Two Fold Pregnancy Rates Average in 4 Months Compared to 12 months of IVF

When you think of infertility you think of IVF.
You hear about In-vitro Fertilization.
Then you may think, that would never happen to me.


It's one of the number one questions I receive in my practice "Why didn't I hear about you earlier?" "Why didn't my doctor refer me to you?" "I wish I had known this before I went through 6 months of Clomid, 3 failed IUI's and 4 failed IVF's" "Why aren't there more news stories?"
"Why?"

The beauty about medicine today, that is different from even 15 years ago, is you have the tools and the power to research and share your findings with if not hundreds of people, maybe thousands or even millions.

Quickly reviewing a few of my patients successes I realize we need to empower more women and men struggling with infertility.  We need to educate our doctors and nurses about what is working for infertility and preventing miscarriage and to whom to refer to.  Not everyone is a specialist in fertility and those who generally treat everything, generally get average results. A vague response from your doctor when you ask about acupuncture as "oh, ok, sure you can try that." Is not a referral.

This is complicated.
It's complicated physically, emotionally, even spiritually.
Labs are missed or misread or misinterpreted.

5 years or 4 Months?

Just this week a patient of ours, who had sought the expertise of several doctors and nurses for 5 years gave birth.  5 years of failures and yet in four short months we were able to help her get pregnant by making recommendations for her and her husband.  The speed with which they had success getting pregnant with us far surpasses the proof that Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine, when prescribed by an expert in Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioner, (not googled, not recommended by a friend or even a doctor who has no training in herbal medicine), patients are astoundingly:

Twice As Likely in 1/3 of the Time to Get Pregnant Compared to IVF

Two fold pregnancy rates average in 4 months compared to 12 months of IVF (at a fraction of the cost with no horrible side-effects)

This is truth.
This is affordable.
This is life-giving medicine and we need to empower one another.

Another patient comes to mind, whom I treated this week.  She has sought the expertise of family doctors, OBGYN's, Nurse Practitioner's in OBGYN's offices, and even Reproductive Endocrinologists (those are the doctors who treat with IVF).  Eight years of suffering.  Eight years of unknowns.  Eight years of heartache.  Eight years of medical bills. Eight years of miscarriages and a very long time between her ability to get pregnant.  Eight years and her doctors and nurses did not refer her to me.  Eight years.

That's a long time to wait for anything but the possibility of a not having a baby, it's nearly impossible to survive.

In one visit, I diagnosed her problem from a Traditional Chinese Medical Perspective.  In addition to that, I told her several labs that were missing that would confirm my Eastern Medical diagnosis from a Western Medical perspective.  She would have to have the courage to ask her doctor for the lab work to be done.

Eight years of infertility gives a woman a lot of courage.  

Her response was something like this: They have never been able to help me.  You are an expert in infertility and I am here to take your advice.  I will ask. I will take the herbal medicine you prescribed.  I will take all the vitamins you suggest. I will get the acupuncture.  I will ask for the labs to be drawn.  And guess what happened.....

In one visit, after eight years of waiting, I was right; from both an Eastern Medical approach and a Western Medical approach.  It's one of the gifts of having 4 years of medial training in graduate school where an entire year is dedicated to western medical training.

I observed and gave patient care treating patients as equals, as colleagues, together with doctors and nurses at UCSD University of California San Diego, San Diego Hospice, and Pomerado Hospital in Poway, California.  San Diego Fertility Center, La Jolla IVF, Reproductive Partners, Reproductive Sciences Medical Center and Infertility, Gynecology and Obstetrics, to name a few.

How To Marry the Two Sides of Infertility Medicine

I learned a lot from those professional relationships.  Medical information was shared generously.  I was not considered a side-note.  I was an integral and important part of our success.  I witnessed hundreds of patients prescription recommendations, dosages, responses.  It was such a priveledge because I could observe how each reproductive medicine doctor worked, what protocols they preferred and what types of outcomes they got.  I saw so many couples in that 7 years of integrative approach, I could have a new patient tell me what their Reproductive Endocrinologist reccomeneded or their OBGYN recommended and I could tell them what doctor they were seeing.  They each were that predictable.  They each stuck pretty close to identical protocols for each patient irregardless of diagnosis. 

I knew the inside working of fertility centers, not just the end result which often was tens or  hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt with no baby.  But we don't hear that story often, do we? We hear about the miracle IVF baby.  We hear about celebrities who couldn't have children if it weren't for their IVF.

