This pattern is known as an inadequate Luteal Phase When Julie took Western herbs her BBT improved somewhat and when she took Clomid it improved markedly. However, the drug made her agitated, restless and flushed and gave her palpitations. She discontinued it after 3 months. In TCM it is recognised that Clomid damages the Yin and the side effects in Julie's case indicated that the Heart Yin in particular was effected. While the Clomid was very effective at correcting the inadequate Luteal Phase and increasing progesterone levels it did so at a cost, that is, exacerbated another aspect of Julie's pattern of subfertility.
Chinese medicine emphasises the influence of the Kidneys on the uterus and fertility.
It also recognises the importance of the Heart. This is an aspect of the spirit, or Shen, is deemed important by TCM in cases of infertilty. The strength of Chinese medicine, in this and other cases, is that it can take into account all the factors inhibiting fertility and treat them simultaneously - not at the expense of other aspects of the body as drug therapy often does. The TCM diagnosis was Kidney Yin deficiency leading to Kidney Yang deficiency, plus Liver Qi stagnation. In TCM terms, the main cause of Julie's infertility was deficient Kidney Yang in the second half of her cycle.