Alchemy of Conception
Acupuncture for Conception, Cycles, & Hormonal Balance
Conception is not a single event, it is a physiological process shaped by rhythm, regulation, and balance within the body. Whether you are actively trying to conceive, preparing for pregnancy, navigating assisted reproductive care, or seeking support for menstrual and hormonal concerns, acupuncture and Chinese medicine offer a grounded, whole-system approach to reproductive health.
Over time, conception does not arise through force or correction, but through the slow restoration of a living terrain. When circulation returns, when fluids move freely, when nourishment reaches what has been waiting, the body remembers how to respond. This work attends to those conditions, the subtle exchanges between blood, rhythm, nervous system, and time, allowing what has been dormant to soften, reorganize, and rejoin the larger intelligence of the whole.
Anca specializes in fertility, hormonal balance, and cycle regulation. She has advanced training in reproductive medicine, including fellowship-level study through the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine, and brings decades of clinical experience supporting patients through a wide range of reproductive paths.
Care integrates acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and individualized nutritional guidance to support the body’s natural regulatory systems. Treatment may help to:
Reduce inflammation that can interfere with implantation
Increase blood flow to the pelvis and uterus
Support healthy ovarian and endometrial function
Regulate reproductive and stress-related hormones
Improve cycle regularity and ovulatory patterns
Support assisted reproductive technologies (IVF, IUI, egg retrieval, embryo transfer)
When appropriate, care is coordinated with your OB/GYN, midwife, or reproductive endocrinologist to ensure thoughtful, integrative support alongside conventional medical treatment.
A different way of understanding fertility
Many people arrive feeling discouraged, behind, or at odds with their bodies. This work moves away from the idea of “infertility” as a personal failure and instead views reproductive challenges as information signals about what the body needs to return to balance.
Patients are met with steadiness, respect, and the understanding that they are whole, even when the path forward feels uncertain.
Support for conception & cycle health
If you are trying to conceive, care may include a detailed review of cycle history, hormonal labs, and constitutional patterns, followed by a personalized treatment plan. Whether conception is pursued naturally or alongside medical reproductive therapies, treatment is designed to support the body and improve conditions for pregnancy.
If pregnancy is not your current goal, acupuncture and herbal medicine can also support:
Cycle regulation
Hormonal balance
Painful or symptomatic menstruation
PMS and mood-related cycle changes
Overall reproductive and endocrine health
Conditions commonly supported
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine may support individuals experiencing:
Irregular or absent menstrual cycles
Anovulation
Polycystic ovarian patterns (PCOS)
Endometriosis
Elevated FSH
Luteal phase concerns
Recurrent pregnancy loss
Immune-related fertility factors
Male factor fertility (excluding structural sterility)
Unexplained fertility challenges
Uterine fibroids
Advanced maternal age
Acupuncture and herbal medicine offer a safe, non-invasive, and cost-effective approach to reproductive health, supporting the body without overriding its natural timing.
Note: Traditional East Asian medicine cannot treat fertility challenges caused by certain structural or congenital anatomical conditions.
Invitation
The stories below are shared in full, as they were written.
Many women have told me they read every word — sometimes more than once — and that these stories gave them something medicine alone could not: hope.
If you are here because you are trying to conceive, navigating loss, or finding your way back to your body, you are not alone.
“I came to Anca in search of someone who could help me get my menstrual cycle back on track so that I could become pregnant. My menstrual cycles were basically nonexistent and despite all my personal efforts to eat healthy, exercise and cleanse - nothing seemed to help. Anca patiently helped me along and I am now 5 months pregnant! Not only does she do needle work, but she also has helped with some emotional clearing. I continue to see her during my pregnancy as her treatments help my body feel relaxed and in tune. She is a beautiful and caring person, you're definitely making the right choice being treated by her!” -G J.,Medford, OR
“This review is long over due. I was searching for a reproductive endocrinologist and somehow the Yelp page took me to Anca Sira. I had by then suffered two miscarriages within a span of 2 years. My husband and I were heart broken. And when the search landed in Anca Sira's page, I took that as a call.After reading the reviews here, and testimonials in her page, I had persuaded my husband to see her and give it a chance. We were not true "believers" of acupuncture then.
