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Many of our patients conceive naturally after years of trying and/or being given a diagnosis of various degrees including advanced maternal age, PCOS, POF, fibroids, luteal phase defect, poor egg quality, poor or low sperm quality or quantity, or undiagnosed infertility.

We are honored to work with patients to help them conceive naturally or support them while undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) including IUI and/or IVFs. We have relationships with many local Reproductive Endocrinologists and coordinate care with them for the benefit of our patients. Recent studies show Traditional Chinese Medicine dramatically improved success rates for patients undergoing ART.

TCM enhances fertility by:

  • Regulating the menstrual cycle
  • Increasing blood flow to the ovaries and uterus
  • Balancing hormones/regulating hypothalamic-pituitary ovarian axis
  • Reducing stress/improving sleep/lowering anxiety
  • Increasing healthy sperm production and motility
  • Stimulating ovulation

Radio Interview with Catherine Aquino

Learn about Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture for Women with Catherine Aquino.

Catherine’s passion for fertility began quite a few years back but her own fertility challenges and pregnancy losses propelled her desire and compassion to help others to an entirely new level.  Catherine believes her journey was an opportunity for unique healing and has ultimately made her a better mother and practitioner and forever changed her life.

In 2008, The American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (ABORM), offered its first annual board exam, thereby setting the standard for qualified specialists in the field.  Catherine Aquino passed the inaugural exam to become one of the first Fellows of ABORM.

At Aquino Acupuncture & Associates we take pride in continuing education.  To maintain our credentials with the California Board of Acupuncture and National Board of Acupuncture a large number of continuing education hours are required. We go beyond these requirements by enjoying courses in the field of fertility and reproductive medicine.

Traditional Chinese Medicine has been used to treat infertility and gynecological issues in China for thousands of years.  The couple trying to conceive today has a much different presentation than the couple of the past.  Couples are waiting until much later to have children.  Assisted Reproductive Technology has developed and is ever changing.  This is why it is extremely important that you chose a Chinese Medicine practitioner that has advanced training.

Dr. Randine Lewis, author of The Fertility Cure and The Way of the Fertile Soul and founder of The Fertile Soul, invited 30 of the world’s Chinese Medicine fertility specialists to join her to form a circle of experts. Catherine Aquino was honored to have been invited by Dr. Lewis to become a charter member of this group. These members constitute the CEFP and each of us are dedicated to giving our patients the best possible care by sharing and obtaining knowledge in the areas of Eastern and Western science as well as spiritual growth and practice, and nutritional and lifestyle choices. Most importantly we strive to support a person’s whole being in the best possible ways.

Bi-weekly these specialists come together online and via telephone to share complex cases. This elite group that comprises the CEFP includes some of the very best TCM fertility specialists in the world and we are fortunate enough to be a Fertile Soul clinic. We also meet for retreat once a year to share in-depth and exchange information. Please know when you come to our clinic you engage the minds, experiences and resources of these specialists so you have the expertise of these practitioners supporting you. To learn more about Randine Lewis and Fertile Soul Retreats go to www.fertilesoul.com

Jenna’s passion for caring for women is deeply rooted in her reverence of the power of the feminine. She practices with an understanding that a women’s reproductive system is an innately wise and creative force that is in sync with the various seasons of one’s life. In her practice, she has observed the challenges women face as they navigate these seasons and how holistic care plays a major role in proper hormonal balance, the menstrual cycle and womb health.

After her own experience with a painful pregnancy loss, Jenna has felt guided to assist women in the process of conscious conception, grief recovery and prenatal care. Her approach is always centered around preparation of the body, mind and spirit as one. She is also skilled in helping women regain grace and balance during the shifts of post-partum and menopause, providing support every step of the way.

Jenna currently works closely with Catherine Aquino to provide fertility care to patients.

Women’s health and fertility has always been an integral part of Katy’s practice. For 15 years she has primarily worked with women who are experiencing unexplained infertility, or are preparing to get pregnant and have co-occurring issues like an auto-immune disease. Katy will be taking the ABORM in 2024 and is so excited to work with Catherine and soak up all her knowledge and experience.

My husband and I started trying to have a baby when I was 38 years old. Before that, we were concentrating on our careers. Truthfully for much of my 30’s my career was my focus and having a baby was secondary. That is until my internal clock woke up! Because I had already been an acupuncturist specializing in fertility for about 5 years, I knew a lot about my body’s rhythm and signs and thought I knew what we needed to do to conceive our baby. So we tried…and tried, and after about 8 months of trying to conceive naturally it just didn’t happen. It turned out my husband had a varicocele and we needed assistance from Western medicine. In the years of working with an RE and urologist we experienced an ectopic pregnancy and a miscarriage. These losses truly gutted us. The financial toll of traditional fertility treatment is tremendous and our marriage was feeling the strain. But we really wanted to be parents so per our doctor’s recommendation, we decided to do another IVF. Before doing another cycle, I decided to take some time off to clean up the havoc wreaked by traditional treatment & medications. At this time I was overweight, depressed and exhausted. I wanted to feel like myself again. I took time off to cleanse from the treatments and I turned to what I know best: Chinese Medicine. I made it my mission to heal myself and my wonderful associates gave me acupuncture treatments and prescribed herbs and I got back to all that Chinese Medicine has to offer. I started to feel like myself again.  I decided I felt good enough to try an un-medicated IUI with a frozen sperm sample.  At this point this was a hail-mary pass and I’m pretty sure my Reproductive Endocrinologist didn’t have much faith in this idea, but this time we got really lucky, really lucky.  Yes we got pregnant and most importantly I had an uneventful pregnancy and gave birth to a healthy baby girl on December 8, 2008 – 1 month away from my 42nd Birthday.

I believe my journey was an opportunity for unique healing and it has ultimately made me a better mother and practitioner. I feel so much compassion for individuals and couples going through fertility challenges and remember the pain and suffering we experienced during this time. It has forever changed my life.

Catherine Aquino