7 years Infertility and recurrent miscarriage

Hi Rosie,
While Chinese medicine and herbal formulas can certainly help, it is very important to see an acupuncturist or herbalist in person. Since you’ve already said there is no one local, I really can’t recommend any specific herbs or formulas. Yes some of the symptoms you mentioned can relate with Kidney Yin deficiency, but they could also be from liver blood deficiency. Chinese medicine is not like western medicine where you match certain drugs for specific symptoms. It crucially important to match the formula to the appropriate underlying pattern(s) which is nearly impossible to do via correspondence and why it is generally a bad idea to try to diagnose yourself.

I can however give you some suggestions for your diet. Try to eat lots of root vegetables, in particular beets if they are available. You should also try to make sure you get some red meat in your diet at least a few times a week if possible. Soups make with bones or eating the bone marrow directly would also likely help.

Since time is somewhat of the essence, can you send a picture of your tongue - this would help guide you a bit further (knowing that we can only guide so much without seeing you physically). I also have a few questions:

1. You mention your cycles are regular - how long are they though? and how many days do you generally bleed for? When does the severe cramping start and stop usually (a few days before to 1 day in, or?)

2. How far along were you when you miscarried each time? and how much time was there between pregnancies?

3. How long have you had the nightsweats? How long have you had the painful cycles?

4. Did you conceive naturally those 3 times? or were you using western medicine, herbal treatment or other avenues?

I’ll try to help as much as I can. I have treated patients very similar to your situation before and they did conceive naturally and carry to term. One had 6 miscarriages in a row before we started treating her and all worked out fine. Another had 2 miscarriages, 3 failed IVF, 6 failed IUI’s over many years and that worked out well also. There have been many other complicated cases and the majority work out well. Fertility is complicated, however, and treatment can take 2-5 months up to 15 months or possibly longer depending on the case. But there is always hope and the fact that you got pregnant recently (and previously) - even though you miscarried, is good news compared to not knowing if you can conceive.

Thank you for all of the information. With the caveat that someone who can physically inspect you and treat you has many advantages - I would suggest you start with ba zhen wan (for spleen blood and qi deficiency) with a small amount of xiao yao wan (liver qi stagnation, harmonizing). This would be particularly useful following the current miscarriage as you will tend towards blood deficiency. In teapills (if you were a patient of mine) you would do something along the lines of 7 ba zhen wan with 3 xiao yao wan 3 times a day with meals.

If after starting this you get considerably hot or if the nightsweats increase, then another approach would be called for. But at least as an initial treatment this should be good. When you do start your next cycle (if you are not pregnant again quickly) you would not take the herbs while you are menstruating as they can increase the flow at that time. That combination should get you heading in a direction where you are stronger internally - then if you get a chance to see someone in June they can possibly work with you further. There are a few acupuncturists in the larger cities in nigeria and a couple who do fertility if that is easier - I can send you a personal message with their information if you would like to go that route (I don’t know them personally though, so I cannot vouch for their abilities).