JULIE HUNG ACUPUNCTURE
Yenching Hung Acupuncture specializes in IVF/IUI Support, Infertility Treatment, Fertility Enhancement, Reproductive Health, Women’s Health, Migraine, Sciatica, and Pain Healing. Julie Hung, a Board Certified Fellow Specialist in Oriental Reproductive Medicine, provides Acupuncture therapy and oriental reproductive herbal medicine to help natural conception and boost IVF success rate in the Sunnyvale, San Jose, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Santa Clara, Milpitas, Fremont, Cupertino, Los Altos, Campbell, San Francisco, San Mateo, Foster City, Portola Valley, San Ramon, Pleasanton, and Silicon Valley area.
Definition
Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive a pregnancy or carry a pregnancy to a live birth after a year or more of unprotected intercourse without conception (primary infertility); or a woman who has previously been pregnant and cannot conceive again after two years of trying (secondary infertility).
Infertility can also be classified as irreversible (anatomical defect of reproductive organs) or treatable infertility.
Causes
About one-third of infertility is female factors, and the other one-third of infertility is male factors; the remaining one-third is caused by problems in both partners or by unexplained factors.
Infertility Causes in Men
|
·
|
Low sperm concentration(normal is greater than 20 million sperm per milliliter and more than 80 million sperm in one ejaculation) |
|
·
|
Duct obstruction |
|
·
|
Less or more semen volumes (the typical volume of semen is 2- |
|
·
|
Less than 50% of sperms moving vigorously (motility) |
|
·
|
Less than 40% normal appearance |
|
·
|
Size and shape of sperm cells (morphology analysis) |
|
·
|
Sperm antibodies (immune reaction in approximately 10% of infertile men) |
Infertility Causes in women
|
·
|
Ovulation disorders |
|
·
|
Blocked fallopian tubes disease |
|
·
|
Pelvic inflammatory disease |
|
·
|
Sexually transmitted diseases |
|
·
|
Recurrent pregnancy loss |
|
·
|
Uterine fibroids |
|
·
|
Endometriosis |
|
·
|
Abnormal vaginal discharge |
|
·
|
Problems with their cervical mucus |
|
·
|
Long time using contraception pills |
|
·
|
Hyperprolactinemia (over 30 ug/L) |
|
·
|
Hyperandrogenemia |
|
·
|
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome |
|
·
|
Uterine structural abnormalities |
|
·
|
Health problems that cause hormonal changes |
|
·
|
Sperm antibodies (immune reaction in less than 5% of infertile women) |
|
·
|
Chronic anovulation |
|
·
|
Oligo- |
|
·
|
Adult- |
|
·
|
Androgen- |
Risk Factors
Some people are born with the congenital problems which lead to the infertility. However, some problems started later in life, such as customs, illness, injury, and environment factors, can be avoided or diminished. There are a lot of common risk factors for both male and female infertility.
|
·
|
Age |
|
·
|
Poor diet |
|
·
|
Tobacco smoking |
|
·
|
Alcohol abuse |
|
·
|
Drugs abuse |
|
·
|
Stress |
|
·
|
Obesity |
|
·
|
Underweight |
|
·
|
Radiation treatment and chemotherapy for cancer |
|
·
|
Medicines side effect |
|
·
|
Illness: Certain diseases such as Mumps, Diabetes, Heart attack, Cushing’s syndrome, and severe injury may affect male fertility. Thyroid problems, Cushing’s syndrome, Kidney disease, and Diabetes may affect female fertility. |
|
·
|
Exposure to toxins, such as pesticides, lead, and chemicals (male factor) |
|
·
|
Testicular exposure to overheating (male factor) |
Diagnosis
There are many diagnostic methods to find out the factors affecting the infertility, such as
|
·
|
Diagnostic laparoscopy |
|
·
|
Estrogen tests |
|
·
|
FSH test |
|
·
|
PCT(Post- |
|
·
|
HSG (Hysterosalpingogram) |
|
·
|
LH (Luteinizing Hormone) test |
|
·
|
Progesterone test |
|
·
|
Saline infusion sonohysteroraphy (SHG) |
|
·
|
Testosterone test |
|
·
|
Semen analysis test |
Treatment
Infertility can be treated with Western medical techniques such as
|
·
|
Oral medication |
|
·
|
Gonadotropin therapy to correct ovulation dysfunction |
|
·
|
Reproductive surgery |
|
·
|
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) to perform in couples with mild abnormal semen analysis |
|
·
|
Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) |
For the pregnancy to continue to full term, the fertilized egg must be in sufficient quality and the woman’s hormonal environment adequate for its development. If blood is deficient, the egg may not be healthy enough to be fertilized and to develop into a viable embryo. If the condition of the uterus is not suitable, such as thin lining, fibroids or uterus cysts, low body temperature, etc., the embryo is unable to implant.
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Therapy have been demonstrated as the effective methods to strengthen and balance patients’ general health, such as assisting in regulating the menstrual cycle for women, invigorating the sperm for men, enhancing the blood flow to benefit reproductive organ function, and reducing the biological age, which make Assisted Reproductive Technologies (such as IVF and ICSI) more effective with fewer side effects. Consequently, currently Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Therapy are combined with Western medical techniques as an effective treatment for the couples who wish to achieve not only pregnancy, but also a healthy baby delivered at full term. Acupuncture and herbs are good for improving the quality of eggs, increasing the quantity of sperm, improving sperm quality, helping ovulation, improving the thickness of uterine endometrial lining, increasing uterine artery blood flow, and normalizing serum FSH as well as progesterone level.
Because sperm takes a long time to complete the growth and maturation cycle (2-3 months), treatment should persist at this long and ideally for six months.
Legal Disclaimer Notice: The information provided on this web site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional. The information on this site should not be used for diagnosis, prescription, or treatment of any health problem and/or medication.
1208 East ARQUES Ave. #104
Sunnyvale, CA 94085
Tel: (408) 745-1780
http://www.sunnywellness.com
Yenching Julie Hung, L.Ac.,FABORM
|
·
|
Certified Fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine |
|
·
|
Licensed Acupuncturist |
|
·
|
National Taiwan University Master Degree |
|
·
|
Embryologist in Infertility Center, Yuan General Hospital, Taiwan |
|
·
|
Herbs Researcher in Sun Ten Pharmaceutical Co., Taiwan |
|
·
|
Acupuncturist in Wu’s Oriental Medical Clinic, Taiwan |
|
|
|
·
|
Member of the American Association of Oriental Medicine (AAOM) |
|
·
|
Professional Member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)
|