New York Fertility Acupuncture: What Can I do in 2012 to Have my Baby?

New York Fertility Acupuncture: What Can I do in 2012 to Have my Baby?: Congratulations to all of you that that were faced with fertility challenges in 2011 and had babies. As for the rest of you still TTC, all ...

What Can I do in 2012 to Have my Baby?

Congratulations to all of you that that were faced with fertility challenges in 2011 and had babies. As for the rest of you still TTC,  all is not lost;  you do have a chance to conceive in 2012.

The question you should be asking yourselves is "what can I do to help get pregnant that I haven't already done?"  This doesn't only refer to protocols such as IUI, IVF, donor-egg, acupuncture and herbal medicine, but choosing the right reproductive endocrinologist and acupuncturist to create a winning team.

Many couples will go to an RE (reproductive endocrinologist) because of a gynecologist's recommendation or the recommendation of a friend. This is not a bad policy and often yields excellent results. But after several failed attempts with an RE and the support of an acupuncturist perhaps it might be prudent to consider a new team.

I work closely with several reproductive endocrinologists and I think they are wonderful. They have a great bed-side manner; they listen, they answer questions, they don't rush, they respond quickly to your calls and emails and they are seasoned, high level doctors; they also support acupuncture and recommend it to their patients; in other words - they are well informed about other modalities of medical intervention other than their own which have been shown to be effective in increasing positive outcomes.  And they have high success rates not only in getting women pregnant, but more importantly  - in take home babies!

  These are the RE's that I recommend:
1. Joel Batzofin, M.D., of New York Fertility Services http://www.batzofinfertilityservices.com
2. Tanmoy Mukherjee, M.D., of RMA-NY http://www.rmany.com
3. Dan Stein, M.D., of St. Luke's-Roosevelt http://www.infertilityspecialistnewyork.com
4. Glenn Schattman, M.D., of New York Cornell http://www.ivf.org
5. Dan Levine, M.D., of  Hudson Valley Fertility http://www.hudsonvalleyfertility.com
6. Robert Kiltz, M.D., CNY Fertility  http://www.cnyfertility.com

A Little Data About Each of These Great Docs!

Dr. Batzofin is an expert on immunological causes of infertility and chronic repeated miscarriage. These causes are often overlooked and take many years typically to diagnose. And by that time you've lost precious time and more eggs. Dr. Batzofin does so after the first couple of visits!  He is a brilliant investigator, diagnostician, and reproductive specialist.  Dr. Batzofin always elicits a smile from his patients even in their darkest moments. He is a man of great humor, high integrity and excellence in medicine. I am proud to call him a friend.

Dr. Mukherjee is a great and seasoned reproductive endocrinologist who has the advantage of working with a seasoned team of seasoned pros including Drs. Ben Sandler, Lawrence Grunfeld and the medical director, Alan Copperman. Complicated cases get discussed and analyzed by the 'team' so a clearer picture of the case may be arrived at. So you as a patient have the advantage of having many doctors working on your case but enjoying the benefit having a wonderful relationship with just one- Dr. Mukherjee.

Dr. Stein is one of the few real competitors of Dr. Zhang of New Hope Fertility. He offers a similar but better protocol. What makes it better in my opinion is that Dr. Stein, after a single egg retrieval transfers a single 'fresh' embryo unlike Dr. Zhang who first freezes, then thaws, then transfers. Fresh transfers  statistically have better outcomes than frozen.  Dr. Stein is a truly compassionate man who works slowly, carefully and attentively with each and every patient - you are never rushed when you are with him. In fact when you sit across his desk you really feel like you're at his home, in his living room having an important dialogue - about you and your needs.

Dr. Schattman works under the aegis of medical director, Zev Rosenwaks, M.D., and has an excellent team of doctors, nurses and state-of-the-art facilities behind him to help ensure that your IVF procedure yields the result you want -  a baby. Dr. Schattman is also a brilliant surgeon and a great guy.