The very first meeting with her, I learned that I found somebody who would finally listen!! At the end of the session, I felt a lot of positive energy. She was understanding, compassionate and also gave us some good medical advice. By the time I was due for the next session, I was 6 weeks pregnant . And Anca taught us how to connect to our baby, how to communicate with him (She was sure that it was a boy even before we knew!!) Around 8 weeks, I suffered a threatened miscarriage. The doctors in the emergency room were not sure if my baby was alive. They did not want to risk a trans vaginal scan. When I emailed Anca, she gave me lot of strength. She asked us to connect to the baby. And the following day, we found out that my baby was safe and healthy. We knew that he was here to survive. Every session of Anca, made us get closer to the baby. By the third trimester, we were not able to go for her sessions. But I definitely can say that seeing Anca made a lot of difference. Even today we recall how helpful her sessions were. Thank you Anca, I now have a healthy 4 month old playing as I write this review.” -Sandhya K.,Alpharetta, GA
“I was first referred to Anca in 2009 when I was having difficulty getting pregnant. We developed rapport right away. Anca has an easy going personality with a very straight forward style. I trust what Anca says. When she confidently stated, "you'll have a baby," I believed her. Over the course of the next year with regular acupuncture and Chinese herbs, I still wasn't pregnant, though Anca had suspected that I was on a number of occasions (based on pulses, etc). I had some testing done, and it became clear that I needed surgery to make my body hospitable for pregnancy. I continued with acupuncture and herbs and had the surgery. I was pregnant on the next cycle. I continued with Anca through the first trimester. I now have a three year old boy. (Anca also knew I was having a boy!)
Fast forward to last Fall, I returned to Anca in hopes of having another baby. We picked up where we left off with the relationship. Of course, I am older now with a different fertility profile, and Anca is treating who I am now. She has incorporated more functional medicine and western herbs into her practice, which is serving me well. Based on her recommendation, I started taking a supplement to boost fertility and decrease anxiety. I am markedly less anxious. I don't worry and ruminate on things like I once did. I still have long to-do lists, but I don't constantly run them through my head, worrying and stressed. I'd assume this also increases fertility, and, even if it didn't, it has greatly improved my life. I highly recommend Anca.” - Amy L., Novato, CA
“Anca has helped me so much throughout the years. I had a high FSH while trying to get pregnant with my second child and after some research learned that acupuncture can help. Well, she's 7 years old now so it completely worked out and Anca was so caring and reassuring and made my pregnancy more relaxed. She's also helped me with other various and sundry issues as well and even knows when to tell me to go to the chiropractor or seek other's care.”- Alisa G., Austin, TX
“I have seen Anca since 2005 for various health related problems. I highly recommend Anca for both her knowledge and skill with both Eastern and Western Medicine. After many years of miscarriages it was under Anca's care I finally carried a baby to pregnancy. Many practitioners and medical doctors told me to give up. But Anca really listens to you and puts your needs first. She is realistic but always hopeful. After having a baby I have had other problems and always seek out Anca's assistance and I have been healed of my knee problems, problems with perimenopause, and hip and back aches.” - Gishela G., Novato, CA
“This post is long overdue. You may want to brew some coffee for this, because I have a lot to say! I discovered who Anca Sira was after my intuitive search to locate an acupuncturist who specialized in fertility issues. My husband and I had made plans to try for a family in August of this year, and I had "mysteriously" not had my period in 3 months. I had simultaneously made an appointment to see a reproductive endocrinologist (RE) as well at a popular, reputable fertility clinic. The experiences between the two were like night and day. Seeing the RE was like waiting for the hospital computer screen to display your name at the pharmacy, only to be rushed with instructions that you don't understand, and questions that are left to be unanswered. I felt like a number rather than a person. I went to several appointments, paid loads of money, had limited time with my doctor, and had more questions than I did when I entered. With Anca, she spent 1.5 hours with me on my first visit. She asked questions that were comprehensive, such as understanding my medical and reproductive history, my nutrition and diet, the stressors in my life, etc. - all the things that may have contributed to my physical and emotional imbalance. She recommended certain labs I should get. Most of all, she listened carefully to my concerns and provided hope and compassion to my uncertainties. I left the appointment feeling understood, and also relieved, because I knew I found someone who was going to help me get to where I wanted to be - a mother.
When I received my labs back, I learned I had an FSH of nearly 23 and an AMH of 0.03. In other words, my labs were indicative of a woman who was nearing menopause...I was only 29! Even worse, the RE had given me less than a 3% chance of ever conceiving naturally. The only way I was ever going to have a child was through IVF. I called Anca completely devastated. She listened to my sobs and gave me reassurance that although this wasn't the best news, that it also was not a death sentence. She assured me that she would work with me to get me pregnant. She was confident that within 3 to 6 months, that I would be pregnant.
I worked with Anca for that month of July/August while still seeing the RE, who was becoming increasingly skeptical of some of the advice that Anca had given me. Anca had me on specialized herbs that corresponded to my bodies specific needs. She recommended I get on topical progesterone to induce a period bleed, as she sensed my body really wanted to ovulate, but needed a little "boost" to get things started. I did what I was told. I did; however, get off the progesterone only because my RE did not think it was doing me any favors based upon the images she saw of my uterus via ultrasound, but BOY WAS SHE WRONG! Two days after I get off the progesterone, I bled!. A couple weeks later, while working with Anca, I ovulated and become pregnant...in August!...exactly one month after working with Anca. My RE was extremely surprised! I was actually going to start IVF the end of that week, as my period would have been the start of the IVF cycle. Needless to say, I was all too thrilled to tell them I did not need to begin IVF with them.
