Low Ovarian Reserve? Improve Egg Quality (AMH & FSH) With Chinese Medicine
Every woman is born with a fixed number of eggs. This is known as her ovarian reserve. As a woman grows older, her ovarian reserve decreases. Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) are 2 female reproductive hormones that can be used to assess ovarian reserve, egg quality and overall fertility.
In this article we will look into AMH and FSH and find out what these hormones do from a western Medical perspective – and why they matter when you are trying to conceive. We will also explain how Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can help to naturally balance the levels of these hormones within you and in so doing, improve your fertility. Keep reading to find out how to improve low ovarian reserve and address diminished ovarian reserve.
What is AMH?
AMH stands for Anti-Mullerian Hormone. AMH is produced directly by the ovaries and the levels of AMH correlate with the number of follicles in the ovaries. Women with lower AMH produce a lower number of eggs compared with women with higher levels and your levels of AMH levels provide information about your fertility. Levels of AMH will naturally decline with age and high levels can sometimes indicate Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
What is FSH?
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is released by the pituitary gland into the bloodstream. FSH is essential to the correct functioning of women’s ovaries and men’s testes. In women, this hormone stimulates the growth of follicles in the ovary before the release of an egg from one follicle at ovulation. It also increase Oestradiol production which leads to thickening of the uterus.
Treatment To Improve Poor Ovarian Reserve
1. Acupuncture
Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medicine treatment method has becoming increasingly popular for its ability to improve low ovarian reserve and improve reproductive results. It has been shown to help women with decreased or diminishing ovarian reserve (DOR) or premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) improve their ovarian reserve.
A 2024 controlled trials in women with Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) reported that acupuncture reduced FSH, increased estradiol (E2) and AMH, and improved “overall effectiveness” compared with non‑acupuncture treatments. Another study showed that acupuncture significantly lowered serum levels of FSH and LH, raised serum levels of AMH, in patients with low egg reserve. Acupuncture was also found to regulate the menstrual cycle and to improve perimenopausal symptoms.
In TCM, low ovarian reserve is often linked to Kidney energy deficiency, which is vital for reproduction and overall vitality. Acupuncture can improve ovarian reserve by addressing energy imbalances, enhancing blood flow, and supporting well-being. It works by: tonifying Kidney energy to support reproductive potential, improving blood circulation to the ovaries for better nutrient and oxygen delivery, regulating hormones to optimize ovulation and egg quality, and reducing stress and anxiety, which can otherwise disrupt hormonal balance and fertility.
2. Cupping
Cupping is an effective treatment of low AMH, it involves placing cups on the skin to create suction. The suction may facilitate healing with blood flow and the movement of energy or Qi in the body, cupping is believed to support ovarian health and potentially improve markers like AMH and FSH by enhancing blood flow, Qi circulation, and organ function.
It increases blood circulation to the area where the cups are placed which may relieve muscle tension, improve overall blood flow and promote cell repair. It also helps release Liver Qi stagnation, which can interfere with ovarian function and hormone balance, and may indirectly regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis.
A pilot study of wet cupping for female infertility found that among 59 women treated, 12 (≈ 20 %) became pregnant after cupping; the authors also reported “significant changes” in hormonal profiles after treatment.
3. Diet & Lifestyle
- Vitamin D Research demonstrates that women with low vitamin D levels tend to have lower AMH levels than women with healthy vitamin D levels. Some foods, like salmon and eggs, contain a small amount of vitamin D, but most of our vitamin D comes from the sun. On average we need 10 minutes of direct sunlight or 30 minutes outdoors on a cloudy day to meet our vitamin D requirements.
- Managing our weight It is important to maintain a health weight and to ensure that your diet is full of fresh food and plenty of cooked vegetables. Being overweight has a negative effect on AMH levels.
- Regular exercise A study investigated the impact of a 45 minute walk three times per week for 12 weeks. The study found that 12 weeks of supervised aerobic exercise significantly improved reproductive function in obese women with or without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Exercise led to improvements in anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), adiponectin, FSH, estrogen, antral follicle count, menstrual cyclicity, and ovulation rates.
4. Getting to the Root Cause
Addressing low ovarian reserve effectively means looking beyond symptoms and identifying the underlying causes whether they stem from hormonal imbalances, organ system deficiencies in TCM, lifestyle factors, or stress so that treatment can be targeted and personalised for optimal reproductive health. Here are some of the most common root causes diagnosed in Chinese Medicine for low ovarian reserve.