The truth we often don't hear about is people do have medical options.  

 

There is infertility medicine that is:
Safer
Natural
More Effective
Less Invasive
Healthier Babies
Fewer Miscarriages
Faster Success Rates

In fact, it's Twice as Effective as IVF and in a fraction of time (Average is 4 months with correctly prescribed Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine compared to IVF).

Time is money
Time ages us
Time is losing hope
 Time tears apart marriages
Time opens up room for more miscarriages
Time is not on our side when it comes to infertility

If you are looking for studies to back these words you can visit here: www.EagleAcupuncture.com Click "Meet Kristen" you will find links to studies there and also under "Other" then "Resources"

One blood draw was all she needed.  

The treatment is simple and she will have her baby.

People ask me all around the country "How do you do that?"
I have colleagues contact me wanting to know what medical texts I use?   What herbal prescriptions to I recommend?  I have colleagues whom after receiving treatment from me for infertility start referring all of their own infertility patients to me instead of treating them their self.  What protocols do I use?

I don't do protocols

Each person and their spouse are individuals.  If they are to have success, they need individual care. The need differential diagnosis.  This is not something you can memorize.  This is not something you can advise through a book.  This is not a cookie cutter approach to buying on-line because they say it will treat your condition.

Your PCOS is not her PCOS.
His semen analysis is not another man's semen analysis.
Your Endometriosis is not identical to hers.  It's impossible to treat with one herb, one cleanse, one treatment.  Impossible.

One answer to the question of how I do what I do is this:

I Just Know Things

I have always been this way, as long as I can remember.  All the training in the world doesn't give you insight like that.  It's not something I can teach.  It's not something that has a name.  It's a knowing.  It's an insight. It's almost always right.  Call it blessed.  Call it Spirit.  Call it intuition.  Call it being a medium.  Call it being psychic.  Call it luck.  Call it smart.  I don't call it any of those things.  I just know sometimes.

The key to my knowing is I share it. 

 I share this wisdom and insight with my patient.  Sometimes, it's not even about them.  It's about their husband.  If they listen things shift quickly.  If they hesitate, think about it, talk it over, ignore it.  It takes time or never evolves.

Just yesterday a patient came in and she was concerned about her husbands lifestyle and semen analysis.  In our practice we never ignore 50% of your infertility; your partner.  Never.

Unexplained infertility is about 1/3 of all infertility cases and if you think about it, even if you have a diagnosis, you always also have unexplained underneath that too.  Women and men share the burden of the unexplained infertility diagnosis equally yet, almost all men are ignored in all practices we have worked with except ours.

I asked her to bring me a copy of his semen analysis.  On my paperwork she checked that her husband had no abnormal semen analysis, no male factor infertility.

In plain english, on the paperwork, written by his doctor was male factor poor morphology.

That IS male factor infertility.

The problem is western medicine doesn't have good treatment options for male factor other than IVF (in-vitro fertilization).  We do.  We were able to advise her on how to improve his morphology of his sperm.  He also had low volume and we have medical recommendations for that too.

Yet another patient comes to mind as a perfect example of how I just know things.  She had gone through seven failed IVF's by the time she sought my expertise.  She was recommended by her friend, not her doctor.

Seven failed IVF's with multiple miscarriages. Did you even know couples could experience seven failed IVF's?  Did you know on average one IVF is $15,000.00-$20,000.00 per attempt?

After one visit I implored her to have a certain test done before her next IVF embryo transfer in two weeks.
She saw me before her transfer several times and after the transfer and then nothing.  We didn't hear from her.  We didn't get a return phone call.  This was not good.

Months later she returned.

She reviewed with me what had happened and apologized for not contacting us earlier. The devastation was too much to bare.

 The acupuncture worked.  By adding acupuncture to her IVF (studies prove an increased 50-62% increased success rate see the baby maker's business page) she got pregnant with twins.

However, she made one huge mistake that her doctors had made for 8 IVF's in a row. She didn't get the bloodwork done that I asked for.  So, she inevitably miscarried.

I was so sad for her.  A bit exasperated I asked her "Will you please take my advise and get the labwork done now?"
She said "Oh, I did"
I said "And?"
She said "I have it, you were right"

One visit.  It took one visit for me to be present with her, see her, review her history, observe her body, examine her past menstrual cycles, and analyze her failed IVF's to make my assessment that ultimately was the key to her success.

She is more than half way through her pregnancy now.

