Texas Center For Reproductive

I had severe endometriosis and had had extensive fibroid surgery, along with being of advanced age ( 38). The wonderful treatments of the excellent acupuncturists that accompanied my IVF helped keep me calm and relaxed. The result was our wonderful baby boy, born 07/28/09. The staff was really great at helping us deal with some issues during the pregnancy, which helped a lot. We will go see them again when we try for baby #2...we may even try natural before going to IVF again! Pros: Wonderful people, treatments easy and relaxing more

I wanted to share the good news with you. I just found out that after my 2nd round of IVF, I am pregnant. My 42nd birthday is tomorrow so this is a truly amazing gift after my husband and I tried for 9 years to hear this news---on our own for several years, a year with 7 failed IUIs, and an unsuccessful 1st round of IVF. In my heart I know everyone I encountered at TCRA made the difference for us since the first day I walked through their doors. They are knowledgeable and experienced while being sincerely friendly and supportive.\r \r One month after treatments and following their advice, I experienced a pain-free cycle for the first time in my life. After the second month, another first--I had absolutely no PMS symptoms at all. Then it was time for my 2nd round of IVF, which was different than the first in so many ways. Not only was my body healthier thanks to bi-weekly treatments and diet changes, but I really experienced a mental shift and could see the drastic difference in my stress level before and after the procedure. For this, I am especially grateful to David for conducting the Inner Smile Meditation workshop. I have done this meditation every morning since my meeting with Kirsten the week before my retrieval when she told me I absolutely had to do everything possible to keep my cortisol and stress levels down.I couldn't ask for a better team on my side during the whole process. I am so grateful to Kirsten and David for their practice and for sharing their knowledge with those of us who are on this journey. Now I plan to continue treatments to support my first pregnancy and avoid the high risk of miscarriage. Wow, it feels great to say that! Pros: Friendly knowledgeable staff, Good vibe, Convenient location more

I started to see Kirsten about a year ago. My doctor wanted to send me straight to an infertility specialist since a 6 month trial of Clomid didn't work. I wasn't ready for the full blown infertility work up and all the medical procedures associated with it. \r \r So I went to see Kirsten. She met with my husband and I and answered our myriad of questions. She referred us to an infertility speicalist she works with -- just to make sure all the plumbing was in working order -- and it was. \r \r Then we started treatment. I took daily temps, daily herbs and went to acupuncture twice a week. I knew, that even if I did not get pregnant naturally, I was at least taking care of myself at a whole new level - and preparing my body to carry a baby. \r \r Well, I am now 11 weeks pregnant - and TCRA continues to be my first line of defense. I had heavy spotting my first week and was diagnosed by my OB as a ""threatened miscarriage"". I went to see Kirsten, she gave me herbs to boost my progesterone levels and received an acupuncture treatment to stop spotting. It stopped the SAME DAY as the acupuncture treatment and has never returned. \r \r Throughout my pregnancy I have gone to Kirsten first for all of my nutrition questions. I can email her any time and she responds wihtin 24 hours, reliably. I am good friends with my ObGYn and can call her on her cell or even text her if I need somehting -- and Kirsten is still my first pick! I just know I will get the natural, whole grain answer from her. And I do! \r \r Most recently I went in for an acupuncture treatment targeted towards the alleviation of constipation - 36 hours later I am back to normal! With no pain or discomfort in the transition. It made me stop and think ""what did I eat or what didn't I eat to have this happen -- I want to be able to repeat it for the future"". The answer I came up with: nothing. My diet has been exaclty the same -- I even forgot to eat my prunes. The only thing different was acupuncture -- I was amazed!\r \r Thank you TCRA - Mandy, Dixie, Emily & Kirsten for supporting my body as it prepared itself for this journey, for being a contributing factor in conception and then being my partner during the precarious first trimester!\r \r It wouldn't have happened without you! And it was as low stress as this journey could be!\r \r I also strongly reccommend yoga for fertilty -- another HUGE stress reliever! Pros: Experts in the field! more

