A 36-year-old woman came to see me after trying to conceive for one year. She had experienced one miscarriage, followed by two D&C procedures.

 

Background

Before the miscarriage, her menstrual cycle was:

• 4–5 days of heavy bleeding

• Noticeable clots

• Mild cramping

 

After the miscarriage and D&C procedures, her periods changed significantly:

• Only 2–3 days of very light bleeding

• No need to change pads for a whole day

• Dark-coloured blood

• Minimal clots

• Similar cramping as before

• Regular 27-day cycle

• Ovulation confirmed by test strips (Day 10–11), without pain

 

 

A private scan showed:

• Small uterine fibroid (12.8 × 9.2 × 12.3 mm)

• Endometrial lining thickness within normal range

 

 

Medical history included mitral valve replacement and ongoing warfarin therapy, requiring careful and gentle treatment planning.

 

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TCM Assessment

 

From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, the key patterns were:

• Blood deficiency and reduced endometrial nourishment following miscarriage and D&C

• Mild blood stagnation, reflected by dark menstrual blood

• Possible uterine circulation impairment

 

 

The significant reduction in menstrual volume suggested that the uterus was not being fully nourished.

 

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Treatment Approach

 

• Nourishing and rebuilding Blood

• Improving uterine circulation

• Regulating the menstrual cycle

• Supporting implantation potential

 

Gentle acupuncture was used with careful consideration of her anticoagulant medication.

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After the first acupuncture treatment, she noticed:

• Increased menstrual volume compared to previous cycles

• Brighter red blood

• Reduced cramping

• Less spotting before her period

 

Symptoms continued to improve gradually.

After three acupuncture sessions, her pregnancy test was positive.

She is now 22 weeks pregnant and progressing well.

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Reflection

In cases following miscarriage and D&C, menstrual changes—particularly significantly lighter flow—can indicate insufficient uterine nourishment and impaired circulation.

  

Every fertility journey is unique, and careful, individualized care is essential—especially when complex medical histories are involved.