Be empowered.
Follow us on Facebook Eagle Acupuncture for more inspiring testimonies, studies and photos of real couples who once struggled with infertility and are now a family



Kristen Burris, L.Ac., M.S.T.O.M., Dip. Ac. was voted Top Doc 2010 in Eagle and Business Person of the Year 2011-2012. Ms Burris won the prestigious National Association of Women Business Owner of the year 2013 and received referrals from doctors throughout the US including Dr. Mehmet Oz. She is the founder and medical director of Eagle Acupuncture a natural fertility center she runs with her husband.  She consults with the most challenging fertility cases all throughout the US. 

Kristen Burris has been featured in USA Today, Woman’s Day, MSNBC, Yahoo News, Parents, Parenting, Natural Health,& Better Nutrition magazines, The San Diego Union Tribune, The Miami Herald, NPR radio, KTVB Boise, KBOI TV and KUSI TV. Ms. Burris taught graduate school at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego, California, one of the most respected colleges in the field of integrative medicine. Throughout her career she has also treated patients at: San Diego Hospice, UC-San Diego Free Clinic, UC-San Diego Dental Acupuncture Study and at the leading fertility centers in California
#babymakerstrikesagain

5 years waiting

This is always worth the wait! Another miracle, all natural, infertility success. Welcome to the world baby girl!!!! We've been waiting for you and your parents waited nearly 5 YEARS to birth you.
It was a long hard road to find us so you could then become fertile in a couple of months. Even up until the month you conceived you had yet another doctor tell you that you would need IUI (or possibly IVF) due to a new factor found. We corrected that concern in a few days with two simple steps.

It was also a long, hard, road of labor but she is here! She was born yesterday December 10th at 4:20pm. She weighed 8 pounds, 21 ounces and 21 inches long. Mom, baby and Dad are home already, snuggling in bed.


Their story is not unlike many of our patients' painfully, long, stories. Above all, going through infertility feels like a monthly death. It feels like it will never happen. It feels as though you can't possibly take another piece of bad news, or yet another negative pregnancy test or a negative ovulation prediction. Male factor often gets ignored or the options are immediately IUI or IVF. Many of our patients can't afford IVF so they feel they are out of options, hope and try to go on, not being parents. But this is not the end and they are not out of hope.


But then, by some miracle, they find us. Someone mentions our fertility work. A friend encourages and sometimes begs them to see us. The TV does a segment on our miracle work. A doctor, a midwife or a nurse refers them to us. Then, things change. We are magnets for miracles. We are not doing this alone. Our medicine is so old, it never changes. We are rooted so deep in tradition that our medicine is safe, reliable, and predictable. These are gifts, they are our calling. This is not work.

Tony and Kristen Burris, L.Ac. at their natural fertility center, work together to treat both the woman and the man, cultivating a healthy, fertile environment. We help patients all throughout the United States get pregnant, and have a baby, all without drugs or surgery and at a fraction of the cost.

 

All Natural Fertility After Only Several Months of Treatment and An All Natural Birth

A second dream came true for this couple yesterday: they were able to birth naturally with a midwife, with no drugs and no surgery. Your final chapter of your infertility story is now over. You are fertile and your are a Mom and a Dad, finally, and we are so very happy for you. God Bless.

How to Be A Childless Mother

Mother's Day
It's a tough one to go through when you are wanting a baby of your own.  Something so natural, so expected, has become a reach beyond your grasp. You have no control.  The timing feels all wrong.  The wait is too long.  The strain settles into a foreboding, ominous feeling you cannot shake through prayer nor tears.

You want to celebrate your own Mother but going out in public seeing all of the happy families, laughing, loving and sharing is all too much for your brittle, tender, heart.

Some women are struggling to become more of a  Mother.  Others to stay a Mother and yet even more to become Mothers, even for just one child. Just ONE you say, you plead, you beg, you cry. Some women make promises to other Mothers to love and nurture their babies as their own. Some women can't resolve the deep, irrepressible desire to have more.

But what is true is we each have the capacity to be Mothers. We can be nurturing, supportive, loving and mothering in all sorts of ways.  To our friends, our spouses, our animals, our fostered children, our adopted children, and even to ourselves.  As you nurture your bodies into a more fertile state, work on nurturing your mothering tendencies.

The patience and understanding and frustration and determination you mine and hone during this relentless process will carve you into the Mother you never were and now have become.  Surrender yourself to the long, tedious, painful process knowing you will be more patient, more grateful, more Mother than before.

