What Causes Infertility?

Infertility is the inability to conceive after at least one year of regular sexual intercourse. If a woman has never been pregnant before, she will be diagnosed with primary infertility. If a woman has had at least one successful pregnancy in the past, she will be diagnosed with secondary infertility.

Both men and women are equally likely to encounter infertility problems. So, what are the causes of infertility?

Causes of Male Infertility

Acupuncture may help with IVF treatment. fertility and stress
  1. Sperm count and mobility: When a man has a low sperm count, he ejaculates a low number of sperm which causes difficulties in conceiving.  Low sperm mobility also reduces the chances of successful conception. It occurs where the sperm cannot ‘swim’ as required to reach the egg. The sperm may also have an unusual shape making it hard to swim accurately towards the egg and fertilize it.
  2. Genetic Defects: Normally a man should have an X and Y chromosome. If it occurs that he has two X chromosomes and one Y, the testicles will develop abnormally. This leads to low testosterone and a low sperm count altogether.
  3.  Environmental disruptors: Too much exposure to certain environmental factors may increase the risk of infertility. For example, excess cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption and anabolic steroids. Overexposure to heat such as in saunas may also affect sperm production.
  4. Sexual problems: Certain problems affect the delivery of the sperm to the egg for fertilization. Problems such as premature ejaculation, Cystic fibrosis and testicular blockage may cause infertility in males.
  5. Medication and treatments: Damage related to cancer and their treatments, including radiation or chemotherapy add to the risk of infertility. Cancer treatment can impair sperm production, sometimes severely.

Causes of Female Infertility

Infertility acupuncture
  1. Ovulatory Disorders: These are disorders that affect the release of eggs from the ovary. They include polycystic ovary syndrome, which is a hormonal disorder and Hyperprolactinemia, a condition where you have too much prolactin. Having too much thyroid or too little may also affect ovulation causing infertility.
  2. Tubal Blockage: Tubal Blockage is often caused by inflammation of the fallopian tubes. It results from a pelvic inflammatory disease, which is normally caused by a sexually transmitted infection, endometriosis or adhesions.
  3. Endometriosis: It occurs where cells that normally occur within the uterus lining grow elsewhere in the body affecting the function of the ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus.
  4. Pelvic Adhesions: Pelvic surgery can cause scarring or damage to the fallopian tubes. Cervical surgery may also cause scarring or shortening of the cervix.
  5. Medications and Treatments: Long term use of some drugs such as ibuprofen may affect fertility in women. Treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy may increase the risk of infertility.

A rise in the numbers of infertility rates has forced many to seek medical assistance. Traditional Chinese Medicine has been used successfully for a long time to treat infertility. Read our blog or reach out to us at 07 846 7956 for more on TCM and acupuncture treatment for infertility.

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References

J.S.Schulman (2019) Everything You Need to Know About Infertility. Retrieved fromhttps://www.healthline.com/health/fertility

Yvette Brazier (2018) Infertility in Men and Women. Retrieved fromhttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/165748

Mayo Clinic Infertility- Symptoms and Causes (2019) Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infertility/symptomps-causes/syc-20354317

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Monica

I am originally from Hebei province in China. I hold a NZ bachelor’s degree of health and science with a major in acupuncture. I am honoured to be an acupuncturist at Centre of Balance. Helping patients to alleviate their pain brings me the greatest joy. Chinese medicine emphasises the unity of human beings and nature. During the treatment, I hope to not only relieve your pain but also help you to understand the principles behind acupuncture’s effectiveness, as well as the significant impact of diet, emotions, lifestyle habits, and living environments on disease recovery. Self-healing is an ability that our bodies are naturally endowed with.

I studied acupuncture in New Zealand and completed one and a half years of supervised clinical internship before graduating. In the early stage of my training, I mainly worked with patients experiencing neck, shoulder, and lower back pain. Under the guidance of senior clinical tutors, I gradually developed hands-on experience and confidence in treating musculoskeletal pain conditions.
As my clinical exposure expanded, I began treating a wider range of internal conditions. Alongside traditional acupuncture, I was introduced to Umbilical Acupuncture and Tungs-acupuncture Points. What interested me most about these approaches is that they often do not require needling directly at the painful area, yet can still achieve very effective results.
I was especially inspired by observing my supervisor use Umbilical Acupuncture to treat common conditions such as insomnia, menstrual irregularities, and even rheumatoid arthritis, with very positive outcomes. Another supervisor was highly skilled in Tungs-acupuncture Points and achieved excellent results in treating pain, infertility, menstrual disorders, and a variety of women’s health conditions. After completing my studies and entering clinical practice, once I observed Dr. Szenan Phua using Tungs-acupuncture points to help cancer patients relieve pain, which further strengthened my trust in this treatment method.
I later completed training in Dr. Tan Balance Acupuncture, which had a strong influence on the way I approach treatment. One of the most noticeable features of this method is how quickly patients often feel improvement, especially with pain conditions. Dr. Szenan Phua’s New Balance Acupuncture combines meridian regulation with structural adjustment and internal organ balancing, including techniques such as pulse balancing and spinal adjustment.
From my clinical experience, pain is rarely just a local issue. It often involves underlying organ weakness or structural imbalance. When these aspects are addressed together, treatment can be more thorough and longer-lasting. I also apply this approach to internal conditions, particularly in fertility and women’s health. This includes supporting natural conception, IVF preparation and embryo transfer, pregnancy support, early-pregnancy nausea, and late-pregnancy labour induction. I combine these treatments with concepts learned from a few additional fertility training, which has given me a broader and more flexible clinical perspective. This has reinforced my belief that acupuncture should be adapted to each individual rather than applied through fixed formulas.
Two other areas of study that have been very helpful in my clinical work are Tongue Diagnosis and Dr. Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture. Although tongue diagnosis is taught in my standard Chinese medicine training, further study allowed me to deepen and refine my diagnostic skills.
My first formal training was in Li’s Tongue Diagnosis, which looks not only at organ patterns, but also at how different areas of the tongue reflect the body’s structure. This system also explores personality traits and changes during pregnancy, making it both clinically useful and engaging. I later attended online lectures on Yin’s Tongue Diagnosis and studied the related materials independently. this learning has helped me make clearer and more accurate pattern differentiation, allowing my acupuncture treatments to be more targeted. It covers a wide range of conditions, including skin disorders, oncology-related presentations, mental health patterns, and joint or limb problems. In practice, tongue observation often provides valuable insight even before a patient begins describing their symptoms.
In addition to the methods above, I regularly use local bloodletting techniques, which can be very effective for improving circulation, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. I also incorporate auricular (ear) acupressure and stimulation, which I commonly use for allergies, insomnia, headaches, stress management, and various internal conditions.
In my clinical work, I value taking the time to listen carefully to each patient and to understand their overall health, lifestyle, and concerns. Based on each individual’s condition, I also provide personalised dietary guidance and lifestyle or wellness advice to support overall health and long-term wellbeing. I commonly support patients with musculoskeletal pain, such as neck, shoulder, knee, and back pain, as well as stress-related conditions, sleep issues, migraines, digestive concerns, and women’s health and fertility-related conditions.