I cannot say enough great things about TCRA! I went through about a year and a half ordeal with my hormones that no doctor was addressing. I was struggling with extreme fatigue, dry hair, thinning hair, anxiety attacks, & depression. These symptoms gradually got worse over this time period and I didn't know what was going on but eventually I started suspecting it was my hormones. I discussed my various symptoms with my endocrinologist, ob/gyn and family doctor and received zero help which made me think I was crazy thinking it was my hormones (which is what I always suspected). Then I started trying to get pregnant and had two miscarriages in a 6 month period. I talked to my doctor whether the miscarriages could be linked to the hormone issues I went through and she said it was just bad luck. After my miscarriages, I continued to have the symptoms of hormone problems. So, I decided I need to be proactive before trying to get pregnant again and found the TCRA. From the first visit sitting down with Kirsten, I felt relieved that someone was finally listening to me and made me feel my concerns and suspicians were valid. She gave me hope that this was fixable. During my treatments, my hormone symptoms slowly got better and better. At the end of four months, we started trying to get pregnant and got pregnant the firs month. I continued treatments during my first trimester and everything went smoothly this time and I'm now 29 weeks pregnant! It has been a healthy pregnancy! \r The entire staff was fabulous! It was a place I went to every week and actually enjoyed going because of the friendly, warm environment they have created at TCRA. Kirsten , Dixie, Mandy and Daivd were always so easy to talk to and I always felt like they listened to what my complaints were and then did something to address them. They really are an incredible group of people and I so appreciate what they did for me. I recommend them all the time to friends. Pros: effective, comforting staff more

Acupuncture and herbs from the Texas Center for Reproductive Acupuncture has been nothing but wonderful for us! We conceived naturally after 4 months under their care. But that was only the beginning of the important role they have played. During those long weeks of debilitating “morning” sickness (actually 24/7 sickness), acupuncture made it possible for me to keep food down and carry on with my regular activities. While I didn’t manage to gain weight during this period, at least I didn’t lose weight, thanks to the care I got from David and Kirsten and Mandy. Even after the throwing up days were behind me, acupuncture helped me stay strong and vital during my whole pregnancy; I even went backpacking in my 7th month with my OB/GYN’s blessing. When my due date came and went, acupuncture helped me have a strong, fast labor and plenty of milk for a healthy, hungry baby! Even after the birth, the Texas Center for Reproductive Acupuncture continued to help by getting my body and mind back into equilibrium so that I could get on with the astonishingly hard work of being a parent. Such a happy experience and the beginning of a great love story! more

David made me ovulate, and my husband made me pregnant! After 2 years of fertility treatments and hormones, we wanted a more natural approach to our infertility issues. We took a few months off from any type of treatment, so I had not ovulated since November. I had my first acupuncture treatment on day 34 of my cycle, ovulated on day 35, and am now 6 weeks pregnant. Everyone at TCRA is very compassionate, and caring. I love the atmosphere. Pros: most positive environment more

My husband and I had been trying to get pregnant for two years after a previous miscarriage. We were seeing a fertility specialist and one day my husband found TCRA's website and thought we should go and see what they were all about. I am 39 years old so I felt that we needed something beyond western medicine. When we met Kirsten she immediately set my mind at ease and I felt more positive and hopeful than I had in months. We went through the six month treatment program and had our first IVF cycle and it worked. We are 9 weeks pregnant today. I am still seeing TCRA for the first trimester and I love their continued support and encouragement. I recommend them to all of my friends! Pros: Relaxed Atmosphere, Friendly Staff more

The team of acupuncturists that David and Kirsten have put together is incredible. They work with the patient needs in mind as their most important goal. As an IVF provider I have work with them for over 2 years and I am very pleased with their professional service. They dialogue with the patient and when appropriate combine medical and acupuncture therapies. The only winner is the patient who truly gets a holistic approach. If you are looking for acupuncture, stop looking: Texas Center for Reproductive Acupunctuer is your place. I wholeheartedly recommended it. Pros: Caring, professionals, pleasant more

