Summer Heat! How it Affects Fertility

With the weather heating up, often to uncomfortable levels, you might be wondering how all of this heat affects your fertility.

We’ll look at this from a Chinese Medicine perspective.

In Chinese medicine we have common fertility diagnoses, such as Blood deficiency or Kidney deficiency.

As a patient at Creation Acupuncture you will receive your individual fertility diagnosis at your first session.

Here are some diagnoses that are more common in hot weather:

Heat in the Blood

Liver Qi Stagnation + Heat

Leading to… long term…

Yin Deficiency

What is Heat in the Blood?

Heat in the Blood occurs when external heat causes internal heat at the level of the blood.

This causes the blood to behave recklessly, moving out of its usual channels, causing signs and symptoms such as mid cycle menstrual bleeding and nosebleeds.

Signs and symptoms of heat in the blood:

Heavy period bleed

Unusual bleeding patterns

Bright red blood

Fresh clots

No pain or mild period pain

Short cycle

Restlessness and anxiety

Red skin, rashes, psoriasis or acne

What is Liver Qi stagnation?

Qi means energy and the Liver is in charge of flowing and spreading the energy of the body effectively. When the liver energy becomes excessive or blocked, stagnation can occur. This stagnation produces heat and heat rises to the head, causing headaches and migraines which are exacerbated in the heat.

The Liver energy also relates to the hormones, blood and menstrual cycle.

Signs and symptoms of Liver Qi Stagnation

Delayed cycle

PCOS

PMT

Painful periods

Bloating

Headaches

Stress, frustration and mood changes

How Heat Affects Fertility…

Excess heat can affect egg quality

If there is heat on the blood, the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle may be disrupted as heat accelerates the hormonal cycle.

This causes an environment where the eggs do not have enough time to mature and develop properly and can lead to early ovulation.

Excess heat dries up cervical mucus

Healthy cervical mucus is essential to guide the sperm though the fallopian tubes. When there is excess heat in the fertility organs, the cervical mucus can become drier and less effective.

Excess heat affects the uterine lining

If a woman suffers from heat in the blood affecting her menstrual cycle such as irregular mid cycle bleeding or excessively heavy periods, the uterine lining which is essential for implantation, can be compromised.

All of these effects are usually seen long term as excess heat dries up the Yin in the body and progresses into…

Yin Deficiency

When the body is Yin (feminine energy) deficient, expect signs and symptoms such as:

Low AMH

Thin uterine lining

Short follicular phase

Poor egg and embryo quality

How Acupuncture Helps…

In acupuncture we use a specific set of points to clear heat, move the Liver Qi, cool the blood and nourish the Yin.

These are:

Liver 2: a point on your feet by your big toe. This clears heat from the liver and moves the liver Qi.

Spleen 10: this point found above your knees clears heat from the blood and is especially effective for menstrual and fertility issues relating to heat in the blood.

Large Intestine 11: this point is found by your elbow crease and clears heat from the whole body.

When it is hot weather, during the follicular phase of your cycle and when heat has damaged Yin in the long term, we also treat Yin deficiency by nourishing the Kidney Yin. These points are found on the lower leg and abdomen.

What You Can Do At Home

Reduce heat generating foods such as spicy food.

Increase cooling Yin foods such as watermelon, cucumber, kiwi, spinach and celery.

Try a heat clearing ice gel hat made specifically to cool heat from the head. Available to purchase for £10 at Creation Acupuncture. This gel ice hat can be frozen and reused, reducing migraines.

Exercise in the early morning in Summer. Where possible, it is important to keep your body moving.

During times of heat, we will be using a cool downstairs room with fans at Creation Acupuncture.

The ideal time to clear heat is during the summer heat periods. Don’t let it accumulate in your body and fertility organs!

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