Choosing a Practitioner for Fertility Acupuncture

Choosing a qualified fertility acupuncturist can feel like you are drowning in a sea of alphabet soup, especially if you have never experienced acupuncture before. Part of this equation has to do with the evolution of degree programs offered in the US as well as specialty board certification through ABORM (The Acupuncture and TCM Board of Reproductive Medicine). In addition to those, both state and national licensure should be represented to know you are in good hands.

Art of Acupuncture Credentials

All of our providers are nationally certified by the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) with at least a master’s level certification of a DOM (Diplomat of Oriental Medicine), if not a doctorate level DACM (Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine). In the state of Florida, currently licensure is represented as an A.P. (Acupuncture Physician) for those that took herbal and biomedicine boards in addition to acupuncture theory and location boards that receive a designation of L.Ac (Licensed Acupuncturist). The initials FABORM (Fellow of the Acupuncture and TCM Board of Reproductive Medicine) after a person’s credentials indicate that they have been in practice at least two years, have applied for and passed the test to be board certified in reproduction and obstetrics, and continue with extra continuing education credits each year in order to be recertified. You should be able to look up a provider's credentials through all of the hyperlinks.

Fertility Acupuncturist Should Have Additional Education

While basic gynecology is taught in all acupuncture schools in the US, infertility and obstetric care is generally considered to be advanced theory and requires extra schooling, either through a doctoral program that specializes in that niche or through self study and the board certification through ABORM. When you consider how quickly IVF has changed in the past decade it becomes incredibly important for a practitioner to be up to date on changing medications, protocols and testing to be a true asset. Choosing a provider that can effectively communicate with your Reproductive Endocrinologist or Obstetrician is also extremely helpful.

Interview Your Acupuncturist

We recommend treating your first appointment with any provider as an interview that goes both ways. Don’t be afraid to ask about success records, past experience and certifications and their general approach to treating infertility.

Ensure They Have Holistic Knowledge

It is also important to note that not all acupuncturists in the US are clinical herbalists. This training is of extreme importance when taking herbs or supplements to aid your fertility. Incorrect prescription can do more harm that good and careful consideration should always be discussed with the patient and all providers when the patient is on any fertility drugs, including birth control phases of IVF cycles.

Make Sure You Actually Like Them ☺

The last ingredient for success is choosing a provider you feel comfortable with. An infertility journey can leave some people feeling raw and vulnerable. Having someone on your team that you can trust, access your questions easily, and feel comfortable enough to share all that you are going through is a must in our opinion!

You are always welcome to give us a call with your credentialing questions prior to scheduling.