Yi Ting Na: Amalgamating Eastern & Western Approaches To Improve Fertility Care In Singapore

Singapore’s fertility care landscape is undergoing a quiet revolution. More people are turning to holistic and integrative therapies to aid conception while Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is moving out of the shadows, not as a replacement, but as a force to be reckoned with alongside Western fertility treatments. At the helm of this revolution is Yi TCM's Co-Founder, pioneering TCM physician Yi Ting Na, who is pushing the frontier of reproductive health.

Being influenced by personal health struggles as well as holistic healing-rooted family culture, Yi Ting grew passionate about the power of TCM in treating complex issues like sub-fertility, especially when Western approaches fell short. Her motivation to start Yi TCM was rooted in the profound comprehension of the psychological pressure brought about by infertility on patients and the necessity for holistic, standard patient-focused therapy.

At Yi TCM, she wears myriad hats that include being a physician who provides evidence-based TCM therapies, a scientist working together with hospitals on IVF success research coupled with the responsibility of a business leader establishing alliances with fertility clinics. With her at the helm, Yi TCM has facilitated more than 300 pregnancies since December 2021.

In spite of regulation difficulties on top of public doubts, Yi Ting has established credibility by using facts while being open concurrently gaining trust. Her dream is ambitious, incorporate TCM into mainstream fertility treatment and establish it as a strategic player for Singapore's national fertility agenda.

Share a brief overview of your education and career journey. What inspired you to pursue medicine?

I’m a TCM physician specializing in fertility and IVF. I hold a double degree in Biomedical Science and TCM from NTU, and a Master’s in TCM from Liaoning University. I began my career in general TCM at a charitable organization and gradually specialized in fertility, eventually starting my own clinic.

My interest in TCM began early, influenced by my family’s belief in holistic care and my own recovery through TCM when Western medicine fell short. This personal experience sparked my curiosity in natural treatments, especially for chronic conditions like diabetes. During my studies, I was drawn to both Western and Chinese medicine, which deepened my passion for integrative healthcare. While skepticism around TCM persists, I believe research-backed integration can offer safer, more balanced fertility treatments and foster trust among Western practitioners.

True healing begins when we listen deeply, to the body, to the science, and to the stories of those we serve

Share the inception story of Yi TCM, along with its vision and mission. Tell us the key areas of treatment Yi TCM specializes in?

I began with general TCM practice but gradually specialized in reproductive health after seeing many patients struggle with stress, hormonal imbalances, infertility, and menstrual issues. This led me to establish my own clinic and pursue advanced training, including a Master’s in TCM focused on women’s health.

I developed specialized protocols to support natural conception and complement IUI/IVF. Today, my work integrates TCM with assisted reproductive technologies to improve egg and sperm quality, regulate cycles, reduce stress, and boost IVF success.

Yi TCM was born from witnessing the emotional and physical toll of sub-fertility, especially on those disheartened by repeated IVF failures. I envisioned a holistic, patient-centered clinic where TCM works alongside modern medicine.

Our mission is to modernize TCM and bridge Eastern and Western fertility care through personalized treatment that addresses root causes like hormonal imbalance, stress, and circulation. We empower couples with a supportive, natural path to conception and advocate for TCM as a research-backed, complementary approach within mainstream care.

As the primary leader, what different hats do you wear in terms of leading Yi TCM? What are your key focus areas in terms of driving growth for Yi TCM?

As the Founder and chief physician, I wear several hats. First and foremost, I’m a clinician, providing specialized fertility TCM treatments to my patients. Secondly, I serve as an educator, guiding patients on integrative approaches to conception and teaching TCM students about fertility-focused treatments.

I also take on the role of an innovator, developing proprietary herbal formulations and designing tailored acupuncture protocols based on treatment progress. Lastly, I’m a business strategist, responsible for communicating our services, building partnerships with IVF clinics, and strengthening Yi TCM’s digital presence to raise awareness about our fertility-focused care.

To drive Yi TCM’s growth, we focus on three key areas, namely Collaboration, where we partner with fertility clinics and related professionals to offer integrated TCM and fertility programs, Research, in which we collaborate with doctors in the government hospitals to contribute to studies on the role of TCM in improving IVF success rates, and Technology, in which we're exploring telemedicine to make consultations more accessible.

What key challenges do you face as a healthcare leader, and how do you navigate them?

One of our key challenges as TCM physicians is ensuring that all practices, including those of our team, consistently meet Singapore’s strict healthcare standards and regulations. Another is addressing patient skepticism. Integrating TCM with Western medicine is also crucial. Building trust with IVF clinics and doctors helps establish referrals and promote co-treatment.

To address these challenges, we rely on evidence-based practices, sharing clinical data to build credibility and trust. We’re also modernizing TCM’s image by showcasing a new generation of bilingual, well-trained physicians who can interpret Western medicine lab results and create integrated treatment plans.

How do you see Singapore’s fertility landscape and key future trends shaping up?

Singapore’s healthcare is moving towards preventive and integrative medicine, blending natural therapies like TCM with Western care. At Yi TCM, we support this shift through personalized fertility treatment using individualized TCM diagnostics.

A major focus is patient education, by raising awareness about early fertility and hormone testing. Many patients begin trying to conceive in their late 30s or 40s, unaware of age-related fertility decline or key indicators like AMH levels.

I advocate early screening, like AMH tests for women, sperm tests for men, to detect issues early and support natural conception, reducing reliance on IUI or IVF. Encouragingly, this East-meets-West approach is gaining ground in Singapore’s public healthcare system.

Yi Ting Na, Co-Founder, Yi TCM

Yi Ting Na is a TCM Physician who also serves as the Co- Founder of Yi TCM. Managing two roles, she has become an entrepreneur, carrying several years of experience in the field of medicine. Being a leader in medicine, she is skilled in fertility and Traditional Chinese medicine.