Leading expert in the field of Korean Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology

Leading expert in the field of Korean Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology
Putting his patients at first with his warm-heartedness, Korean Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist, Junyoung Jo

“I would like to contribute to the collective efforts of the predecessors in the Korean Medicine, with thousands of years of clinical experiences on record, researchers currently pursuing the path and numerous patients who gave me the opportunity for clinic learning.”


1.Would you briefly introduce infertility treatment in the field of Korean Medicine?

The infertility treatment in the field of   Korean Medicine first examines the cause of infertility from the medical knowledge of the Western Medicine and Korean Medicine. Then, once after a diagnosis is made, a treatment method is selected to tailor to the conditions of each couple. And then, the treatment schedule is made. Typically, the herbal medicine is primarily used as treatment, but the use of acupuncture treatment is as effective as the herbal medicine. So, it is recommended that the patients use both the herbal medicine and acupuncture as treatment for a period of three to six months. Though natural pregnancy is of priority, the Western Medicine or IVF procedure can be used in parallel with the   Korean Medicine treatment.

2.What is the mechanism of infertility treatment?

Earlier, I had explained that the diagnosis is made based on the knowledge from Western and   Korean medicine. This sort of treatment includes (1) stress reduction for the infertile couple, (2) enhanced blood circulation in the uterus, ovaries and testes, (3) reduction in the oxidative stress on the genitalia, and (4) enhancement in overall physical functions.

3.How is infertility treatment done?

The herbal medicine is a primary treatment, but it is recommended for the patients to use both herbal medicine and acupuncture. These are not the only means to treating infertility. In order to increase the procreativity, the patients will be prescribed improvements to daily, eating and exercising habits. The timimg of sexual intercourse is also important for pregnancy. Some couples do not recognize the significance in this. Couples with a long-term infertility may require psychological therapy.


4.What can we expect from the infertility treatment? 

The significance of the infertility treatment lies in the success of pregnancy and child birth. It is not simple to compare, but, considering the pregnancy rate, the success rate of Korean Medicine  is about the same or slightly higher than the artificial insemination, but it is slightly less than the IVF procedures. The success of four months of Korean medicine treatment is about the equivalence to the success of a single IVF procedure.


5.What is the role of the Korean medicine in infertility treatment? 

It must first be said that most patients come for medical advice without knowing the “ways to increasing the chance of pregnancy”. Plus, the couples decide to use the modern procedures such as the IVF as their personal contribution to the medical costs has lessened thanks to the national health insurance. Korean medicine has a merit in providing the opportunity for natural pregnancy. It is a treatment for increasing pregnancy chance by making the bodies healthier. It can be understood as prenatal education for the fetus since it is done before pregnancy. Even if a couple chooses the IVF procedures, the woman has a better chance in pregnancy and healthier birth.


6.How do the foreign experts in gynecological react to the infertility treatment of Korean medicine? Is there a plan for sharing this treatment and knowledge abroad?

They have a lot of interest. The Western Medicine characterizes   Korean Medicine with the treatment for pain control and gynecology, having a special interest on infertility. The western world recognizes Korean Medicine as Chinese Medicine and is not well acquainted with  Korean Medicine. Since  Korean Medicine has been developing as a medicine from the past, I would like to see the concept of ‘modernized  Korean Medicine’ be widely accepted across the globe. Of course, there is a need for research and development to achieve this.