Reviewed by Dr Jessica Gunawan and Physician Lim Sock Ling

Considering IVF Treatment? These Success Stories Can Help You Decide

Published October 26, 2022| 4 min read

IVF treatment has been proven successful with helping couples conceive. Incorporating it with traditional remedies and acupuncture can increase the chances of pregnancy.

Man pumping his right fist into the air and a woman holding a pregnancy test as they sit up in bed with smiles on their faces

Did you know Malaysia is one of the top healthcare travel destinations in the world for in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment? Malaysia is also home to 10 of 30 global fertility centres accredited by the International Reproductive Technology Accreditation Committee.

IVF treatment can help couples who are struggling to conceive. A specialist will attempt to remove as many eggs as they can from a woman’s ovaries during the treatment. These are then fertilised with a man’s sperm before being implanted again in her womb.

Read on to be inspired by the success stories of couples who chose to undergo IVF treatment and have conceived successfully.

Joshua, 36 and Andrea, 33

Close-up family picture of Joshua, Eli, and Andrea — During IVF treatment, a man’s sperm will fertilise a woman’s eggs within three to five days after an extraction.

At 32, Andrea discovered she had developed ovarian cysts. However, they resolved on their own by the time she attended a follow-up consultation.

During the same session, their specialist learnt that she and Joshua had been trying for a child for two years, but to no avail. He recommended that Joshua do a sperm count test, which produced a zero.

The specialist then prescribed medications to help boost Joshua’s sperm count but unfortunately, it didn’t address the problem. Joshua also potentially had multiple blockages. Surgery was out of the question as it could diminish the couple’s chances of getting pregnant.

As a last resort, IVF treatment was recommended and after careful consideration, the couple agreed to go through with it. Joshua’s semen was extracted via keyhole surgery and stored for use within three to five days during a fresh embryo transfer.

It took only one cycle for Andrea to conceive. Today, the couple are parents to a charming baby boy, Eli.

Karthik, 35 and Suet Li, 34

After trying to conceive for a year, Suet Li was told by a specialist that her fallopian tubes were blocked. The fallopian tubes are passageways for an egg and sperm to meet and for a fertilised egg to make its way to the uterus.

To make matters worse, she was also diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

The specialist put forward the suggestion to try IVF, to which the couple said yes. In addition, Karthik and Suet Li used acupuncture and herbal remedies to boost their chances of getting pregnant.

Their efforts eventually bore fruition, as Suet Li successfully conceived their daughter, Maya, within a few months after IVF treatment.

Close-up family picture of Suet Lee, Karthik, and their daughter Maya — IVF treatment is a proven method to help couples get pregnant.

How Traditional Medicine Improves Chances of Conceiving

A core belief in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is that the Kidney and Liver organ systems play fundamental roles during a woman’s pregnancy.

Physician Lim Sock Ling explains, “The Kidneys are directly linked to a woman’s reproductive system, as they’re responsible for storing jing (essence). The Chong Mai and Ren Mai vessels aid the reproductive system. These vessels help distribute jing to all body parts and regulate blood and energy in the uterus respectively.”

Because of this, it’s vital that women take steps to nourish blood and jing, warm Kidney qi (vital life force), and regulate blood, qi, and the Chong Mai and Ren Mai vessels.

Combining herbal remedies and acupuncture to boost pregnancy success rate

To encourage ovulation, a TCM practitioner will recommend herbal formulas that nourish the Liver and invigorate the Kidneys. Examples of these are Er Zhi pills (二至丸) and Si Wu soup (四物汤).

They may also suggest using Shou Tai pills (寿胎丸) or Wen Shen An Tai soup (温肾安胎汤) on the day of the embryo transfer. These formulas can invigorate and warm the Kidneys, thus increasing the chances of successful implantation.

Likewise, acupuncture can also be administered. It encourages relaxation and enhances blood flow to the reproductive organs.

Consequently, it’ll improve ovary follicle development and egg quality. A few of the points that an acupuncturist may work on are:

Located on the inner wrist crease, towards the ulnar (little finger) side and about one-fifth of the distance across the wrist.

Nei guan is located on the front of the forearm, 3-fingers breadth above the transverse crease of the wrist. It restores and enhances the heart’s function for improved qi and blood circulation within the meridians.

Located along the midline of the lower abdomen, 4 fingers-breadth below the navel. It dispels pathogens for improved qi and blood circulation within the lower abdominal cavity and revitalises Kidneys’ yang energy.

Located along the midline of the lower abdomen, 2 fingers-breadth below the navel. It dispels pathogens for improved qi and blood circulation within the lower abdominal cavity and revitalises kidneys' yang energy. — Located along the midline of the lower abdomen, 2 fingers-breadth below the navel. It dispels pathogens for improved qi and blood circulation within the lower abdominal cavity and revitalises kidneys’ yang energy.

San Yin Jiao is located four finger widths above the ankle.

Shen men (HT7, 神门)
Nei guan (PC6, 內关)
Guan yuan (RN4, 关元)
Qi hai (RN6, 气海)
San yin jiao (SP6, 三阴交).

IVF treatment has proven to be one of the most successful options for getting pregnant. Likewise, you and your partner should live healthy lifestyles to boost your chances of conceiving. To support IVF treatment with traditional remedies, speak to a TCM practitioner. Doing so will ensure you’ll avoid contraindications that may hamper your chances.