Each breathe, each laughter, each spill, each tear, each tantrum will be handled with more grace, understanding, acceptance and above all gratitude.

Your Mothering time will come and what a Mother you will be.  You will have your battles fought and won before ever giving birth.  The little things won't bother you so much.  The tiresome fretting just won't matter.  Your heart will be so full of gracious gratitude you will be over flowing with love and the knowing that the wait, the torturous, intolerable wait was indeed worth it and in fact you are better for it.


Fertility, Menopause and Women's Health Expert    Kristen N. Burris, L.Ac., M.S.T.O.M. was told she would probably never have children or that it would be very difficult.  Instead it was recommended she get a hysterectomy.  This lead her on a path that changed her fertile health and hundreds of couples who want to have children. www.EagleAcupuncture.com 
She still accepts some of the most challenging infertility cases in the U.S. (208) 938-1277

Diappearing Act: When Getting Pregnant Is Just Too Painful

Once is sometimes enough.

Even studies have proven hundreds of fertility cases that acupuncture during embryo transfers increase take home, healthy, baby rate success by 50-65%.  

This was different but just as miraculous.

Eagle Acupuncture Fertility Expert received this message that touched our hearts so deeply:

“Hi Kristen, I have pondered sending a letter to your office, or calling, or messaging and just now got the courage. This is probably out of the blue- but going with my heart and gut here!"...

                              Listen To Your Gut

"...I came to your office last spring to seek out fertility help. I was in the midst of a clomid/hcg/progesterone set with (my)  Dr..  I have PCOS and we tried for about 2 years when I started seeing him December of 2013. I had heard about you on Mix106 oddly and said "what the heck?"…

                               Be Courageous

(She actually decided to pick up the phone at this point and call into the radio show.  She got through and she asked Kristen Burris, L.ac. M.S.T.O.M. the all natural fertility expert featured on the show “Ask A Smart Person” Then she called our office to schedule her personal fertility assessment with acupuncture, herbal medicine and vitamin therapy.  This is what patients around the world can do.  Schedule a consult over the phone and change their lives forever)

“…. Doing medical treatment was so against my nature, I had always had faith in natural things, but after about 6 months of diets/exercise and some supplement (of my own poor research), I wanted more.”

“…When I came to you, I only had one treatment but felt at ease and that good things were to come. Then before my next appointment, I found out I was pregnant. I hadn't even taken Clomid that cycle and was just on progesterone to get my period to start over. I was a mess- emotionally and physically.”

                            The Surprising Reaction

“Even though I was beside myself excited, I pulled back from friends, family etc. So I didn't come back. I did call to cancel my next appointment, and just didn't know where to go. I say all of this, because my heart tells me that YOU had a huge part in me getting pregnant. Whether the peace it brought made it happen, whether the treatment and supplements you gave me made it happen, or whether God did- I don't know, but you have held a special place in my heart and my journey.

So I apologize for not coming back, for falling off the map and all of that- but I thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I am proud to say that my miracles (twins) Hazel & Houston were born 12-23-14. I am so blessed.."

Natural Fertility Treatments Are No Longer a Last Option Rather A First Choice

"...We will most definitely try again someday, probably in 2 years- and YOU will be my first stop for treatment. I hope this is not too weird- but my instinct told me to reach out, and thank you. Love, Sarah Perkins”

                                                    The Pain Runs Deep

So much suffering and pain comes with infertility. You'd be surprised how many of our patients only see us once or for a month or exclusively use only our herbal prescription with vitamin therapy and omit the acupuncture aspect. More patients than you would suspect fall off the face of the Earth.  When we first started practicing 15 years ago we just couldn’t understand.  Now we do.  The pain is too deep.  Even in celebrating their first ever pregnancy, they need to retreat, hide their heart, go into a certain form of denial, stamp down their fears and hold their breath until they actually get to hold their precious babies in their arms.

In our practice we encourage patients to continue care once they are pregnant.  We can medically reduce the likelihood of miscarriage but also address not only physical symptoms that may be uncomfortable or down right debilitating but also soothe the emotional side of the infertile who has bloomed into the fertile.  Who was shattered by the grief and tenderly protecting the child or children in her womb and her own child that resides in her heart.

Sometimes, however rare, we never get to hold their babies, nor receive photos or a Christmas card to put in an inspiring book to help other women and men struggling with infertility.  Why?  It's too painful  because of all the suffering. Each person must find their own way. We respect each person and the way they need to process, even the good stuff. Just this month we found out that a patient of ours got pregnant with twins! She didn't tell us,  until now, the month of April and she got pregnant in OCTOBER.   She is now in our care again but she just needed time away to heal.  Sometimes it's just too hard, and we understand that even the good can be painful. 

