The protocols we use, which have been developed and refined since we first started back in 2004, have several key benefits for those undergoing IVF, all of which are supported by reputable scientific sources to support many factors that lead to successful IVF outcomes, including:

1. Increased blood flow to the ovaries during stims. More blood flow into the ovaries = more medicine, oxygen, and nutrients for the eggs which leads to optimal egg quality and higher blast rates.
2. Increased flow of wastes out of the ovarian and follicular environment. Something many don’t think about, but just as important for egg quality, is the removal of oxidative by-products and cellular wastes from the tissue surrounding and the fluid inside the follicles. This takes stress off the egg inside each follicle as it grows.
3. Increased uterine receptivity during transfer. Acupuncture has been shown to reduce the “micro-spasms” of the uterine wall that sometimes occur and can make implantation more difficult for the embryo.
4. Decreased inflammation in the ovaries and uterus. Excessive inflammation is a known disruptor of all growth and regenerative processes in the body. When present in the reproductive organs, it causes increased stress on the follicles, eggs, and uterine lining, leading to a decrease in normal function.
5. Better response to stims and transfer medications. Low oxygen and nutrient states + higher inflammatory load = less efficient response to FSH which is the primary medicine used to stimulate the ovaries for retrieval. The same holds true for response to transfer meds. With our protocols we see dramatic improvements in both blast counts and lining thickness across the board, leading to a higher percentage of successful outcomes.
6. Significant reduction of stress and anxiety. While not an absolute block to success, stress and anxiety do make the process more difficult and do make it harder for the body to respond effectively to the stim and transfer medications. Acupuncture triggers a deep relaxation response in the body, and that relaxation can last for days and eventually weeks as more treatments are completed. Our patients routinely report to us how the treatments help them in this regard.

Our answer to this is already simple: Start where you are. Whether your cycle starts tomorrow or 3 months from now, adding acupuncture and a customized supplement plan is going to give you a much better chance of success than NOT adding them, no matter where you are on the timeline.

We’ve had patients who started with us after a few days of stims, and they still got better results than the previous failed cycle. In fact, in many cases that cycle produced a healthy baby.

We’ve also had patients who come to us anywhere from one to three months ahead of time. The additional prep time is undoubtedly helpful, but don’t let this deter you if you’re planning to start your cycle soon or have already started. Our treatments have immediate impact on blood flow and reduction of inflammatory disruptors!

Yes, we have incorporated supplements into our IVF optimization process for close to 20 years, constantly adapting and improving them based on not only the latest research but also our vast clinical experience.

The opportunity to treat well over 1500 IVF patients has helped us develop highly effective and EFFICIENT supplement protocols for every situation, from PCOS to endometriosis, low AMH, poor responders, Unexplained Infertility, etc.

In fact, in many cases we have been ahead of the curve, using supplements BEFORE they are adopted by mainstream medicine. For instance, we were using therapeutic doses of CoQ10 and Inositol well before they became standard recommendations in IVF clinics.

We always customize your supplement protocol based on your specific case. We believe this is one reason for the success we’ve seen with IVF where our overall success rate stays consistently above 80%.

We do sell the supplements in the office, and you are encouraged (but not required) to get them from us because they are the exact products we have used for almost two decades and we know they work as advertised.

Unfortunately, in the world of supplements there are wide variations in quality and formulation that mean not all brands / products have equivalent potency simply because they claim to have the same ingredients. The reason we know this is that when patients DO choose to use other products they often (but of course not always) see results that are below what we would expect with the products we carry.

Again, this is completely up to you, and we always respect your choice in the matter.

At your intake, we review your completed medical history forms in detail and interview you to dig deeper so we can determine where your body needs extra support. We also take into account your diagnosis and pre-IVF test results, especially AMH and FSH, which in many ways indicate the overall health of your ovaries.

Because of our extensive experience in IVF optimization, we no longer require patients to get additional testing outside of what they have already done with the fertility clinic. However, if you would like us to order any of these tests, we can facilitate that and we are able to assess the results for you. We have found, however, that the tests almost never reveal anything we aren’t already addressing with the treatment plan.

All our clinicians are Board Certified by the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine) and are licensed by the State Board of Acupuncture Examiners and Texas State Medical Board.

Additionally, all our clinicians have specialized training in Functional Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine via the 5-Element Functional Medicine Institute which was founded by our Director, Chris Axelrad, M.S.O.M., L.Ac.

Chris Axelrad also served for 4 years on the Executive Board of ABORM (The American and TCM Board of Reproductive Medicine), including 2 years as its president.

We are out of network and therefore do not directly bill insurance.

However, many of our patients easily receive reimbursement from their insurance on an out-of-network basis by filing directly with their insurance company. Upon request, we will gladly provide you with the documentation you need in order to do that.

We can definitely help you get whatever lab tests you’re interested in.

However, we typically don’t need many tests, if any, and the ones we do use are fairly standard.

We have found through experience that by using the 5-Element Functional Medicine process developed by our Founder and Director, and focusing on simple, subtle symptomatic diagnostic parameters, we end up with incredibly accurate assessments and treatment plans.

It’s important to remember that your body knows how to fix itself and get itself back into balance. Our process is very precise and efficient at doing that. For instance, many of our patients who are on thyroid replacement end up needing less or can even stop their medicine after a period of time on their treatment plan. This is because not only is the thyroid now producing hormones more efficiently, the cells are also responding to the thyroid more effectively.

We have 4 offices in the Greater Houston area, and a worldwide office on the internet. 😉

The Houston area offices are located in Uptown Park area, Katy, Woodlands, and Sugar Land. Click here to see the locations on a map.

Absolutely not. We are always here to support YOUR goals and YOUR decisions. If you choose to take medications prescribed by another doctor, we respect that choice. Same with the choice to do surgery, IVF, or any other conventional medical procedure.

Our goal is to help you be successful, no matter what YOU decide to do outside of our office (short of harming others or yourself, of course 😉 ).

Your initial consultation usually takes no more than 15 minutes, with a brief “orientation” at the end where we’ll make sure you’re clear on everything before you set up your intake.

The total time for that appointment is about 30 minutes.

The intake appointment is roughly 60 – 75 minutes in length, including 25 minutes for the acupuncture treatment and about 15 minutes at the end to go over your treatment plan and book out some future appointments (we’re very busy so we always encourage you book at least a month in advance to be sure you get the days / times you want).

The follow-ups are typically around 35 – 45 minutes each, again with 25 minutes allocated to the treatment and the rest for consultation and check-out.