How many people does it take to make a baby? For those who struggle to have a child, the answer is not as obvious as it seems.

Often people come to my office as a last resort, usually after repeated disappointing attempts with assisted reproductive technology. Media emphasis has been on acupuncture and in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures, as detailed in a peer reviewed study published in Fertility and Sterility Journal, vol. 4, #77, April 2002. The study showed that success rates nearly doubled with acupuncture treatments before and after IVF.

Traditional Oriental Medicine (TOM) offers infertility patients much more than just adjunctive before-and-after acupuncture treatments. TOM has a long and established history for the regulation of the woman’s menstrual cycle, as well as treatment for various male infertility issues.

It is often amazing to me when I review an infertility patient’s medical history and see there has been so little attention paid to correcting menstrual irregularities prior to assisted reproductive technology procedures. It is my personal opinion that one should logically begin such procedures in the best health possible.