Fertility For Women, Men And Couples

The marriage between Traditional Chinese Medicine and Reproductive Medicine is a fruitful one. Over the past decade, many studies have been conducted showing the benefits of utilizing Chinese Medicine in conjunction with Reproductive Medicine to increase the effectiveness of treatment and likelihood of successful pregnancies.

Whether you are just getting started on your fertility journey, or are already working with a fertility specialist, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can increase your likelihood of conception and full-term pregnancy.
Michigan Associates of Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine board-certified acupuncturists Julie Silver, MSW, Dipl. Ac., Monica Mae Leibson, Dipl. Ac., and Julie Shindler-Cohen, MSTOM, Dipl. Ac., Dipl. C.H. have advanced training with world-renowned fertility specialists. This specialized training, with an emphasis on combining acupuncture with assisted reproductive technology, makes our team the leading Traditional Chinese Medicine fertility experts in metropolitan Detroit.

How Does Traditional Chinese Medicine and Infertility Work?

At Michigan Associates of Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine, we use Traditional Chinese Medicine to improve overall health and reproductive health. It is our goal to work with you to bring your body to a state of wellness. To do that, we must identify the root cause of the imbalance.

• We look at signs and symptoms of daily functions: how is your body operating, how is your digestion, menstruation, sleep, energy?
• We review your reproductive history. This includes blood tests, medical office procedures (HCG, Laparoscopic surgeries), sperm analysis and BBT.
• We observe facial complexion, body posture
• We take your pulse and look at your tongue
• We review your lifestyle and assess your diet and exercise
• We talk about emotions and causes of stress

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine can help with:

• Idiopathic Infertility
• High FSH
• Luteal Phase Defect
• Poor Egg Quality and Diminished Ovarian Reserve
• Thin Endometrium
• Irregular Menstrual Cycles
• Estrogen Dominance
• Anovulation
• Endometriosis
• Polycysitic Ovarian Syndrome
• Miscarriage and Threatened Miscarriage
• Hyperprolactemia
• Sperm – Motility, Morphology and Motility
• Vericocele

Studies:

• Acupuncture Improves Rates of Pregnancy and Live Births in Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization
• Substitution of Acupuncture for HCG in Ovulation Induction
• Reduction of Blood Flow Impedance in the Uterine Arteries of Infertile Women with Electro
• Influence with Acupuncture on Pregnancy Rates
• ACUPUNCTURE-Hypo Pituitary Axis
• Acupuncture Treatment For Infertile Women Undergoing Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

Fertility Testimonials
“After having surgery for endometriosis, I felt I had one foot in the alternative world and one foot in the traditional medical infertility world. My fertility specialist scared me with the unimpressive statistics of my chances of conceiving naturally. She warned me I had a small window of time before the endometriosis would return. We struggled for months to find the right fertility medication dosages and had an unsuccessful IUI attempt. The next month I discovered a lump in my breast that was related to the fertility medications. Thankfully the lump was benign. At that point, I was frustrated with the medical approach and decided to devote myself to the alternative approach. I saw Julie once a week for acupuncture. I also followed all of her dietary, supplement and herbal recommendations, which I had only half-heartedly followed before then. My husband also received acupuncture from Julie and took the supplements and herbs she recommended. During the 3rd month of this approach, we conceived! Over the 18 months it took us to get that positive test, Julie was extremely supportive of all my decisions. I just wish I would’ve followed all of her advice 100% from the beginning. Either way, we are thrilled to be expecting our baby in March of 2015. I would highly recommend her to anyone trying to conceive.”
– Sarah

“I came to see Monica after my husband and I had been trying to conceive for around 8 months. We were growing frustrated as the months passed but were not yet ready to turn to a fertility doctor or drugs. Monica was reassuring, supportive and provided me with wonderful information and advice on things to help my chances to conceive.  About a month later, I found out I was pregnant!  Throughout my first trimester, acupuncture helped ease my nausea and it helped keep my body in balance through my second trimester.  My husband and I are so excited to welcome our new baby into the world!”

“When my husband and I married in 2010, we knew right away we wanted to become parents.  After trying unsuccessfully to conceive, we sought treatment with a Reproductive Endocrinologist who diagnosed me with PCOS.  After undergoing 2 failed rounds of ovulation induction and 2 failed rounds of IVF, we were told that we had a 5% chance of conceiving.  Heartbroken, discouraged, and exhausted both mentally and physically from the toll of the treatments, we decided to take a step back and prepare my body and our finances for what would be our 3rd and final attempt at IVF.  I had read about the benefits of utilizing acupuncture in conjunction with reproductive medicine, and though I was skeptical , I sought treatment from Monica Mae Leibson. Monica’s compassion, knowledge, and philosophy on the power of Chinese Medicine encouraged me to trust my body, tap into its energy through acupuncture, and be patient with the processes of fertility rather than infertility. After 3 months, my husband and I were surprised to learn that despite what doctors had told us was possible, we conceived naturally.  I met my wonderful baby girl in June and couldn’t be happier! I am so grateful to Monica for helping us achieve our dream of starting a family!”
– Audrey S.

“Almost a year ago I walked into Acupuncture Healthcare for the first time! After 1 1/2 years of trying to get pregnant, a very frustrating time at an infertilty practice, we decided not to go through with traditional medicine to reach our goal – having a baby.”