- Liver Qi Stagnation or Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency
This pathology is manifested in a variety of ways including:
- A menstrual cycle that is shorter than 25 days
- Irregular painful periods with clotting
- Regular constipation
- Stress or elevated anxiety levels
- Pre menstrual syndrome (PMS)
- Poor quality sleep
- Dry skin
These symptoms may be experienced individually or together and can be accompanied by the following common signs of menopause: Hot flashes, night sweating and frequent headache. Many women experience these symptoms not due to menopause but as a result of hyperthyroidism or high levels of cortisol and an impaired immune system. They may also be caused by high levels of stress.
Chinese Medicine treatment is geared towards smoothing the Liver Qi, calming down Excess Heat and unblocking the energy channels in order to ease the flow of energy throughout the body.
Recommended supplements for this deficiency:
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Detox Remedy: Supports low ovarian reserve linked to Liver Qi Stagnation by soothing the liver, improving Qi and blood flow, and reducing stress and stagnation, creating a more favorable environment for hormone balance and ovarian function.
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Yin Maintenance: Supports low ovarian reserve from Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency by replenishing Yin, nourishing “essence” (Jing), and calming internal heat, helping restore hormone balance, improve egg quality, and promote overall reproductive vitality.
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Detox Remedy
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- Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency
This pattern is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Delayed or absent periods that may have an extremely light flow or be of a shortened duration.
- Periods may be accompanied with painful cramping, fatigue, bloating, cold hands and feet and disturbed sleep due to an excessive need to urinate at night.
These symptoms are characteristic of an under-active thyroid, adrenal fatigue, or any number of unexplained factors. Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency are sometimes the result of long term overwork, a diet lacking in sufficient quantities of protein, genetic factors or can come about after being ill. Chinese Medicine treatment principles to remedy these deficiencies include Tonifying the Spleen and Kidney Yang.
GinSen London’s Gui Zi Di Huang Tang supports low ovarian reserve caused by Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency by strengthening the body’s warming and energy‑transforming functions, which are essential for metabolism, nutrient absorption, and healthy reproductive organ function. By boosting Yang energy, the formula helps enhance overall vitality, support ovarian health, and create a favorable environment for egg development and hormone balance.
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- Kidney Jing and Blood Deficiency
These patterns of disharmony within the body can result in the following symptoms:
- Delayed, absent or scant periods
- Dizziness or low energy levels
- Poor concentration and impaired memory
- Diminished sleep quality
- Pale face
- General heaviness about the body
This pattern could be the result of iron deficiency or anaemia, thalassemia or genetic factors. In addition a diet lacking in protein, or being on long term medication can cause these Deficiencies.
GinSen London’s Woman’s Life Power supports low ovarian reserve caused by Kidney Jing and Blood Deficiency by nourishing the foundational “life force” (Jing) and replenishing blood to the reproductive organs. According to TCM, this helps improve follicle development, egg quality and quantity, and hormone balance. By strengthening Kidney energy and enhancing overall vitality, the formula creates a supportive environment for ovarian function and reproductive health.
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Woman’s Life Power
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There is a wealth of research to demonstrate that Chinese Medicine can support female fertility and balance levels of AMH and FSH. There are a number of possible mechanisms for this including:
- Regulating hormone levels
- Increasing blood flow to the uterus and ovaries
- Modulating cytokines
- Reducing stress, anxiety, and depression
For more information about how Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine could help to support you on your health and fertility journey and to book your free consultation.
* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We can’t guarantee the treatment result, as the symptoms of conditions are unpredictable and vary greatly from person to person. The treatment length and recovery time also varies for individual. Please visit our clinics website: GinSen where a specialists will discuss your care and provide a consultation, and the treatment will be designed to meet your individual needs.
Low AMH
AMH levels naturally decrease as we age, as diminished ovarian reserve – as women approach their 40s it is normal for them to have lower AMH readings. Satisfactory AMH levels are above 21.98. If your AMH levels are below this there are treatment options available to you including supplementation with DHEA. TCM has also been shown to help improve AMH levels naturally.(1)
High FSH
Levels of FSH rise during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, which begins from the first day of menses until ovulation. It correlates with the number of follicles you have. As the number of follicles drops, the level of FSH increases, one will experience low follicle count. As women approach menopause they will tend to have higher levels of FSH. High FSH levels can also indicate impaired ovarian reserve or premature ageing of the ovaries meaning that you have a relatively low egg count left in the ovaries or the eggs are impaired in some way.
LH levels
Elevated levels of LH can be an indication of infertility and it can indicate decreased sex steroid production from the ovaries, as experienced in premature ovarian failure. Many women experience Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) which is associated with high levels of LH and reduced fertility. In this condition, an imbalance between LH and FSH can result in an inappropriate production of testosterone.
A lack of LH in women means that ovulation does not occur and menstrual periods may not occur regularly.
