Expert: R. Scott Malone L.Ac. - 11/7/2011

Question
I have been having acupuncture for about 5 months and it has worked well for regulating my cycles (now about 30 days, down from 38-44 days before this).  This improvement happened quite quickly and once that improved I thought I would become pregnant. But nothing yet!  My periods are also light.
I have been for weekly visits with a few breaks in between.  As I am still not pregnant and I would like to ask your option on how frequently I should go and whether you think I will lose the gains made if I stop going or have longer gaps between visits.  
I saw on one of your other answers that you feel herbal treatment is often most important - do you think I should just continue with that?
I have been told that is it spleen weakness.  My acupuncturist seems very knowledgeable but her English is not great and I can find it hard to explain and fully ask questions.
I was pleased that my cycles have regulated but what next to improve my chances of conception?  Should I consider a different practitioner (who it would be easier to communicate with) or is she able to treat me successfully with her observations and not very detailed questions/answers!?
Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions.

Answer
Hey Kate,

Fertility treatment can take awhile, especially if you are blood and spleen qi deficient. Those things take time to build up.
Overall, how do you feel? Are you tired? pale?  How you feel

My recommendation is that you keep up with the herbs and stretch out the treatments.

The herbs are going to be more important in my opinion, they are going to be the physical substances that build you up to
the point where you can conceive and carry a baby to term.

If the communication is a big problem, and you might feel more comfortable with an English speaking practitioner, then you have every right to
trade up. I would remind you though that she DID regulate your cycle in a short amount of time, so it looks like you have a solid practitioner.
In the end, you need to be comfortable with your practitioner. If you aren’t, then the relationship will be unsound.

On the other side of the fence, what is dad’s physical condition? Men provide some qi or energy.
If dad is not well or constitutionally hardy that can make conception difficult from his side.
If dad is always fatigued, then some qi building herbally at least is required.

Are you mapping ovulation so that you can try at the best possible time? There are many great sites that will help you do this.
Be very careful and thorough when mapping ovulation, if you are off, you could be trying at the exact wrong time month after month.
Some women can tell when they are ovulating and some can’t tell at all, so make sure your calculations are correct.

I hope this has been helpful, feel free to give me a shout if you have any other questions.

R. Scott Malone L.Ac.