One in seven couples in the UK experiences difficulty conceiving. For many women, the journey to a diagnosis — let alone a solution — is long and emotionally exhausting. TCM offers a different lens through which to understand and address female infertility.
Western medicine categorises female infertility according to identifiable structural or hormonal causes: ovulatory dysfunction, tubal damage, endometriosis, poor ovarian reserve. TCM does not replace this framework — it adds to it. Where Western diagnosis describes what is happening, TCM diagnosis asks why: what is the underlying pattern of imbalance that is preventing conception?
This distinction matters clinically. Two women with identical Western diagnoses — both with low AMH, for example — may have entirely different TCM patterns, and will benefit from different treatment. This individualised approach is why acupuncture often succeeds where standardised protocols have not.
Irregular cycles, anovulation, luteal phase defects, elevated FSH and poor ovarian reserve all reflect disruptions in the hormonal signalling that governs the reproductive cycle. TCM addresses these disruptions through the lens of Kidney, Liver and Spleen system function — regulating the cycle, promoting regular ovulation and supporting the hormonal environment for conception.
Low AMH and high FSH are among the most distressing diagnoses a woman can receive, often leading to the suggestion that IVF with donor eggs is the only option. TCM views poor ovarian reserve through the lens of Kidney Jing deficiency — a depletion of the fundamental reproductive essence — and treats it with acupuncture and nourishing herbal formulas. While TCM cannot reverse age-related decline, it can improve the quality of the eggs that remain.
Recurrent pregnancy loss — usually defined as three or more consecutive miscarriages — has multiple possible causes including chromosomal abnormalities, immunological factors, hormonal insufficiency and structural problems. TCM addresses the patterns that make implantation unstable or the early pregnancy environment hostile: Kidney Yang deficiency, Spleen Qi deficiency and Blood stasis are the most common patterns seen clinically.
A thin endometrial lining is a significant barrier to both natural conception and IVF implantation. TCM acupuncture and herbal medicine improve uterine blood flow and support the growth of a healthy, receptive lining — one of the most well-evidenced applications of fertility acupuncture in the research literature.
Your initial consultation will explore your fertility history, menstrual cycle characteristics, any investigation results and your overall health picture. Dr D'Alberto will build a TCM diagnosis and a treatment plan aligned to your cycle. Weekly sessions are typical during active treatment; for best results a minimum of three months is recommended before a natural conception attempt or IVF cycle.