When I was seven weeks pregnant my cousin told me about Texas Center for Reporductive Acupuncture. Due to the fact that I had several miscarriages in the past, I called them right away. When I explained my situation they had me come in that week and I had weekly acupunture through my first trimester. I really believe that the acupunture helped me make it through this pregnancy. I plan to go back starting at my 36th week to have acupuncture to help prepare my body for labor. I wish I would have known about them sooner and I would recommend them to any mom struggling with fertility issues. Pros: Always on time. The owner is wonderful and very personable. The office staff were very friendly. They don't try to force anything on you. more

I love, love, love the Texas Center for Reproductive Acupuncture. I finally feel as if I am doing something proactive to help my fertility. My obgyn diagnosed me with a bacterial infection called “urea plasma” – a bacteria known to hamper fertility. After six rounds of antibiotics, it still was not gone. My obgyn referred me to an infectious disease specialist and he said there was nothing he could do because he didn’t want to give me any more antibiotics. When I talked to Kirsten at TCRA, she said “I can take care of that in two weeks.” With herbs and some small dietary changes, I am thrilled to say that the infection is gone! She is truly a miracle worker! Two months later, I became pregnant on my own with out any fertility treatments!! I am convinced that I would not be pregnant without the help of the wonderful people from TCRA. I have greatly enjoyed their continued support throughout my pregancy!\r \r Everyone at the center is wonderful - Kirsten, Dixie, Mandy, Emily and even the receptionist, Tiffany, are always helpful and very pleasant. I would highly recommend TCRA to anyone who is trying to become pregnant, they professional, knowlegeable and so caring. I really can't say enough about how much I enjoy the treaments and all of the people at the TCRA. Pros: All of the people there are professional, knowlegable and caring more

I will forever be grateful to everyone at Texas Center for Reproductive Acupuncture. My husband and I are in our late 20's and last spring I was diagnosed with PCOS and was told that we would not be able to get pregnant on our own. We decided that I would try clomid first, and then we would move on to a fertility specialist. After a month and a half on clomid, I felt as if I was going through menopause and I made the decision to quit. My OBGYN recommended that we think about acupuncture before contacting a fertility specialist. After a lot of research and prayer, I decided to meet Kirstin for a consultation at TCRA. Within the first few minutes I was filled with hope and excitement and I knew that this was the right choice for me and my body. I have always been fearful of needles and I was amazed that this process was actually relaxing and not at all painful! I received more support than I could have imagined from the entire staff and within a few short months, I found out that I was expecting!! I continued my sessions at TCRA for miscarriage prevention through my 13th week of pregnancy. They were able to keep me calm (I had a high risk of miscarriage) and healthy through the first part of my pregnancy and alleviate all of my morning sickness. I am now 30 weeks pregnant and I cannot wait to go back for my ""easy labor treatments"" starting in a few weeks. I tell all of my female friends about TCRA and I would highly recommend them to anyone interested in getting their body healthy before pregnancy, having problems getting pregnant, interested in miscarriage prevention, or having issues during pregnancy. It is an investment in you and your baby's health that is worth every penny! My little guy and I are proof! more

We are big advocates of homeopathy and alternative medicine so when we were not getting pregnant on our own we decided to make the investment in acupuncture. Due to our lack of ""swimmers"" we needed IVF/ICSI and reluctantly jumped into the medical system for such assistance. After just over 3 months we did our first retrieval and transferred 2 embryos. Soon thereafter we learned we were pregnant with twins! It turns out boy/girl twins no less. Life just didn?t seem to get any more perfect than that! I have now reached full term and am thankful for the huge role acupuncture (and Kirsten) have played in this pregnancy journey. I am apparently ultra sensitive and have given her a run for her money in terms of the use of herbs, tiny needles, a special diet & patience. Kirsten is extremely intuitive, flexible, and has the heart of a teacher! She is constantly tweaking our treatment plans and picks up on even the smallest details via our thorough conversations at each visit. Her guidance with nutrition has been insurmountable and very much appreciated. I am confident acupuncture (and Kirsten's consistency of care) have helped a tremendous amount in calming my nerves through all the stages of this fertility / pregnancy journey. This acupuncture experience has also taught me how to better care for my body and my family. After 1 year of treatments I can confidently say I would do it all again exactly the same and encourage anyone else to make the investments of time & money as well! In my opinion, it?s absolutely worth it for your physical health, mental health and health of your unborn children! more

