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Battling PCOS With Chinese & Western Medicine
Dr. Ching Hui Chen
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Overcoming Challenges: A Journey Through IVF Treatment
She was told from a young age that getting pregnant would be difficult. With her husband, who is a career military officer, stationed far away, they rarely saw each other, making it even harder to plan for pregnancy. After undergoing IVF treatment, she finally reached a stable phase of pregnancy, but she often had to face the entire process alone.
Her Husband Was Away on Duty, Facing IVF Treatment Almost Alone
She managed to endure the injections, medication, and blood tests, but the most painful part was the emotional struggle. During the sensitive period of dealing with infertility, every word from family members felt like added pressure. When negative emotions arose, her husband wasn’t there to support her. We are grateful she shared her experiences with us.
Being a military spouse, she had to be very independent, especially living alone. Most of the time, she had to rely on herself, with her husband being like a weekend roommate. The toughest times were when she got sick—going to the doctor alone and dealing with both physical discomfort and psychological loneliness was a real challenge.
The upside was that she had a lot of freedom during the week, like a pseudo-single lifestyle. She could sleep in a double bed alone, leave house chores undone without anyone nagging, and look forward to her husband’s visits on Friday nights. Weekends were precious as they cherished their time together. Although they spoke on the phone daily, some things were just better discussed face-to-face.
PCOS Diagnosis During Pre-Marital Checkup Led to IVF Decision with Integrative Medicine Support
She knew she had polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) from her pre-marital checkup, and with the difficulties of being a weekend couple, the process was tough. She sought help from Dr. Ching Hui Chen before reaching her mental breaking point, feeling conflicted and wanting to escape, thinking, “Why me?” Every treatment cycle involved taking medication and timing everything for the weekend, which was mentally exhausting—one mistake and all the hard work could go to waste. Intrauterine insemination (IUI) was a nerve-wracking experience as well, with the anxiety of taking medication and self-administering injections.
On the day of her appointment, they discovered she had already ovulated. Her husband rushed up north to provide a semen sample, and thankfully, he had pre-submitted a request for leave; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to cross districts during the pandemic. Amidst all this chaos, the treatment ended, and her husband drove back down south. She felt a deep sense of disappointment, thinking, “What was all that for?”
Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned, and they decided to go for IVF. She hesitated, considering the financial and emotional burden. Her husband reassured her by setting a personal limit, giving her the courage to proceed. She took the medication on time, administered her injections, and had so many blood draws that her veins hardened, making her ask, “Can you take it from the back of my hand instead?” She even had to get an IV drip due to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome after egg retrieval. Despite all the physical pain, she said, “Does it hurt?” It wasn’t too bad.
For her, who wasn’t afraid of injections or blood draws, the real pain was the emotional struggle. Facing all the physical discomfort alone, she didn’t dare share all her emotions with her husband, holding back whenever possible. The negative emotions were overwhelming. The first embryo transfer failed due to a thin endometrium, leaving her devastated. She then sought help from Dr. Yu Chuan Chen at NUWA TCM. With the support of both Dr. Chens, she finally achieved her current success.
Successful Pregnancy After Embryo Transfer with Acupuncture and Relaxation
After this embryo transfer, her husband continued to play the role of a coach, actively exercising with her on weekends, making sure she did acupuncture, took her medication, and soaked her feet. They did everything they could. The real change came when her husband was transferred up north, so she no longer had to do all the house chores alone, giving her a sense of relief. Besides, friends and family would often say, “Just relax!” during the treatment process. While it sounded simple, it was hard to do. During this sensitive period, every word or action from others could become a source of pressure.
Thankfully, her husband’s optimism balanced things out. She told herself to trust the doctors and follow their advice. “You are not alone,” she reminded herself. She tried to eat well, sleep well, and occasionally let go of her worries. She spent most of the Chinese New Year resting and sleeping, almost hiding away as she prayed to the deities for support. She learned to “shift her mindset,” which may have been another key to overcoming her challenges.
After the positive pregnancy test, she often found herself smiling unconsciously but was also afraid of potential complications. She tried to relax and let her “godlike teammate”—her husband—take over, which brought her relief. Every follow-up visit filled her with both anticipation and fear of disappointment. When Dr. Chen finally declared her “graduation,” she felt a true sense of relief, realizing that all her efforts had paid off. Of course, there were still challenges ahead, but she believed in trusting the doctors and overcoming each hurdle as they came.
★ Every IVF Patient Experiences a Rollercoaster of Emotions
★ “Just relax”
★ Easier said than done
★ The husband’s role is as a great coach, teammate, and therapist
★ During the sensitive period, any word or action can add pressure
★ Shifting your mindset and letting go is what every IVF patient needs to learn to do