Dr. Dan Levine of Hudson Valley Fertility is one of the most caring, loving and compassionate doctors I have ever met. And he takes all comers. He treated a woman with an fsh of 100 and she got pregnant and delivered a healthy baby. His wife Debbie is an expert on natural foods for fertility enhancement. They are a great team, delivering big results from a small, warm, homey, and wonderful practice.

Dr. Kiltz is a story unto himself. He is a most unique gentleman. He is a brilliant diagnostician and amazing reproductive endocrinologist. He has offices in Albany and Syracuse. He cooks organic food, practices Tai Chi, meditates, takes beautiful photographs, hikes the wondrous mountains of upstate New York and creates babies. He writes poetry. He has been an inspiration to hundreds of patients and is certainly an inspiration to me. I have met his parents and brothers - he comes from a tight knit, loving family - all of whom have open arms for friends and patients alike - these two distinct entities are usually indistinguishable.  Dr. Kiltz is responsible for helping thousands of couple have babies. He is the 'guru' of reproductive medicine.

Regarding acupuncturists: most of them treat various pathologies from insomnia to infertility. You wouldn't go to an RE that treats infertility and asthma would you? You'd want to be cared for by a specialist -  a doctor who knows a lot about a little - not a little about a lot.

One of the reasons to consider having a consultation with me is because I am the first acupuncturist in the United States to completely devote a complementary wellness practice to the care and treatment of those faced with fertility challenges. I am licensed and board certified in acupuncture and I am board certified in herbal medicine.

I have been treating infertility for fourteen years and nothing but infertility.  Of course I highly recommend that you also consult with several acupuncturists so you can get a good 'gut' feeling about the one you choose to work with.  If you'd like to find out more about me and The Berkley Center for Reproductive Wellness please visit our site http://www.berkleycenter.com.  Other highly qualified acupuncturists who specialize in treating those with fertility challenges may be found at http://www.aborm.org.

Remember, at The Berkley Center for Reproductive Wellness we offer a 100% money back guarantee and free mini consultations. We want to be 100% certain that you have had every opportunity to have your questions answered and to feel totally comfortable with the team at The Berkley Center before your become a patient.   Make sure that the acupuncturists you visit are willing to give you your money back if you are not satisfied and be certain to ask them if they will see you - free - for a brief consultation -  we do and we always will.  Be sure to call us at 212-685-0985 to learn about our money back guarantee and to schedule your free mini consultation.

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanuka, Happy Kwanza, Happy Life, and best wishes on your journey to family.

Love and Blessings...

Mike Berkley, L.Ac., FABORM
212-685-0985

About Dawn Harris – Fertility Advocate

I am a Certified Doula who has over 10 years practical experience with integrative medicine, coaching, consulting and fertility exposure.

My six years plus journey with infertility is what has inspired me to bring this to other individuals.

I have always been drawn to women’s health…having my own health challenges and seeking different alternative directions for optimal benefits.

My background includes over 18 years of legal services work, ballet, creation of proprietary organic nutraceutically-enhanced products/bakery and spiritual counseling.

I avidly practice creative visualization and Kundalini yoga.

The skill I am most known for is inspiring other’s Bliss.

Let me help you manifest your miracle and Heart’s Desire.

CONTACT INFO:




Dawn Harris

email: info@myfertilityadvocate.com

Phone: 917-334-3407 www.myfertilityadvocate.com

Why a Fertility Advocate?

Fertility is a woman’s sacred right.

Conception and fertility treatments are often roads sometimes fraught with obstacles.

A daunting process at best.

A mystery…a maze…a road with no map.

We all need an advocate in our lives…I am that person and I will show you that the REAL advocate is YOU.

I can, and will, guide and teach you ALL the tools you need to advocate for yourself.

I have personally dealt with the challenges of getting and staying pregnant…the countless doctor’s appointments, endless energy and the emotional roller coaster!