I am 38 years old. I tried for nearly three years to get pregnant. I suffered from stage 3 endometriosis and had to undergo surgery. I began In-Vitro treatment and acupuncture after surgery. The staff at TCRA were able to regulate my periods, increase my egg production, and erase my PMS symptoms. The sessions were relaxing and the staff always remained positive. \r After two rounds of IVF I am pregnant with twins!\r As soon as I became pregnant I started to suffer with horrible sciatic pain in my hip. It was disabling. My OB told me it was normal and that the only cure was giving birth. I suffered 4 months before going to Mandy at TCRA. After one treatment, the pain was totally gone! I have had no problems with my hip in five weeks. \r TCRA can help you with treatment before, during, and after your pregnancy. I am so grateful for their help! more

I have a great doctor and we were trying to do everything possible to get me pregnant. My husband and I tried IUI and then In-Vitro fertilization. The IUI never worked for us. I had endometrosis and my husband low-sperm count. I had laparoscopy for my endometrosis problem and my husband was taking some vitamins but nothing seemed to work. The first time we tried IVF, I didn't get pregnant. The second time, I got pregnant but had a miscarriage after 9 weeks. We were devastated but still had energy to try one more time. The third time I wanted to do something different. I had heard of people changing diets and others doing acupuncture. A friend of mine told me about an interview in the local news to an acupuncture place. I looked it up and I think she was referring to TCRA (up until now I'm not 100% if they are the ones who were interviewed :-). It was the best search I did in my life. My problem was that I didn't have much time before starting my third in-vitro process. In fact, I only had a little over a month. So TCRA started a rush program for me and for my husband. We both went through acupuncture. When it was time of my IVF, I had a little bit more eggs, but many more that the lab was able to fertilized compared to the previous times. Finally we had 5 good ones and they were 5-day embryos instead of the 3-day I had in my two previous IVFs. We were thrilled. My doctor transfered two embryos back to my body and although I did not get pregnant with twins, we are now expecting a baby girl!. I'm on my 32nd week and my husband and I are happy we went to TCRA because we are sure that helped us with having stronger 5-day embryos. more

Before I tried acupuncture, I thought it was just about needles, and I was scared of needles. However, the needles (which don't hurt at all) are just a part of the overall treatment at TCRA. The staff uses a combination of diet, herbs, acupuncture, plus their overall ability to listen, understand, and suggest other natural recommendations. \r \r I first came in because I was 35 and wanted to get pregnant. I didn't know if I had any fertility issues besides an underactive thyroid, but I wanted to cure my chronic yeast infections (and sometimes bacterial or bladder infections) before trying to get pregnant. I have not had any infections since I changed my diet and started receiving treatments, and that is just the tip of the iceberg. When I was finally ready to try to get pregnant, it happened in only our second month of trying!!! My husband and I believe that TCRA helped to get my body to the place it needed to be to get pregnant so quickly. We feel truly blessed in so many ways! \r \r Acupuncture is something I will continue for the rest of my life, not only for problems, but for overall health and well-being. I feel so amazing when I go to acupuncture, and their recommendations have helped me in so many areas of my life - sleeping, eating, allergies, thyroid, etc. Thank you TCRA!!! Pros: Excellent, friendly, knowledgeable, caring staff more

