Your First Fertility Choice - Chinese Medicine as in vitro fertility treatments are tied to risk of ovarian cancer

Reported today in the Denver Post from the journal Human Reproduction: women whose ovaries are stimulated to produce extra eggs for in vitro fertilization have an increased risk of ovarian cancer later in life. The long-term risk for ovarian tumors is twice as high among women who undergo stimulation for in vitro fertilization compared with women who don't undergo such treatments to boost fertility. Lead researcher Professor Flora van Leeuwen said "If we find out that women who receive large doses of ovarian-stimulating drugs are at a greater risk for ovarian cancer, then these women would need to be in formed about these risks when continuing IVF treatment." Further research will be conducted to see if there is a connection between the risk of cancer and the number of IVF treatment cycles.

From a Chinese Medicine standpoint this is fascinating in that I have been telling my fertility patients for years that these medical procedures do two things: they create havoc in your hormonal system AND and they create qi and blood stagnation. What are tumors in Chinese Medicine? Qi and blood stagnation. And now this research shows that is true.

This is another example of how our bodies reject fooling around with our hormonal systems. Another example is the connection between Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) in peri-menopausal women and the risk of cancer. And, in this case also, hot flashes and other symptoms or conditions that women deal with during this time of life can be successfully and safely treated using Chinese Medicine.

A third example of hormonal control is birth control pills. These have always been associated with a greater risk of blood clots and, in my humble opinion, are one of the reasons for this rash of fertility issues. If one begins to take hormones at 14 years old and takes them for 15 years, I wonder how it is thinkable that the body would then immediately go into a "normal" state to get pregnant.

There are natural, healthy ways to get the bodies of women AND men ready to conceive and support a successful pregnancy. Yes, MEN. The successful conception rate in my practice went up 30 to 40% when I insisted that the male partner also be treated. It's true .... getting pregnant is not all about the female.