing understand the hardships of this treatment.

After some time, they have finally successfully conceived! After that many months, tears of joy streamed down their faces.

I am so proud of her courage and while it was hard to see her go through rounds of injections, I still want to thank the couple for their trust. The sun always shines after the rain, they’ve finally got what they wanted!

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