Chinese herbalist to assist with conception!

[don9999]

My sister-in-law has been trying to have a baby for about 5 years, including several years of IVF. No success at all.

She has heard that Chinese herbal medicine can help and is now visiting someone down in London for 'treatment' (she lives in West Wales, so it is some trek!)

I'm not told many of the details, but have heard that she has to go to a series of sessions, been told to stop IVF, been told to which foods to eat or not to eat etc... The practitioner is also a 'normal' qualified doctor, and has asked to see her medical records too.

My sister-in-law is obviously desperate and is turning to anyone/anything for any glimmer of hope. I don't want to take any hope away from her, yet want her to understand the pointlessness of seeing a Chinese herbalist.

Should I leave it well alone, or is there anything I can do do sow a seed of doubt in her mind, so that she thinks rationally about what she is doing, and continue along the normal scientific process (IVF) is she so wishes?

The herbalist may indeed have some benefit, if they suggest she changes her lifestyle/eating habits for the better. However, it is her husband who has been diagnosed with a very low sperm count, so I'm not sure what help it is for HER to have any treatment (though I'm no expert, of 'any' sort!)

Cheers,
Don

 

[sophia8]

Yeah, it's crazy her getting the treatment and not him. In her case, the IVF treatment is all about gathering plenty of her eggs so that the medical team can try to fertilise them in optimal conditions with a super-concentrated sample of your brother's sperm (have they tried AID - Artifical Insemmination by Donor?).
The fact that she's gone five years without any success probably means her eggs aren't good enough quality, but no amount of treatment can alter that - every woman is born with all the eggs she'll ever have and will never produce any more, or improve their quality.
If that's the case with your SIL, then the herbal treatment is a total waste of money and that "doctor" should be reported to the GMC.