I have gathered the tools and resources necessary for you to successfully navigate yourself through this process.

After six and a half years of this journey, I am now blessed with twin boys…and I want to give the benefit of all the information I have gathered back to you. I can actually help you save on your resources…time, energy or finances.

My goal is to empower and inspire you…to have the best understanding of fertility…from conception to pregnancy.





This may involve:

• Education about fertility from evaluation through treatments including integrative options of Eastern and Western modalities. Get a fertility checklist!

• Choosing the right doctor, clinic…to know when or if it’s time to see a fertility specialist or change the plan, doctor etc.

• Support with IVF, surrogacy, donor egg or sperm

• Male factor infertility

• Identification of other contributing factors-emotional imbalances (stress management techniques)

• Understanding you have choices and options; how to articulate your needs to your doctor

• Support on dealing with family member’s and friends through this time

• Supporting you to set up a birth plan (home or water birth, birthing center, minimal obstetrics) and pregnancy you envision. I can support you from pre-conception through mid-pregnancy and assist with choice of birth provider/options(midwife, birth doula, obstetrician)



This is a time when you need to have someone who’s there for you. Whether it’s your 1st or your 4th child, you’re in your 20’s or your 40’s, I am that person.

Let me help you unlock the mystery of fertility and reach your most successful outcome.



If you wish to schedule a 15 minute complimentary consultation, please send an e-mail to info@myfertilityadvocate.com or call 917-334-3407. Skype calls available as well. My rates are on a sliding scale so that I may accommodate all. Package rates available for further discounts.
CONTACT INFO:




Dawn Harris

email: info@myfertilityadvocate.com

Phone: 917-334-3407 www.myfertilityadvocate.com

Herbs and Blood Clotting Disorders Contributing to Recurrent Miscarriage

Both anticoagulants and antiplatelet mitigators are medicines that reduce blood clotting in an artery, a vein or the heart.

Heparin and Lovenox are anticoagulants and aspirin is an antiplatelet.

Antiplatelets such as aspirin decreases platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. They are mostly used in problems with arterial circulation where anticoagulants have little effect.

Anticoagulant medications make the blood 'thinner' and prevent the formation of blood clots and hence could prevent stroke.

Both anticoagulants and antiplatelet medications have been used to treat chronic recurrent miscarriage due to thrombophilic disease.

There are several herbal medicines which possess antiplatelet and anticoagulant properties.

Jiang Huang and Yu Jin are herbs that possess antiplatelet properties. Chuan xiong has both anticoagulant and antiplatelet properties.

I am not recommending that a patient with a thrombophilic presentation use herbs instead of Western medicine which possess the required qualities necessary to prevent miscarriage via anticoagulant or antiplatelet activity. Sometimes however, a drug does not possess the same qualities of an herb. An herbal formula, for example, has a multitiered effect. The correct formula might for example, be used to reduce inflammation, reduce platelet aggregation and/or reduce coagulopathies as well as reduce stress, strengthen the immune function and help facilitate weight loss in an obese patient. All of these things would be required in a patient of this type to increase the odds of a successful on-going pregnancy; not just Heparin or Lovenox or Aspirin. This is important to consider in case you miscarry even when taking these types of meds.

In other words, you may need more intervention than these meds are capable of providing.

I would recommend that you follow the instructions of your reproductive endocrinologist and hope for the best. But in the face of failure with traditional Western medical approaches, trying herbs may help contribute to a full term pregnancy. In my practice I have seen this occur many times.

Many patients faced with the difficult challenge of trying to conceive or who recurrently miscarry are instructed by their reproductive endocrinologists to not take herbs. This is because your doctor is trying to protect you because his or her training is in Western medicine and not in Chinese medicine and they do not feel comfortable mixing Western medicine with herbs.

Though their hearts are in the right place, their experience is not. I have, on multiple occasions prescribed herbs to patients who were taking gonadotropins or Clomid or Lupron, etc., and have never seen any problems. The combination either helped the patient or did not.

