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Low AMH & Empty Follicles: A TCM and IVF Success Story
Dr. Chen Yu-Chuan X Dr. Cindy Chan
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When Xiao Fen discovered her AMH was only 0.15, she proactively tried IVF and even conceived naturally once. However, she faced devastating setbacks, including fetal demise, ectopic pregnancy, implantation failure, and miscarriage due to chromosomal abnormalities. Ultimately, her journey led her to NUWA Fertility Center, where she successfully brought her miracle baby home!
Overcoming an Ultra-Low AMH of 0.013 and Empty Follicles at Age 40
In December 2022, Xiao Fen arrived at NUWA Fertility Center. Her tests revealed that her AMH had dropped to an ultra-low of 0.013, and no follicles could be detected in her ovaries. She had only two frozen embryos left from previous cycles and hoped to accumulate 1 or 2 more embryos for a combined transfer. Although 40 is not considered an extremely advanced maternal age, Xiao Fen's unyielding spirit, her history of multiple IVF cycles, and the critical condition of her ovaries prompted our team to treat her case with the utmost precision.
Recommended Reading：IVF Over 40: Success Rates in the U.S. and Taiwan
Breakthrough: Ovarian Function Improves with Continuous TCM Conditioning
From December 2021 to May 2022, Xiao Fen underwent continuous Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) conditioning and herbal treatments. However, her egg retrieval cycles were repeatedly canceled because no follicles developed. To expedite her journey to motherhood, Xiao Fen made the difficult decision in June 2022 to register for egg donation. While waiting for a match, she continued visiting Dr. Chen Yu-Chuan at NUWA TCM Clinic to optimize her reproductive health. Thanks to the persistent efforts of Xiao Fen and Dr. Chen, a miracle happened—follicles began to emerge, and two grew simultaneously!
Recommended Reading：Low AMH and IVF: Can You Still Get Pregnant?
Enhancing Egg Quality in An Advanced Embryology Lab
Perhaps her perseverance moved the universe, or perhaps having egg donation as a backup plan allowed her mind to relax. Coupled with 8 months of dedicated TCM conditioning, her ovaries suddenly emerged a couple follicles that weren’t there before. For her second egg retrieval, Dr. Cindy Chan at NUWA Taipei adjusted the medication protocol to enhance egg quality. In the embryology lab, advanced techniques—including spindle-view ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) and artificial oocyte activation (AOA)—were utilized, successfully fertilizing both retrieved eggs!
On Day 3, the embryos showed excellent cleavage and high grading. Fearing they might miss a prime transfer window, the lab decided to freeze these Day 3 embryos first. Surprisingly, right after the freezing process, Xiao Fen’s second wave of egg retrieval brought more good news: another egg was successfully retrieved and fertilized. The lab maintained the Day 3 freezing strategy: safely accumulating a total of 3 precious embryos.
The Power of Integrative Medicine: Achieving a 100% Blastocyst Conversion Rate
Xiao Fen, who had initially registered for donor eggs believing her own ovarian reserve was entirely depleted, successfully froze 3 embryos thanks to Dr. Cindy Chan's precise IVF protocol and supportive TCM care. Just as the team was preparing for the embryo transfer, we surprisingly discovered 3 more developing follicles!
Following Dr. Cindy Chan's expert recommendation, the embryology lab decided to culture these 3 new eggs into blastocysts before freezing. Under everyone's eager anticipation, all 3 eggs fertilized successfully and developed into top-quality Day 5 blastocysts—achieving a remarkable 100% blastocyst conversion rate!
Successful Pregnancy via Natural Cycle Embryo Transfer
Given Xiao Fen's optimal physiological state, Dr. Cindy Chan decided to proceed with a natural cycle frozen embryo transfer (FET). On November 15, 2022, Dr. Cindy Chan joyfully shared the positive pregnancy test results—a profoundly moving moment for the entire team!
Due to a subsequent pandemic outbreak, Xiao Fen could not return to the immunology department for follow-ups. However, her blood work remained perfectly normal, so she discontinued hydroxychloroquine and other immunomodulatory medications. Despite her history of recurrent implantation failure (RIF) and loss, Xiao Fen stayed resilient. Even after seeing her rising β-HCG levels, she felt anxious until she finally witnessed the baby’s heartbeat, received her maternal health handbook, overcame early morning sickness, and confirmed a normal Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening (NIPS) result. Only then did she truly feel at ease.
During a routine ultrasound examination, it was noted that the fetus had a Single Umbilical Artery (SUA), consisting of one umbilical artery and one umbilical vein (whereas a normal umbilical cord has two arteries and one vein). Following a meticulous evaluation and a high-resolution Level II ultrasound by OB/GYN Dr. Chang Chien-mei, no structural abnormalities were detected, marking the beginning of a beautiful 10-month prenatal bond with Dr. Chen Yu-Chuan.
Recommended Reading：Recurrent Implantation Failure (RIF): Causes & Treatment
From Pre-Pregnancy to Postpartum: Holistic TCM Reproductive Support
TCM conditioning did more than fulfill Xiao Fen's dream of becoming a mother; it also alleviated her palmar hyperhidrosis (sweaty hands) and significantly improved her sleep quality during pregnancy. Prenatal discomforts—such as morning sickness, a COVID-19 infection, hives, and edema—were all effectively managed through targeted Chinese herbal medicine.
Finally, just two days before the launch event for Dr. Chen Yu-Chuan's new book, The Fertility Bible, Xiao Fen safely gave birth to a healthy baby and immediately shared a photo to deliver the wonderful news. Witnessing her immense dedication to overcoming hurdles and achieving her dream of creating embryos with her own eggs was incredibly rewarding. This exemplifies the true value of holistic, full-spectrum integrated TCM and reproductive care.
It took nearly two years to transition from a state of finding no visible follicles to achieving a successful pregnancy and birth on the very first embryo transfer. While a miraculous turnaround might not happen for everyone, maintaining a glimmer of hope during challenging times proves that hope can conquer despair. The embryologists, reproductive endocrinologists, and TCM physicians at NUWA Fertility Center will always stand by your side, guiding future parents every step of the way.