Acupuncture and Hormone Balance
Chapter 13: Hormone Balance and Infertility
In this chapter, we will address several issues that are closely related to infertility such as endometriosis and fibroids, imbalanced immune function, high FSH, hypothyroidism, ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome, polycyst ovarian syndrome, and premature ovarian failure. Infertility of unknown reason and repeated miscarriage will also be discussed. Suggestions are given to improve husband’s sperm quality and to improve the chances of fertility in general. Acupuncture can be applied to all the above conditions. Even for in vitro fertilization (IVF), acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can increase its success rate.
Hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary Axis (HPOA)
The hypothalamus is located at the base of the brain. It controls our thirst, hunger, sex drive, body temperature, sleep, mood and the release of hormones from a master gland called the pituitary gland. The pituitary is a small oval gland connected to the brain. It produces hormones that control the thyroid and ovaries. It also produces growth hormone, antidiuretic hormone, prolactin, and oxytocin.
In order to achieve pregnancy, the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis has to be in balance
Before the follicles are signaled by the follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) from the pituitary, the follicles respond to hormone-regulating factors within the ovary itself. One important factor that emerges to influence ovarian health is called insulin-like growth factor. Other hormonal factors in the ovaries are insulin-like growth factor binding protein, interleukin, tumor necrosis factor, inhibin, vascular endothelial growth factor, and activin. These ovarian growth factors help determine the eventual fertility potential of the egg, so it is very important to maintain healthy ovaries with all of these factors in balance for a couple of months before you decide to get pregnant.
Every month, the hypothalamus secretes gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which stimulates the pituitary to produce follicular stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH stimulates the ovaries to produce estrogen and progesterone. The hypothalamus also secretes corticotrophin-releasing hormone, which stimulates the pituitary to produce more adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which in turn stimulates the adrenal gland to produce cortisol, progesterone and other hormones. Therefore, although the ovaries produce most of our progesterone, a small portion of progesterone comes from the adrenal glands. We have to optimize ovary and adrenal gland function for good health.
The hypothalamus can also produce endorphins that bind to receptors in the ovaries. Too much endorphin may make you feel good, but it can potentially be a problem for pregnancy. That is one of the reasons why professional athletes very often have menstrual problems...
© 2008 Li Zheng