Another patient, years ago, who was having suicidal feelings disappeared only to return a year later with twins in our office.  Astounded we hugged and she shared.  In desperation, she had changed her opinion about never, ever pursuing IVF and she and her husband decided to adopt two embryos, from two different families.   Low and behold all that acupuncture and herbal medicine and vitamin therapy had prepared her womb beautifully: their first IVF attempt and they were pregnant.  She saved two babies lives in choosing that route and healed her deep, sad, grief. 

Those of you who are reading this thinking ONE time?  She only needed ONE time?  Do not compare your treatment, your body, nor your baby’s life to another. Each of our births are exceptionally different and sacred just as our conceptions are too. Remember, she was also taking herbal medicine and vitamin therapy too.  Many studies only follow one acupuncture treatment and how it affects other fertility treatments significantly.

Some couples even with the most severe cases respond to natural fertility treatments even after failed IVF’s.  Some couples have success on their first try and others, have been reported as having as many as 22 failed IVF attempts before finally getting pregnant.

There is always hope and for this couple, the mother’s instincts were spot on.   Once was definitely enough for these precious babies to finally come home.  

 

                    Houston and Hazel on their Proud Mama's Lap







Eagle Acupuncture is a premier, all natural, fertility center that takes some of the most challenging infertility cases in the world.  Phone consultations available for female infertility, male infertility and unexplained infertility.   www.EagleAcupuncture.com

When In Doubt, Have Him Pee On It

After 5 years of trying unsuccessfully for a baby, you kind of lose faith that not only your body is broken or that your husband's is broken but then you start thinking "or maybe, it's the test?" Is it too old?  Is it expired?  Can this really be right?

You take the test and it shows TWO Lines so you take another one, then another one.  Then you go to the store and buy a new one, thinking maybe the old one is broken and not reading your hormone levels correctly?

I always tell my patients, who are faced with the disbelief in either a positive OPK (ovulation predictor kit) or a positive pregnancy to relax, enjoy it and celebrate the confirmation your body is more fertile.  When they still doubt me, I say: "have your husband pee on it" and they usually do.

That always gets a laugh and then I see their facial expression change and I can read what they are thinking....they are going to have their husband do that right away when they get home to confirm what they know in their heart:  it worked, the test was not wrong, it's just so hard to remain hopeful. It's easier, to not believe so the disappointment isn't so overwhelmingly painful. 

After years of infertility with annovulation (no ovulation)  or very rare ovulation due to a variety of reasons, it's almost as exciting to get a positive OPK or LH surge as it is to get a positive pregnancy test, almost.  Both, create a feeling of disbelief and results in many test being taken for extra confirmation.

A new patient started treatment with us only 2 months ago.  She and her husband have been battling infertility for over 5 years.  She had seen a reproductive endocrinologist but no testing was done to see if the patient has PCOS (poly-cystic ovarian syndrome).  Instead it was suggested she use Clomid, a potent and rather intense fertility drug with intercourse. These treatments did not result in a baby.

Instead, we proceeded to treat her anovulation that is identical to a PCOS pattern in MS-TCM (multiple systems traditional Chinese medicine) to initiate her body's own ability to ovulate.  The ovulation test strips confirmed it, she is ovulating all on her own.  For the first time in over a year, they have an opportunity to get pregnant this month.  It's a very exciting time with hesitation in their hearts too.

It's critical to honor the positives.  Honor all of them: the positive moods, the positive day, the positive moment, the positive LH surge,  the positive date with your husband, the positive laughter, the positive results with acupuncture and herbal medicine, the positive signs that you are getting fertile. Eventually all the the negatives will melt away, but for now, see, breathe laugh about all the positives.

Eagle Acupuncture has a specialized fertility program that addresses female infertility, recurrent miscarriage, male infertility and unexplained infertility.  

www.EagleAcupuncture.com (208) 938-1277

8 Failed IVF Treatments Is a Heavy Burden to Bare

 After their 7th Failed IVF, They Decided to Try Something New

A patient came to us for our fertility expertise and advice after 7 failed IVF (In-vitro fertilization) attempts. In her initial visit, upon reviewing her history and the testing they had done over the last several years, we asked if she had talked to her doctor about the possibility of a blood clotting disorder? Or the more subtle possibility of a disturbed blood flow to her endometrium and the placenta causing repeated implantation failure? She had not heard of this before. She had not discussed this with her reproductive endocrinologist before. 

