Ayurveda for Infertlity

What is infertility?

A couple unable to conceive even after unprotected intercourse or inability to carry pregnancy to the full term is known as infertility.

Causes of infertility

• Pcod
• PID
• Tubal Block
• Low sperm
• Endometriosis
• Most Important is Stress

This can be treated through medications, but when the condition is severe, like chronic PID, severe endometriosis, severe tubal block, and the sperms are infected IVF is suggested.

What is IVF?

In Vitro fertilization. This procedure is done in a lab, sperms are collected and they are either placed or injected {ICSI} in a petri disc for fertilization and then the healthy embryos are transferred in the uterus for implantation.

Causes of IVF failure

• An abnormal embryo or unhealthy embryo
• Implantation failure (endometrial thickness is very important for implantation of the embryo)
• Poor ovum or sperm pickup
• Pre-treatment stress is the most important cause of failure

According to Ayurveda, womb preparation is the most important factor in attaining fertility. Ayurveda fertility treatment/ panchakarma treatment regularizes and improves metabolism. It maintains and keeps all the tri doshas Vata, Pitta, and Kapha in an equilibrium state. It keeps all the hormones and reproductive system in an equilibrium state. It removes all the toxins from the body and regularizes menstrual cycles.

Acharya shusrutha in his sharira sthana ch 3 explains, how the sperm and ovum should be,

"Soumyam shukram agneyam artavam"

Shukram/Sperms should be cold at nature and Artavam/Ovum should be like fire.

Detoxification/Panchakarma for Infertility

Panchakarma procedures like Vamana, Virechana, Basti, Uttar Basti, and Nasya help to eliminate toxins from the body and strengthen the reproductive system.

According to the Prakriti/Constitution of patients, medicines are selected.

• Amapacana and Agnideepana - Ama is undigested food when the food is taken and because of low digestive fire, it won’t digest, and then there is the formation of Ama. This forms toxins in our bodies. Panchakarma helps to eliminate toxins from the body
   
• Vatanulomana - Vata is the main dosha involved in infertility. So correcting the functions of Vata is very important. A medicine that eliminates Vata will help to correct the vitiated Vata dosha
   
• Vamana and Virechana - Removes all the toxins from the body and thus improves the metabolism and digestive system and strengthens the reproductive system
   
• Basti/vasty - Plays an important role in strengthening the reproductive system, removes toxins and increases the chances of conception
   
• Uttar Basti - Is the procedure where the enema is administered through the urethral or vaginal route    

All the procedures mentioned above help to eliminate the toxins from the body and help to correct ovarian, tubular and uterine problems causing infertility. These procedures help to nourish our body, revitalize the mind and strengthen the immune system.

Medicines that are used to treat infertility

• Ovulation failure/disorder - Ashoka, Dashamoola, Shatavri, Aloe, Nagakeshara, Guggulu.
• Premature ovarian failure- Jeevanti, Shatavari, Dashamoola, Guduchi, Punarnava and Yeranda moola.
• PID- Dashamoola, Guggulu, Punarnava, Gokshura , Yeranda

FAQ's

1. Does Panchakarma help in conceiving?

The Panchakarma treatment techniques are the best known Ayurvedic practices to help manage infertility but it is not 100% guaranteed that it will help you conceive. Panchakarma is a method that helps detoxify the body and helps improve the optimum functioning of the body thereby making individuals healthier and more likely to conceive.  Sometimes, internal medicines alone can help you achieve good results.

2. What is the Ayurvedic treatment before IVF? 

Panchakarma techniques are what are followed before the process of In Vitro Fertilisation. Apart from biological drawbacks, infertility is also an emotionally draining disorder. Hence, the massages and de-stress therapies help vastly improve the Cortisol hormone levels, the hormones in the body primarily responsible for handling stress. The aforementioned methods also help strengthen the body before the IVF process, giving it the best chance.
 

3. How can you check for infertility?

Medically checking for infertility involves different techniques for men and different ones for women. It usually begins with the physician trying to understand the sexual habits of the individuals. It is widely believed that one of the simplest methods to verify infertility is going by the lack of being able to conceive despite unprotected sexual intercourse through a one-year period.

For women, it can be determined by using any of the following methods; Ovulation testing, Ovarian reserve testing, Hysterosalpingography, Imaging tests, or testing for other hormones.

For men, the tests include; Semen testing, hormone testing, specialty testing, testicle biopsy, or genetic testing.

About Dr. Anjali Jayantrao Raichur

Jayanagar, Bengaluru

Dr. Anjali Raichur (BAMS, PGCPCK) is a holistic medicine expert specializing in Panchakarma who has been sharing her expertise with Kerala Ayurveda for almost a decade. Over the years, Dr. Anjali has successfully treated a wide gamut of skin and joint-related disorders like Psoriasis, hair loss, arthritis, UTI, etc. and has been actively involved in treating male and female infertility issues. “The beauty of Ayurveda lies in the fact that it not only treats the diseased one but also restores the health of a healthy person”, she says.