Does Your Lifestyle Support Your Fertility?

In this article we are going to explore how you can apply Yin feminine energy principles to your fertility and whether your lifestyle, work and exercise habits support this.

Women's feminine energy is Yin and therefore our bodies and hormones follow Moon cycles. The Moon rules the tides and water of our planet, including the water within our bodies. This means our emotions and menstrual cycles. Women's bodies naturally are supposed to fall within healthy 28 day menstrual cycles following the Moon. Traditionally women would either bleed at the full moon and ovulate at the new moon or bleed at the new moon and ovulate at the full moon.

If we strip fertility and gynaecological health back to the basics, we are meant to follow a natural lifestyle. Modern society does not always support this but it is possible to make changes that align with feminine energy.

Let's focus on two main lifestyle areas:

1. Work

   
   

   A patient recently pointed out to me that most modern workplaces observe a patriarchal system that benefits a masculine working pattern. Males are Yang and females are Yin. Yang energy is ruled by the Sun and Yin energy is ruled by the Moon.

   Masculine energy rises and falls daily like the Sun. Most of us are more productive in the daytime and tired in the evening as Yang ebbs and falls. The difference between males and females is that this energy remains constant for men day by day and month by month, whereas for females it fluctuates quite significantly week by week across a Moon (menstrual) cycle.

   Women usually feel more productive during the follicular phase and less productive during the menstrual bleed.

   Since 2020 with an increase in working from home, many of you may be able to organise your work around fertility appointments. How does that work for those of you in male dominated environments? Does your job support what you need to benefit your feminine energy? Are you able to set your own work schedule and catch up with work during your follicular phase?

2. Exercise

   Have you ever experienced training in the gym on your period and not being able to lift as heavy as you usually can? We are supposed to rest on our periods as heavy exercise can cause retrograde bleeding and therefore blood stasis. As Yin energy increases in the follicular phase, women usually have more energy for exercise during this time. Even though tiredness and lack of motivation can be a PMT symptom in the pre-menstrual phase, exercising during this time is very productive for moving the Qi and Blood and supporting a healthy and regular cycle.

The Menstrual Cycle in TCM

Period:

The lining of the Uterus sheds and Yin turns to Yang. In this phase we support the Spleen and Kidney.

Chinese Medicine Advice: Avoid heavy exercise. Meditate, rest and recuperate.

Follicular Phase:

Blood starts to fill the Uterus, the endometrium ripens and follicles are recruited. In acupuncture, we nourish Kidney Yin, Blood and the Heart in this phase.

Chinese Medicine Advice:  Eat blood nourishing foods such as beetroot, pomegranate, eggs, leafy green vegetables such as kale and spinach. This is a good time to increase exercise and productivity. During stims or with a low AMH you would avoid high intensity exercise such as running or HIIT.

Ovulation:

Yin peaks and then wanes. Yang is born. The egg is released and BBT goes up. In this phase we strengthen Qi and Kidney Yang and move Liver Qi.

Chinese Medicine Advice:  Exercise, energy clearing meditation.

Luteal:

Yang builds, the corpus luteum produces progesterone to prepare the endometrium for implantation. In acupuncture we strengthen Kidney Yang and Spleen Qi. We move blockages of Blood Stasis and Qi Stagnation.

Chinese Medicine Advice:  Keep warm, wear a vest, keep the Uterus and kidneys warm. Use a hot water bottle or moxa on your abdomen and feet. Eat Yang foods such as chilli, garlic and onions.

Pre-menstrual:

Yang reaches its peak and prepares to move Blood. Liver Qi can often stagnate during this time which causes PMT symptoms. We use the needles to move Liver Qi and Blood.

Chinese Medicine Advice:  Exercise, increase energy clearing and journal to release emotions.

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