I should preface my review by saying that I was raised in a western medicine family: my grandfather was a doctor, my grandmother a nurse, my father a doctor, my mother a physical therapist, my aunts are both nurses etc. So, understanding and reaching out to eastern medicine practices, like acupuncture, tested my belief system and that of my family's. But, I was a 30-year-old woman, completely healthy, physically active and diagnosed with ""unexplained infertility"" after 2 1/2 years of trying naturally followed by 4 rounds of Femara treatment at my OB/GYN's office and finalized by an exam from a renowned fertility specialist in Austin. I had no obvious fertility problems according to the Drs. So just before we embarked on the $25,000 attempt at more aggressive fertility treatment, we decided to try the TCRA. My initial visit with Kirsten left my slightly crestfallen in that she said I needed 3 months of ""not trying"" to get my body in optimum shape to conceive. I'd already waited so long, I wanted a baby now. But then she explained the reasons, and it all seemed to make sense, I trusted her. We followed the program for 3 months and conceived - accidentally and totally naturally - in the third month. Now, I'm about to deliver in 3 weeks. I've returned to TCRA for help during my first trimester with issues of digestion, morning sickness and allergies and now I'm back again addressing issues of swelling, indigestion and labor preparation. All the practitioners at TCRA are kind, willing to answer even the stupidest of questions, and very explanatory about all the details of the process and even how acupuncture is meant to help. I swear by TCRA. more

For those of you who are on the fence about trying TCRA and acupuncture in general, I was right there with you. We were having difficulties conceiving due to irregular ovulation, but weren't ready to try more aggressive medical options. I am so glad I found the clinic and my only regret is not having started treatment sooner. I became pregnant naturally after 4 months of beginning treatmet and am now in my second trimester! The staff are supportive and each person brings a different personality and style that makes for a well rounded experience, you can get what you need from everyone. The online booking makes setting appointments a breeze and my appointments were consistently on time. Their philosophy and approach to health and wellness has changed my life and I feel healthier and more balanced because of my experience at TCRA. more

I had seen several acupuncturists before, some good, but none had the focus on fertility and my monthly cycle like Kirsten and David Karchmer. They were so great to provide teaching material and answer any questions I might have each time I came in. They used acupuncture in harmony with the biological rythems of a woman's monthly cycle in order to promote whole body wellness, balance and a normal, healthy monthly cycle! After 3 mos. of seeing them, I am pregnant! Once pregnant, they also provide pregnancy care through the first trimester and third trimester and post-pardum care as well. I am so impressed that I will continue to use them through all these phases to ensure a healthy baby and that my body stays balanced and in harmony with the use of acupuncture and herbs! I am so thankful that I found this clinic and was able to catch some of their healthful and baby making energy! Pros: Focused on fertility, very knowledgable and compassionate! Cons: none! more

Last year I had a miscarriage and shortly after I started looking for ways to prevent it from happening again. I googled the word 'miscarriage' and the TCRA clinic came up. I was worried that I wouldn't follow through with the treatment plan and life style change so after meeting with them I took my time and thought about it for a couple months. I finally gave it a try and did my best to do what they asked of me - charted my morning temperature and altered my diet. After three months of treatment they told me that I could start trying to get pregnant again. The first month I was actually afraid of getting pregnant for fear of another miscarriage. The second month I followed all of their suggestions and was pregnant! I forgot to mention that I'm 39 and have numerous and large fibroid tumors. Anyway, I just began my third trimester and the baby and I are doing great. I had a wonderful experience at TCRA. They're very professional and down to earth at the same time. Kirsten was awesome, fun, loving and extremely knowledgable as were the rest of the staff. If I decide to have another baby I will definitely go back. more

I cannot say enough good things about the wonderful staff at TCRA. I've been fortunate to receive treatment from Mandy, Kirsten and David over the past 2.5 months, and the results have been amazing. I sought treatment for stress management, fatigue and persistent shoulder pain. I enjoy the fact that each acupuncturist uses different techniques to treat my conditions and that all of them are very effective. My shoulder pain is almost non-existent, my stress level is substantially less, and I have much more energy. I have already referred a number of friends to TCRA, and they too have seen results. So, to anyone who is considering treatment but is a bit skeptical like I was at first, please know that acupuncture really does work and the staff at TCRA are the best. Thank you so much TCRA from your devoted client and friend! Pros: Experienced, caring, compassionate, sincere and very effective more