Med Acupunct. 2013 Jun; 25(3): 232–237.

doi:  10.1089/acu.2012.0911

PMCID: PMC3689170

Recurrent Pregnancy Loss and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Lee Hullender Rubin, DAOM, Dara Cantor, BS, and Benjamin L. Marx, MAcOM

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3689170/

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Abstract

Background

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) can present with coexistent subfertility caused by diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). Recent texts suggest that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) may improve pregnancy outcomes for women with RPL.

Objective

This article reports the outcome of the treatment of a female of advanced maternal age. She had diagnoses of DOR and RPL.

Design, Setting, and Patient

This 42-year-old patient with DOR and RPL presented in a private acupuncture practice, located in Bellevue, WA.

Intervention

The patient received TCM treatment that involved weekly acupuncture and Chinese herbal therapy from June 2006 to May 2007.

Main Outcome Measures

The outcome sought was a live birth after 24 weeks of gestation.

Results

After another miscarriage in September 2006, this patient conceived a viable pregnancy in December 2006, after 6 months of treatment. She continued treatment through 20 weeks and delivered a healthy son at 39.5 weeks of gestation.

Conclusions

Subfertile women with RPL may benefit from TCM treatment. More research is needed to examine the safety and effectiveness of TCM as a treatment for RPL.

Key Words: Spontaneous Abortion, Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Infertility