15/07/2025
It’s been a whirlwind few weeks, but I’m making the time to share some of the more challenging and rewarding cases that I’ve seen recently.
I first met Ms. L, aged 38, around 16 months ago. She had been trying to conceive for over 10 years and came to me seeking guidance and support.
Ms. L had a diagnosis of endometriosis and had previously suffered three early miscarriages, all at around 7 weeks.
She had been told by her GP that these were likely related to a hormonal imbalance caused by the endometriosis. Ms. L had undergone 5 rounds of Clomid-assisted ovulation, which didn’t lead to success, and had been through 6 failed IVF cycles over a 4-
year period.
When I first met Ms. L, she was clearly emotionally drained and expressed a deep fear of injections and medical procedures. She had low energy, reported bloating and experienced digestive
discomfort, irregular cycles, and light, short periods. She also had cold extremities, low mood, recurring infections, and struggled with weight and low libido. Her tongue appeared pale
and slightly swollen with scalloped edges, and her pulse was thin and slow.
Based on Chinese Medicine principles, I diagnosed Ms. L with a Spleen Qi and Kidney Yin deficiency, a pattern that reflects chronic depletion affecting her digestive system, immune function, and reproductive health. I started her on weekly acupuncture sessions and prescribed a custom Chinese herbal formula focused on nourishing blood and strengthening Qi (energy). I also recommended a combination of high-quality supplements including Omega-3, ubquinnol coq10, multivitamin and zinc.
I encouraged consistent movement through gentle exercise like walking and yoga, and gave Ms. L dietary and stress-reduction advice.
At my suggestion, she arranged for a comprehensive blood panel through a fertility clinic. Her partner, Mr. D, completed a semen analysis which came back with no significant concerns.
However, Ms. L’s blood work showed suboptimal thyroid levels, and follow-up testing confirmed Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition affecting the thyroid. She was
started on thyroid hormone therapy, and she had acupuncture to support her body’s response to the medication.
After about 7 months of treatment, Ms. L and Mr. D chose to try IVF again. While I believed a natural conception was still possible, I respected their decision and supported them through this next step.
Their fertility specialist added immune-modulating and anticoagulation therapies to the protocol. I also encouraged them to do pre-implantation
genetic testing (PGT) to help ensure a healthy embryo was selected.
Two rounds later, they proceeded with a frozen embryo transfer. I treated Ms. L immediately before and after the transfer and continued weekly acupuncture during the two-week wait.
Last October, she called me crying tears of joy after getting her positive pregnancy test.
Given her history of loss, I continued weekly acupuncture and herbal support until 12 weeks, then reduced to biweekly treatments until 20 weeks, and monthly thereafter. The journey was long, and at times it tested their resilience as a couple, but they remained
committed and hopeful.
This case shows just how multifaceted infertility can be often involving a mix of structural, hormonal, immune, and emotional factors. The integration of Chinese Medicine with
targeted Western medical approaches helped bring this story to a happy ending thankfully.
Mr. D and Ms. L welcomed their beautiful daughter into the world a few days ago. I feel very privileged to have been part of their journey and I can't wait to meet their bundle of joy ❤️