She was traveling out of state for her 8th IVF and we urged her, before her next transfer of her embryos, to have this conversation with her RE (reproductive endocrinologist, or rather, her fertility doctor). We also welcomed them to call us to discuss the case together. We did not hear from them.

Studies have proven that just by adding acupuncture to an IVF round, the take home baby rate increased by 50-62.5%.  Other studies also proved that by first seeking the fertility expertise with multiple systems and traditional chinese medicine (including: acupuncture, prescribed tcm herbal medicine by a trained chinese herbalist and acupuncturist (not the practitioners race, but type of medicine), vitamin therapy, heat therapy, lifestyle modification and dietary changes (like the fertility program individually prescribe for our patients) there is also a 50% increase in a healthy baby with IVF.

Their plan B, after 7 failed IVF attempts, was looking a lot brighter.

We explained to her that repeated implantation failure is common. In many fertility centers we have worked closely without throughout the Untied States they will check for this after either 3 miscarriages or 3 failed IVF attempts. The testing is non-invasive, a fraction of the cost of another IVF and the treatment is simple: heparin for thinning her blood for several months.

We treated her according to her pattern, which included blood stagnation to thin her blood. We recommended before continuing, she needed a fertility cleanse and intensive supplementation and acupuncture treatments twice a week, minimally.

She had her transfer in conjunction with our fertility program and she got pregnant with twin girls.
However, sadly, she had miscarried at 8 weeks. The baby girls were healthy.

8 Failed IVF treatments and miscarriages are a heavy burden to bare.

When she returned, months later, we discussed how she was doing emotionally. What she and her husband wanted to do next? She said they were heading into their 9th IVF soon.

We asked again, any consideration of testing for a blood clotting disorder before this IVF? She responded, Oh yes, they finally tested that and I do show some signs so we are proceeding with IVF, your fertility program for 2 months prior, acupuncture and Heparin this 9th IVF round.
I asked her if she understood why she will be taking Heparin and she said no. I explained to her that sometimes, we have microscopic blood clotting that easily passes through our veins and arteries. However, when we are working with teeny tiny babies, just a few cells, these very minute blood clots can inhibit the ability of blood flow to her uterus and to the placenta. The placenta nourishes the baby or babies and enables them not only to grow, but to live. If the clots, however small, congest this precious connection, it can cut off nutrients the babies need and they die.



This will only be her second IVF while working with us. The first one was a success, initially, however, they missed a critical factor that most likely caused her miscarriage. Thankfully the testing has now been completed, confirmed and will be treated. It is rare we must say this but we pray that the 9th time is the charm for this lovely couple.


For over 15 years we have taken some of the most challenging fertility cases throughout the world.  No matter where you are, we are available for a fertility consultation.  Please call our office to schedule your personalized program with us. (208) 938-1277

Worth Their "Wait" in Gold

 Three Years of No Pregnancy and 5 Failed IUI's

Three years they had been trying before they found our fertility center at Eagle Acupuncture.  5 Failed IUI's (intra-uterine inseminations) with Clomid 3 failed with their OBGYN and 2 failed with their RE, Reproductive Endocrinologist.  She found our fertility center through a very old school way.  Word of mouth.  Her Mother had heard about us from a friend.  She encouraged her daughter to seek our medical advise and we are so grateful she did.

 Stepping Outside of the Box for a very old but undiscovered form of Infertility Treatments

Before trying IVF (in-vitro fertilization),  as her doctors had recommended, she wanted to try a natural approach to hopefully get pregnant and if not, prepare for IVF.  Both she and her husband fell under the ever frustrating diagnosis of  unexplained infertility.  Her disposition couldn't have been sweeter and for as long as they were trying she never showed any anger or resentment, just disappointment and the occasional sadness.

When she arrived she was showing definite TCM patterns relating to being not fertile enough.  We really try not to view our patients as infertile but rather, not quite as fertile as they need to be to conceive and carry a baby right in this moment.  Her signs impeding her fertility included: Cold in her uterus and lots of it.  She had cold hands and feet and it was so severe she even had her own extra, personal heater at work.  This cold was lodged in her abdomen, we could feel the cold coming from her uterus simply by placing our hand over her lower abdomen.  The cold was coagulating her blood causing severe pain and clots during her cycle.

