• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Go to Expat Living Hong Kong
Get our Newsletter

Lifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living HomepageLifestyle Guide To Moving To & Living in Singapore - Expat Living

Moving to Singapore and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Singapore.

Login Pelcro Shop

Menu
  • Living in Singapore
      • Living here
      • Property
      • Neighbourhood Guides
      • Work & Finance
        • Christmas gift ideas for women of all ages!
        • Christmas presents and gift ideas for himGifts for men and Christmas presents he’ll love!
        • when to start preparing for SAT prep SingaporeHow to get good SAT scores?
        • office storage solutions storage facilities in Singapore5 Reasons to use storage facilities in Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things to do
      • EL Events
      • Calendar
      • Competitions
      • Noticeboard
        • Puzzle Pages – answers for December 2023!
        • Pan Pacific Orchard in Singapore - Christmas at Mosella and Florette8 ways to celebrate Christmas & New Year’s Eve
        • Ripple ClubWhat’s on this week and beyond
        • Theatre show in Singapore Blue Man Group performance art rock musicThe Blue Man Group brings a Bluevolution to Singapore
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Enrichment
      • Kids Things To Do
      • Mums & Babies
      • Schools
      • Tots & Toddlers
      • Tweens & Teens
        • when to start preparing for SAT prep SingaporeHow to get good SAT scores?
        • Christmas gift ideas toys for kidsChristmas Gift Ideas for Kids – Toys, Clothes and More
        • Singapore students project work at UWCSEA Ideas HubGreat project work from these Singapore students!
        • performing arts opportunities drama programme - Stamford American International SchoolPerforming arts, musicals and drama for your kids
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Furniture & Décor
      • Real Homes
        • gifts for the homeChristmas gifts in Singapore – cool home décor presents
        • 31 of the best furniture stores in Singapore with online shopping!
        • interior design companies in singaporeRecommended interior design & renovation in Singapore
        • Great lights, table lamps and lampshades!
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Asia
      • Australasia
      • Rest Of The World
        • Golf courses in Phuket golf resort golf packages in ThailandGreat golf courses and getaways in Thailand
        • Mandala Club: Niseko - ski-in, ski-out clubhouse in Niseko Village - best restaurantsIs this the coolest new club and restaurant in Niseko yet?
        • Avana Retreat Vietnam resorts cloud poolVietnam resorts high in the mountains!
        • Indonesia travel - where to stay in BaliIndonesia travel – Where to stay in Bali & island resorts
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Asian Cuisine
      • Western Cuisine
      • Bars & Clubs
      • Groceries & Speciality Services
      • Recipes & Classes
        • Christmas presents and gift ideas for himGifts for men and Christmas presents he’ll love!
        • Pan Pacific Orchard in Singapore - Christmas at Mosella and Florette8 ways to celebrate Christmas & New Year’s Eve
        • Shabestan Middle Eastern restaurant in Singapore serving magnificent Middle Eastern cuisine5 Middle Eastern restaurants in Singapore we’ve reviewed!
        • Shahi Maharani - Indian Restaurant in Singapore serving delicious Indian food and cuisineIndian restaurants in Singapore we loved reviewing!
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
        • Christmas gift ideas for women of all ages!
        • women's shirts and men's shirts singapore - where to tailor shirts in singaporeOff-the-rack and tailored shirts in Singapore
        • The EyelistEyelash extensions and a lash lift in the heart of Orchard
        • Facial treatments for pigmentation, wrinkles & saggy skin!
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Dental
      • Fitness
      • Medical
      • Wellness
        • medical tourism international medical clinics Medical treatment overseasIs it worth heading overseas for medical care?
        • dental clinics teeth whitening kit whitening treatmentWhere to go for teeth whitening in Singapore?
        • prostate cancer men's healthMen: It’s time for a health screening!
        • Cigna black friday cyber monday health and wellbeing healthcare planWhich health insurer prioritises health and wellbeing?
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • PRINT MAGAZINE
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINE
    • Close

Eastern and Western fertility treatments

8th October 2018 by Amy Greenburg 4 Min Read

https://expatliving.sg/eastern-western-fertility-treatments-in-singapore-raffles-fertility-centre/

Struggling to have a baby? You’re not alone. Here we take a look at Eastern and Western fertility treatments, and the benefits of combining the two approaches.

These days, it’s not as realistic for many women to have babies during the age range that’s considered medically ideal for conception – that is, from 22 to 26 years. And, it’s no secret that the older one gets, the harder it can be to conceive.

