Chinese Medicine is 2x as effective as IVF

Posted on December 22, 2011 Julie Chang, L.Ac.

Infertility is an issue of major concern, affecting up to 1 in 6 couples. The American Pregnancy Association (APA) estimates that about 6 million American women have fertility challenges every year and about 2 million couples have problems with fertility.

A team of medical researchers at the University of Adelaide have provided a lot of hope for the treatment of infertility in women using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In a recent study, the team thoroughly reviewed 30 previously conducted research works which included about 1,800 women participants with varied fertility problems. The researchers undertook comprehensive analyses that consisted of randomized and non-randomized trials with reliable control systems, and thereafter compared the rates of clinical pregnancy achieved with conventional Western fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) against TCM.

According to the authors, their meta-analyses suggest Traditional Chinese Medicine to be more effective in the treatment of female infertility achieving on average a 60% pregnancy rate over 4 months compared with 30% achieved with standard western drug treatment, or IVF over 12 months.

This is especially significant when the typical cost of 1 IVF cycle is approximately $15,000 – that means 1 opportunity to conceive. Depending on age, IVF success rates average about 30%. This is compared to the cost of 1 YEAR of Traditional Chinese Medical care which is under $5000.

The ability of TCM to provide more effective fertility care as at a significantly lower cost with natural remedies that have no side effects makes this an attractive option for a growing number of women and couples.

Source: Ried, K. and K. Stuart. 2011. Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine in the management of female infertility: A systematic review. Comp Ther in Med (2011) 19, 319-331.