This is a very common medical pattern we see in traditional chinese medicine, especially in younger patients.  She was only 24  but hadn't had a single pregnancy in over 3 years.  This particular patient had to drive hours, each way, to our fertility center.  She was determined and was quite regular with her weekly and bi-monthly appointments. She was compliant with her daily doses of sophisticated herbal prescriptions we made for her and diligent taking the vitamins we suggested too.  For this patient we also suggested going gluten free. 

How She Became Fertile

Quite rapidly her body started to change and become more fertile.  After six months of treatment she went from severe menstrual pain to mild pain, which she gladly welcomed.  Her blood flow improved as well changing color from purple and brown to more pink and red, this too was showing improved signs for fertility.  Her clots started to break apart and diminish.  Finally she was fertile with a warm low abdomen, virtually no pain with her menstruation, no PMS symptoms and regular ovulation.  She was ready.

After a year of preparing her beautiful body, she was physically, emotionally and financially ready to try IVF. She and her husband chose an out of state IVF clinic for a variety of reasons.  The timing couldn't have been better.  Most couples average 3 attempts at IVF before taking home one live baby.  I encouraged her to pursue this option because her body was ready to get pregnant,  now more than ever.

The Integrative Approach for Fertility

They drove out of state to see their RE and start egg retrieval surgery and embryo transfer.  They stayed in town for awhile and her body responded beautifully to all the drugs and surgery too. One try with IVF and they were successfully pregnant.  Not only did they get pregnant on their first attempt, but they got pregnant with twins.  Not only were they twins, but they got one boy and one girl.  They couldn't have been happier to finally be parents to these two precious babies.  Even now, months later, the twins sleep holding hands, a precious sight for any parent, especially those who waited almost 1/2 a decade to meet their sweet dreams come true.

Unprecedented Statistics for Natural Fertility Treatments

Just this month a new study came out proving exactly what this couple experienced.  By using MS-TCM multi-system traditional chinese medicine out of 1200 people patients were 50% more likely to have a live baby after only one IVF compared to choosing to do IVF alone.

50% increase not just for a positive pregnancy, but a live miracle baby.

50% increase is astounding that is worth every visit to prepare your body before attempting IVF.

 The Twins!  Photographed in John Dear Outfits: Pink for their Daughter and Green for their Son

                 Brother and Sister Snuggling in Bed and Holding Hands Too Precious for Words

                       A beautiful image of these twins captured shortly after they were born


After years of failed infertility treatments patients often will try medicine that is outside the norm of society so they can become more fertile.  Times are changing however, with education and exposure, patients are often choosing the less invasive, safer, more effective, natural, fertility treatments first, not as their last resort.  Miscarriage rates are far lower.  The health and quality of the babies is far superior.  The medical costs are astronomically less and the success rates impressively higher.

If you haven't yet, call for your consultation at Eagle Acupuncture (208) 938-1277.  We take some of the most complicated male and female infertility cases in the world. 

Another study has proven that using TCM, traditional chinese medicine, patients are twice as likely in 1/3 of the time to get pregnant and have a live baby compared to patients who chose to use fertility drugs and even IVF. 

18 and Infertile

Can that be?  Wait, what did you say?  18 and infertile? Age isn't always a factor when considering infertility, although you will read a lot about age and how it does affect fertility.  Most women, irregardless of their actual age or factual information about their fertility, feel like a ticking time bomb, where every day is one step closer to death or worse yet, one step closer to never having a baby.

A new patient arrived at Eagle Acupuncture after doing her own research about what she could be doing to get pregnant. Several doctors and a midwife too, had never thought to refer her directly to our fertility center.  They sort of well, in the patients words, blew her off, over and over.  Telling her she is young. Don't worry...it will happen.  Try again.   In 4 years, relatively little fertility testing was done for this patient.

She had 2 known miscarriages that simply devastated her, understandably.  One miscarriage was very early but incredibly intense with a lot of bleeding and pain.  She thinks she was only 5 weeks pregnant.  The other miscarriage took much longer.  On her 12th week appointment they so devastatingly discovered their baby had died at 9 weeks.  Her complete miscarriage continued for 2 more weeks and at 14 weeks pregnant, it was all over.  

6 more months passed with no pregnancy.

Finally, she asked her midwife about acupuncture and her response was YES! Of course! We love acupuncture.  The patient, however, had to do her own research to find the expert whose approach to infertility was not surgery nor fertility drugs and her approach to miscarriage was not a prescription for hormones.  It was different, but extremely effective.