“For women, the increase in age comes with a higher incidence of miscarriages and lower chances of conception. For men, sperm quality begins to decline after the age of 40,” says Dr Sheila Loh, Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaegocology at Raffles Fertility Centre. “However, medical breakthroughs have made many advances that have helped married couples to conceive. It’s important that you and your partner spend some time to plan before starting treatment. Not all treatments for infertility involve ‘high-tech’ procedures. Many couples are successful in maximising their natural fertility potential with simple treatments and lifestyle changes.”

image of couple considering fertility treatments in Singapore

The Western approach

According to Dr Loh, there are many factors involved in infertility, so it’s essential to correctly diagnose and treat your condition with the help of your doctor. At Raffles Fertility Centre, fertility specialists, embryologists and fertility nurses work together to personalise treatment programmes to suit each individual couple’s needs. Treatments often involve medical and/or surgical interventions for hormonal problems, anovulation (a condition whereby ovulation doesn’t occur), polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and untreated chlamydia infections, as well as fibroids and cysts, endometriosis and tubal disorders. Lifestyle changes such as eating a balanced diet, having sufficient rest, and abstaining from smoking and alcohol consumption will help a couple produce healthier gametes, explains Dr Loh.

For males, the Western approach focuses on detecting and treating reversible causes, halting damaging factors and assisting in advanced reproductive techniques. Medical treatments are typically given for hormone deficiency, retrograde ejaculation, infections, intercourse problems and to optimise sperm quality. Surgical treatments such as varicocelectomies (removal of enlarged veins) are performed to improve blood flow to reproductive organs.

Additionally, Western fertility treatment often involves assisted reproductive techniques such as intrauterine insemination (IUI), in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

The Eastern approach

More and more couples facing fertility issues are seeking Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatments to regulate their bodies and improve their chances of pregnancy. From the TCM perspective, three internal organs are responsible for fertility: the liver, spleen and kidney. These organs produce, store and regulate the reproductive essence, qi (energy), and blood (nutrients) in our bodies, which are important factors for reproductive function. When there are imbalances in the body due to emotional stress, irregular diets or various lifestyle habits, the functional capabilities of these internal organs are decreased, making it more difficult to conceive naturally.

Acupuncture

“At the heart of TCM is the notion of harmony and balance in our body,” says TCM Physician Tan Weii Zhu of Raffles Chinese Medicine. “TCM first seeks to identify the imbalances in each individual that are causing the fertility issues, and then seeks to correct them through treatments and lifestyle changes. Restoring balance and enhancing internal organ function through acupuncture and herbal medication can create optimal conditions for fertility.”

Acupuncture, she says, can help boost fertility by increasing a woman’s blood flow, stimulating egg production and enriching the endometrial lining in the uterus. It can also help relieve anxiety and promote muscular relaxation, which, in turn, reduces spasms in the uterus and fallopian tubes, thus increasing chances of a successful implantation. This is why acupuncture treatment is often performed together with assisted reproductive procedures such as IUI and IVF. Acupuncture can be beneficial for men, too, as it can help improve sperm quality.

Similar to acupuncture, herbal medication helps restore imbalances in the body through the combination of different herbs that are customised to individual needs, explains Physician Tan. “Herbs are chosen to enhance the functioning of internal organs, as well as promote qi and blood flow, providing optimal conditions for fertility.” Examples of herbs frequently used to boost fertility include dang gui, huang qi, dang shen, gou qizi (goji berry), shou di and yin yang huo.

Combining East and West

Couples trying to conceive have the option of undergoing both Eastern and Western treatments. At Raffles Chinese Medicine Centre, couples undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) may opt for an IVF booster programme, in which Western medical specialists work closely with TCM physicians to promote optimal conditions for fertility. Studies have found that acupuncture can enhance the outcome of ART by improving egg quality and quantity, increasing the thickness and quality of the endometrium lining and supporting embryo implantation.

During treatment, the physician will address any of the patient’s underlying TCM imbalances, provide emotional support and help relieve any adverse reaction that the patient might experience from the hormonal stimulations. Acupuncture and herbal medications are the main treatment modalities, while moxibustion may be used when necessary.

Treatment frequency will be varied according to the different stages of the IVF treatment cycle. On the day of embryo transfer, acupuncture will be performed before and after the transfer. Husbands are encouraged to undergo several acupuncture sessions to improve sperm quality.

To find out more about the full spectrum of fertility treatment options and how to improve your chance of conceiving, visit Raffles Fertility Centre and Raffles Chinese Medicine.

For enquiries, contact 6311 1122 or enquiries@raffleshospital.com.

Like this? Read more in our Health & Fitness section!

5 ways women can stay healthy 

3 alternative medical therapies to consider

Categories: Health & Fitness Medical Tags: acupuncture conception fertility treatment infertility IUI IVF pregnancy Raffles Chinese Medicine Raffles Fertility Centre Raffles Hospital TCM traditional Chinese medicine

Amy Greenburg

Originally from Los Angeles, Amy is passionate about Netflix, sipping rosé at rooftop bars, travelling, and all things health and wellness-related. She enjoys learning about different health topics through her writing, particularly critical health conditions, food allergies, alternative therapies, and pregnancy and postpartum-related issues

You May Also Like

Cigna black friday cyber monday health and wellbeing healthcare plan

Which health insurer prioritises health and wellbeing?

AMP Lab Singapore

How sports physiotherapy helps prevent cycling injuries

Painful feet and heel pain

Top tips for tight calves and painful feet!

Primary Sidebar

  • Competitions
  • Noticeboard
  • Subscribe
  • About
  • advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy

© 2023 Expat Living Singapore, All Rights Reserved.