Other conditions

The mind-body connection is very important to fertility. It can become a common problem of fertility when a person’s mind consciously or unconsciously decides to work against them. To the outside world a person may appear happy, balanced and confident, while inwardly they might be good at hiding their turmoil. Buried emotions can affect a person’s health and ability to conceive.

In Chinese Medicine the mind and body are seen at being part of the one. So treatment is always aimed at treating the physical and emotional problems simultaneously. Different emotions affect different parts of the body and channels. In TCM, for example, anger and frustration will have an effect on the liver energy. Because the liver channel supplies blood to the uterus in Chinese medicine and has an effect on moving Qi (energy) within in the body and digestive system. Stagnant liver Qi can cause symptoms such as a dark clotted periods, irritable bowel, tension in the neck and shoulders and a feeling of being wound up.

By using herbs and acupuncture and diet to move this stagnant liver Qi. These symptoms will go simultaneously. The person is also advised on the importance of rest, balance and relaxation techniques. TCM proves very successful in treating emotional problems alongside physical problems.

These are benign tumors found by approximately 20% of women over 35 years old. Fibroids can cause heavy menstrual periods, pain and fertility problems. With fibroids a decision needs to be made by a gynaecologist as to whether the fibroids are likely to impede on a women getting pregnant or carry a baby to term. Similar to endometriosis. In TCM it is recognised as blood stagnation. Herbs to clear blood stagnation can be used very successfully to treat small fibroids 3cmx3cm in size.

Ovulation problems accounts for approximately 20% of fertility problems. If a women has a regular menstrual cycle it is most likely she is ovulating normally. Problems with ovulation can have a range of causes normally:

• Hypothalamic ovulation – the hypothalamus does not signal the pituitary to ovulate, causes may be excessive exercise, stress and weight loss.
• PCOS as discussed before
• High Prolactin Levels – this can be caused by stress and certain medications. 
• Premature menopause – the ovaries have weakened and are shutting down.
• Stress – a stressful life can weaken the adrenal glands. Stress can cause delayed ovulation. Sometimes the body acts as if ovulation has occurred but the body did not release an egg. 
• Post-using oral contraception pill – in a reasonable number of women periods do not return after stopping the oral contraceptive pill.

Siobhán finds her Midwifery and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) knowledge invaluable in helping diagnose the exact cause of ovulation. Siobhán may also recommend certain diagnostic procedures to be done. The individual problem diagnosed from TCM/Western medicine is then targeted with herbs, diet and acupuncture to get excellent results.

The main cause of an irregular menstrual cycle is PCOS, stress and lifestyle. Siobhán commonly treats this irregularity with very good results. The individual person is treated using herbs, acupuncture and a specific diet to their needs.