“We came in contact with Acupuncture Healthcare and learned that there is another way – focusing on fertility instead of intertility. Focusing on restoring balance in life, something that was so welcome and felt so good. I had to be patient, which was difficult for me, but Monica taught me how to do that. In this whole preocess she was more than an acupuncturist, she also gave me guidance in finding my emotional balance.  After two months I got pregnant and right now I am ready to give birth to a little girl.  I will always be grateful for all the support I got on this journey of getting pregnant, being pregnant and getting ready as a mom. Restoring my physical as well as emotional health was the best gift and lead to something so much greater I cannot even describe. Thank you!!”

I just wanted to send you a quick note and thank you for all your help and support with my quest to have a baby. I am at the 6 week point, so if I can make it 6 more, I should be in good shape. I am so grateful for your help and support! Take Care,
– Kristin

Almost a year ago, I walked into Acupuncture Healthcare Associates for the first time. After a very frustrating experience at a fertility clinic, we decided not to go through with traditional medicine to help us conceive.  Through Acupuncture Healthcare and the kindness of Monica Mae Leibson, I learned that there is another way – to focus on fertility instead of infertility. I had to be patient, which is difficult for me. Monica taught me how to do that. After two months, I got pregnant and as of right now I am ready to give birth to a little girl! I will always be grateful for all the support I got on  this journey of getting pregnant, being pregnant and getting ready as a mom.  Restoring my physical as well as emotional health was the best gift! Thank you

Sarah J.

When we first started the IVF process, we were told that we had very little chance. It was even suggested that we consider adoption.  After two unsuccessful trials of IVF we were very discouraged.  We then met Julie Shindler-Cohen. Her attitude was great to help me relax and relieve the stress of the entire process.  After sessions with Julie and our third attempt we were succesful and now have 2 beautiful boys.  We are so grateful that we had the opportunity to combine western and eastern medicine to create our miracles!

Staci M.

I was a patient of yours last year while I was going through my fifth In-Vitro Fertilization Cycle. After four failed attempts I decided to include acupuncture to the procedure. To my delight, I just gave birth to the most beautiful twin boys I have ever seen. I can’t say for sure if the acupuncture is that made that cycle a success, but I believe it did! Thank you so much for your compassion and professionalism and most of all for our precious, precious sons!
– Sue

I have been meaning to come and visit you for a long time. I was planning on visiting you early summer when things weren’t so hectic but then I ended up having my baby so early and everything was a bit chaotic. I wanted to let you know that I truly believe that you are responsible for my little miracle. Thank you so much for you all the support, encouragement, and research you did for me. Your work is so meaningful as you help so many people realize their dreams. I hope to stop by and visit with my baby as soon as he is a bit bigger. I will send a photo. Sincerely,
– Swati

I’ve been meaning to get this out to you sooner but just got caught up in some great news, I’m Pregnant pregnant!! Thanks to your treatments. I know that the acupuncture and prayers played a BIG role. And we did not ever do IVF. So, I am writing this to you to say thanks, thank you so very much!! Sincerely,
– Patricia

I am so glad you were able to see Kelsey when she was brand new. Babies are so tiny and precious when they’re newborns! You were able to help me achieve a very important dream, and I can’t thank you enough for this most precious and incredible gift! I don’t know what I would have done if this dream hadn’t become a reality for Steve and I. After so many IVF tries, I was truly shocked when the results were positive! You do a most helpful and much needed service for the women in our community, and I cannot say thank you enough to express my gratitude! I will always have thoughts of you when I look at my daughter and watch her grow. For this and for meeting you, I am truly blessed. Best wishes in your practice, and I will keep in contact! Sincerely,
– Lisa

They Say “it takes a village to raise a child”. In our case, it took a village to conceive one (or two in our case). Thank you for being a valuable member of our “village” – we couldn’t have done it without you – I know that for sure! Thank you for everything. Sincerely
– Julie

I just wanted to write a quick note to say THANK YOU! I am now 9 ½ weeks pregnant and couldn’t be happier. After 2 rounds of failed IVF, we added acupuncture for the 3rd try. Needles to say, my husband and I are true believers! I definitely plan on coming back for treatments when we try for number two! Thanks again! Michelle After having a miscarriage I sought assistance from Julie Silver. I really did not know what to expect but I realized that I had to take responsibility for my reproductive health. I slowly began changing my diet as well as following the recommendations of Chinese herbs that Julie suggested I use to achieve a pregnancy. I appreciate the assistance Julie and her staff provided me. I am happy to say that I naturally became pregnant and have a healthy baby girl. Thank you
– Sheryl

I can’t thank you enough for all the help & support you provided me when I was at an all time low trying to conceive. I had been trying for 3 years with various infertility treatments with no success so I started looking into other ways of getting pregnant and I came across Randine Lewis book – The infertility cure and thought I would try changing my diet, using herbs & acupuncture along with doing IVF. To this day I believe it all helped considering the acupuncture was a wonderful form of stress relief that definitely comes with going through infertility. Now I am 33 weeks pregnant and still consider this to be the best miracle anyone can ever be blessed with. My husband & I are truly thankful for all your guidance.
– Karian

I have been coming to Monica for acupuncture regarding my infertility. I had been trying to get pregnant for over 6 months with western medicine and none of it has worked. Monica helped me make a lot of dietary changes, changes in my exercise routine and also stressed the importance of relaxation. She is very inspirational! I am a nurse and sometimes its hard for me to think outside the western medical model of treatment. But I am a firm believer in what she does and the hope she provides to people who are going through such pain emotionally and physically. She helped me trust my body again. I also made sure to tell my physician that it was indeed my acupuncturist, my diet, and my yoga that achieved this pregnancy. There were no meds involved! This was our “break” cycle, while we figured out what our next step would be.
– Kristin S.