The herbs will not reduce the effectiveness of the meds nor, in most cases will they increase the potency of the meds. The only exception to this would occur if I prescribed herbs with anticoagulant/antiplateleet properties to a patient who was taking Lovenox or Heparin. Then there would be a potentiating and possibly dangerous effect.

Acupuncture can increase metabolic function and stimulate the flow of blood throughout the body. Increasing hemodynamics is not, however the same as actually reducing platelet aggregation or reducing hypercoagulation. The benefit of using acupuncture with herbs is that the acupuncture will help ensure the distribution of the herbs throughout the body.

Typically when getting treated for infertility or recurrent pregnancy loss the most effective approach in the absence of success with Western medicine alone is to combine acupuncture, herbs and Western medicine.

Herbs and Blood Clotting Disorders Contributing to Recurrent Miscarriage
Both anticoagulants and antiplatelet mitigators are medicines that reduce blood clotting in an artery, a vein or the heart.

Heparin and Lovenox are anticoagulants and aspirin is an antiplatelet.

Antiplatelets such as aspirin decreases platelet aggregation and thrombus formation. They are mostly used in problems with arterial circulation where anticoagulants have little effect.

Anticoagulant medications make the blood 'thinner' and prevent the formation of blood clots and hence could prevent stroke.

Both anticoagulants and antiplatelet medications have been used to treat chronic recurrent miscarriage due to thrombophilic disease.

There are several herbal medicines which possess antiplatelet and anticoagulant properties.

Jiang Huang and Yu Jin are herbs that possess antiplatelet properties. Chuan xiong has both anticoagulant and antiplatelet properties.

I am not recommending that a patient with a thrombophilic presentation use herbs instead of Western medicine which possess the required qualities necessary to prevent miscarriage via anticoagulant or antiplatelet activity. Sometimes however, a drug does not possess the same qualities of an herb. An herbal formula, for example, has a multitiered effect. The correct formula might for example, be used to reduce inflammation, reduce platelet aggregation and/or reduce coagulopathies as well as reduce stress, strengthen the immune function and help facilitate weight loss in an obese patient. All of these things would be required in a patient of this type to increase the odds of a successful on-going pregnancy; not just Heparin or Lovenox or Aspirin. This is important to consider in case you miscarry even when taking these types of meds.

In other words, you may need more intervention than these meds are capable of providing.

I would recommend that you follow the instructions of your reproductive endocrinologist and hope for the best. But in the face of failure with traditional Western medical approaches, trying herbs may help contribute to a full term pregnancy. In my practice I have seen this occur many times.

Many patients faced with the difficult challenge of trying to conceive or who recurrently miscarry are instructed by their reproductive endocrinologists to not take herbs. This is because your doctor is trying to protect you because his or her training is in Western medicine and not in Chinese medicine and they do not feel comfortable mixing Western medicine with herbs.

Though their hearts are in the right place, their experience is not. I have, on multiple occasions prescribed herbs to patients who were taking gonadotropins or Clomid or Lupron, etc., and have never seen any problems. The combination either helped the patient or did not.

The herbs will not reduce the effectiveness of the meds nor, in most cases will they increase the potency of the meds. The only exception to this would occur if I prescribed herbs with anticoagulant/antiplateleet properties to a patient who was taking Lovenox or Heparin. Then there would be a potentiating and possibly dangerous effect.

Acupuncture can increase metabolic function and stimulate the flow of blood throughout the body. Increasing hemodynamics is not, however the same as actually reducing platelet aggregation or reducing hypercoagulation. The benefit of using acupuncture with herbs is that the acupuncture will help ensure the distribution of the herbs throughout the body.
Typically when getting treated for infertility or recurrent pregnancy loss the most effective approach in the absence of success with Western medicine alone is to combine acupuncture, herbs and Western medicine.
When you are prescribed herbs be certain that a board certified herbalist is doing so.