[Shenglong B] Adhere to 5 tips to create a fertile body; Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor: Acupuncture helps stimulate ovulation.

A survey conducted last month by the Hong Kong Federation of Women, titled "Hong Kong People's Fertility Intentions 2023," revealed that 76% of respondents had no plans to have children, a nine-year high.

While some are experiencing low fertility rates, others are struggling with infertility. Statistics show that one in six Hong Kong couples faces infertility challenges. Registered Chinese medicine practitioner Huang jing-jing points out that from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, maintaining a healthy constitution is crucial for successful conception.

With unprotected sex and regular sexual activity, the lack of pregnancy is understandably disheartening for couples eager to have children. Dr. Huang Jingjing stated that the factors contributing to infertility in both men and women each account for 40%. Although the causes of infertility vary, following these five lifestyle habits may help improve one's fertility.

1. Dietary control: Less oil, more vegetables, and less sugar.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that sweet and greasy foods can easily cause dampness in the spleen and stomach. Poor spleen and stomach function can easily lead to symptoms such as obesity, acne, edema, and sticky stools. Once it turns into a phlegm-dampness constitution, people will feel more tired, sleepy, have oily skin, and feel that their metabolism is slowing down. Women's ovarian function and men's sperm quality will decline. If you want to get pregnant, you should eat less oil, more vegetables, and reduce sugar.

2. Maintain a cheerful and relaxed mood.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the seven emotions and six desires are the root of many diseases. Depression can easily lead to disharmony of Qi and blood, irregular menstruation, and difficulty in conceiving. Modern medicine also believes that patients who experience stress, anxiety, or depression before receiving infertility treatment have significantly lower pregnancy rates, and stress can also affect male hormones, impacting sperm count and quality.

3. Weight Management

Maintaining a healthy weight is important for both partners. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that underweight women (BMI < 19) often suffer from liver and kidney yin deficiency, or weakness of the spleen and stomach due to prolonged illness, or are caused by excessive dieting. Underweight individuals often exhibit symptoms of spleen and kidney deficiency, leading to menstrual irregularities and difficulty conceiving.

Men with a BMI > 25 should also be concerned, as their sperm count is 1.46 times higher than normal. For both men and women, being overweight or underweight is detrimental to fertility, and proper weight management should begin now.

4. Walk briskly or jog for 15 to 30 minutes every day.

The *Huangdi Neijing* states, "The five types of overexertion cause harm: prolonged staring injures the blood, prolonged lying down injures the qi, prolonged sitting injures the flesh, prolonged standing injures the bones, and prolonged walking injures the tendons." These five types of overexertion can affect the five internal organs (liver, heart, spleen, lungs, and kidneys) and the five bodily systems (tendons, blood vessels, muscles, skin, and bones).

Dr. Huang says that most modern people spend a lot of time sitting or lying down using electronic devices, which harms both the blood and flesh. Women who sit for long periods and experience chronic constipation, frequent urination, or nighttime urination may be experiencing qi stagnation, blood stasis, or qi deficiency in organs such as the bladder and large intestine in the pelvis. It is recommended to do 15 to 30 minutes of morning exercise every day, such as jogging or brisk walking, or follow online platforms such as YouTube to do some indoor exercises to actively strengthen blood circulation in the lower limbs and pelvis and increase the chances of conception.

5. Drink more hot water and avoid cold drinks.

A cup of warm water can aid digestion, improve blood circulation, promote the elimination of metabolic waste, and even improve mood. Dr. Huang said, "Whenever I ask a patient if they have drunk enough water, if they don't even want to drink water, it will be even more difficult for them to take medicine." Cold drinks can accumulate cold, which can damage Yang Qi and stagnate Qi and blood. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome or endometriosis are not advised to drink cold drinks. Even fruits are recommended to be eaten at room temperature during the day. Moreover, women with symptoms of Yang deficiency and cold stagnation of blood should pay special attention to the amount of cold foods they consume.

Acupuncture improves physical condition and aids fertility

Practicing these five daily habits can help with conception. In fact, acupuncture at different acupoints on the abdomen can also stimulate ovulation. Dr. Huang further explained, "It's especially suitable for women with Qi deficiency or blood stasis, improving irregular menstruation and menstrual cramps. Women suffering from endometriosis, premature ovarian failure, polycystic ovary syndrome, or chronic vaginitis can experience symptom improvement after acupuncture treatment, making it easier to conceive."

Many women who are older or have been trying to conceive for many years and need artificial insemination are advised to undergo abdominal or lumbar acupuncture before undergoing the procedure. "Acupuncture at the acupoints on the abdomen and lower back can warm the uterus, strengthen blood circulation around the uterus and ovaries, and help relieve edema caused by ovulation-inducing injections, improving a woman's fertility."

Regulates menstruation and improves qi deficiency and phlegm dampness.

She stated that women with particularly large bellies, if they successfully conceive, have a higher risk of pregnancy-related complications such as gestational hypertension and diabetes compared to women of average build. It also hinders postpartum recovery. Therefore, acupuncture not only helps women trying to conceive regulate their menstrual cycles but also helps improve obesity and edema caused by qi deficiency and phlegm-dampness constitution, leading to a healthier pregnancy after conception.

Furthermore, Dr. Huang pointed out that acupuncture is highly suitable for women prone to miscarriage or choosing assisted reproductive technology before and after embryo implantation, as it is more conducive to implantation of the fertilized egg or embryo. Acupuncture can also alleviate symptoms such as eczema, poor appetite, and excessive vomiting in pregnant women. However, it's important to note that certain acupoints on the abdomen, hands, and feet, such as Hegu (LI4, between the thumb and index finger), Sanyinjiao (SP6, four finger-widths above the medial malleolus), and Zhongji (CV3, four inches below the navel), should not be needled or treated during pregnancy. "Therefore, if a pregnant woman needs acupuncture, she must clearly inform the TCM practitioner of her pregnancy. Acupuncture is actually a very safe treatment during pregnancy."

Reporter: Zhou Meihua