Delivery of a full-term pregnancy after TCM treatment in a previously infertile patient diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract

There is a growing body of literature supporting the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for increasing the likelihood of conception and carrying a pregnancy to term. The use of TCM in fertility treatment is becoming more widely recognized, and several clinical trials are being supported by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine to assess the efficacy of such treatments, as evidenced by the listings in the National Institutes of Health's Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects (CRISP) database. In addition to subjecting TCM to the rigors of Western scientific standards, it is important that TCM and other CAM practitioners share their expertise and practical experiences through case reports in the same spirit that their Western medical counterparts do. This dissemination of knowledge is critical in increasing awareness about TCM within the broader scientific community. The clinical case report presented here describes the course of TCM treatment that resulted in a successful pregnancy in a previously infertile woman who had been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It also illustrates the importance of the need for collaborative efforts between TCM and Western medical practitioners.