When she walked in the door I thought she might very well be the youngest infertility patient I had ever treated.  But at 22, with over 4 years of infertility and 2 miscarriages, I took her case very seriously just as I do with all of my infertility and miscarriage cases.

She hadn't had a lot of testing done in 4 years. Ever since her last miscarriage in July 2014, it was now December, she had very irregular cycles, painful menstruation,  scanty or missing cervical fluid.  Her hypo-thyroidism was being treated with Armour. She suffered from painful ovarian cysts, PMS with insomnia, sore breasts and dark menstrual blood during her cycle.  She was prone to yeast infections and candida overgrowth.  She wasn't ovulating every month and when she did, she had a short luteal phase; this is the time between ovulation and menstruation.  In order to hold a baby appropriately, a woman needs 14 days for her luteal phase.  She was getting sick, a lot, and no one was paying attention to that either. She was concerned.

I suspected PCOS was part of the problem, and it had never really been diagnosed. I wanted it ruled in or out even though I knew she had ovulatory problems.  It was confirmed.  

She had PCOS.   

I also was gravely concerned that after 4 years of infertility, no semen analysis had ever been recommended.  I suggested that immediately for her husband. 

Her progesterone had never been tested either.  I wanted it to be checked too.
Vitamin D, which some studies have shown women with low values are more prone to miscarriage was another missing blood test.  This was something I felt critical we check.

Her progesterone was very low.

Her Vitamin D was low too.

Now, after 4 years of infertility, yet, only weeks with our fertility program, she was finally getting some answers. 

I prescribed herbal medicine, dietary changes, heat therapy, e-stim, acupuncture twice a week and vitamin therapy, including vitamin D and progesterone cream.  

After one month of treatment her cycle improved significantly, the color was no longer dark but instead she shed a nice bright, healthy, red.  Her cervical fluid was becoming egg-like and stringy; the perfect transport for her husbands' semen. She was becoming fertile.  Her luteal phase became longer as I strengthened what we call Kidney Yang Deficiency in MS-TCM (multi-system traditional chinese medicine) and she was  hopeful.  

Her anxiety was lowering, her sadness was slowly going away.  Her grief was healing.  She and her husband also decided to do a ritual to honor the children they had lost.  They used a balloon to represent their babies and let it go up into the air until they no longer could see the balloon.  This was very moving and healing for both of them. 

3 months in to her fertility treatments at Eagle Acupuncture her husband's semen analysis came back. His sperm was dieing.  The nurse told her, that her husband's semen was too thick, was dieing before it could ever possibly get close to fertilizing her egg and she had no other option other than IUI or eventually IVF.

The patient thanked her and immediately contacted us.  We told her you have options.  Yes, you can pursue IUI (intra-uterine insemmination and washing of his sperm) or IVF (in-vitro fertilization) or we can treat that with some minor changes.  We gave them some suggestions on thinning his sperm and that cycle, the one where they were told they could never get pregnant; the one they thought their only option was IUI or IVF,  is when they conceived all on their own with a natural infertility program at Eagle Acupuncture.

Never assume you are too young, or too old.  Each case is different and has multiple factors influencing the ability to get or stay pregnant.   Many couples despair when they hear that our center is not within driving distance from their home.  Many of our successes come from patients who do consultations with us over the phone.  Some are using our completely natural approach to infertility.  Other couples who know they will eventually do IVF seek our expertise 3-9 prior to IVF to prepare their bodies for optimal results.  We treat both female and male infertility factor and unexplained infertility in both partners.

Studies that analyzed over 1200 infertility cases proved that by utilizing this MS-TCM fertility program prior to IVF increase live baby rates by 50%.  50% is a huge increase.  It saves the couples from lost money and reduced their heartache.  

If you are reading this, it may be time to try something different.  Call us for your consult and fertility program personalized and tailored to your body and personal history (208)938-1277.

Pictured Here An Actual Miracle Baby from our Infertility Program 

At Eagle Acupuncture in Eagle, Idaho 

This Baby is unique, as they all are, but in more than one way.  She was born to a mother who had an identical twin.  Both identical twins were struggling with infertility.  This baby's mother sought our treatment yet, her twin sister did not, at least not yet.  Once this precious miracle was born, the twin sister, sought our expertise too and not very long after she too was pregnant and gave birth.

Eagle Acupuncture Fertility Center Eagle, Idaho

128 S Eagle Road #220 Eagle, Idaho 83616

(208) 938-1277

www.EagleAcupuncture.com