I am now nearly 16 weeks pregnant with my first child, and I attribute the success of my pregnancy to Anca. Not only did Anca work her magic through acupuncture, she also provided me with holistic care by listening, sharing, prescribing, and spiritually guiding me towards the path of healing. She also did tremendous work with me spiritually and emotionally that really helped me get through psychological barriers that I believe contributed to my inabilities to ovulate appropriately. This whole experience has forever changed me. Anca has contributed to that transformation, and honestly, there isn't enough words to express how profoundly grateful I am to have met such a gifted person. I will continue to recommend Anca as the person to go to for your fertility and wellness needs!” - Divinity S., San Rafael, CA
“My gynecologist referred me to Anca for management of my endometriosis. I had thought I would need to choose between the debilitating pain of the disease and the awful side effects of the different kinds of birth control pills I had been taking for 6+ years, so I agreed to check Anca out, despite my skepticism. Within three months, I was off the pills and there was no sign of the endometriosis. In short, Anca healed me. Along the way, and in my follow-up sessions with her, she has never failed to treat me with the utmost compassion and sensitivity. And because she cares, she gives me a (gentle) kick in the pants when I need one. I recommend her without reservation.”- K.S., Mill Valley, CA
“I began seeing Anca years ago for fertility issues and experienced her as friendly, knowledgeable and possessing a comfortable office. Two children later, I now see her for general acupuncture needs and massage. She continues to help me maintain a healthy lifestyle and a sense of relaxation.”- Jodi K., San Rafael, CA
“I met Anca shortly after my second miscarriage. I was broken hearted and had lost hope in having a child of my own. Finding no comfort with doctors, who gave me a prescription to try again, I found myself overwhelmed with sadness, alone, and misunderstood. Then I met Anca. For the first time I felt my feelings about my infertility acknowledged with an unspoken understanding of what I was going through. I knew then that I had found someone special, someone that offered me hope in the journey that I was on, no matter how it ended.
I began seeing Anca weekly. My visits with her were something that I looked forward to and noticeably felt better each time I met with her. As time progressed, I felt stronger physically, emotionally and spiritually. She had helped me piece myself back together and to find the courage try to conceive again.
She believed in me, and in turn, I believed in myself. I knew that no matter what happened, Anca was going to be there with me every step of the way.
We conceived in our first month and I was as terrified as I was ecstatic. The first phone call I made to share the news was to Anca who immediately helped put my fears at ease. I continued to see her every week throughout my pregnancy. In the first trimester, she calmed my fears and doubts that I would miscarry again. Every time I saw Anca I felt reassured that everything was going to be just fine. Making it to the second trimester, each time I entered Anca’s office she had so much excitement over my growing belly that even my deepest fears would fade away and I too could feel only excitement. I looked forward to my visit each week because it was the only time where I didn’t feel like I had a medical condition (pregnancy) but that I really was going to have a baby. By the third trimester, my growing belly had resulted in serious back problems. Anca came to the rescue again. I struggled to walk into her office feeling pain with every step and walked out of her office with relief.
When labor came, about 16 hours into it while I was still at home, I called Anca for help. While I was not progressing, I was contracting and was getting worn down from the pain. Anca came to my house and used both acupuncture and massage to ease the pain. I don’t know exactly how long she stayed with me, but I do know that she stayed as long as I asked her to. She was her wonderful self as always, providing encouragement and helping me find my own strength. Many hours later, on October 12th 2009, my daughter arrived safely into this world.
I’ve been asked what made the difference to make this pregnancy successful, and I tell people that I don’t know if it was because Anca healed me emotionally, physically or spiritually, I do know that the difference was most certainly Anca. She was instrumental in my journey to receive the gift of life in a child, and in the process, she saved mine.
I will forever be grateful to have met Anca and often think of her when tears fill my eyes as I gaze upon my daughter and reflect upon how much sadness she has wiped away and how much love she has replaced it with.” -Valerie
“After two ectopic pregnancies in one year, my doctor suggested my husband and I try IVF. I tried to stay positive, but it became increasingly difficult the more time we spent at the fertility clinic.
I became more depressed and felt terribly alone; I started to think that I was just one of those people not meant to have children. The IVF process was sterile and the staff at the clinic was less than empathetic. I thought that, of all places, this would be somewhere that people would be understanding and supportive. Instead, I was rushed through the entire process and was made to feel inadequate. I felt like more of a statistic than a human being.
Never one to put all my trust in anyone, especially medical professionals, I started doing my own research. The statistics of improved success with IVF when combined with acupuncture were everywhere. I read many stories of women who had become pregnant with the help of Eastern medicine. I was surprised no one at the fertility clinic had told me anything about this so I called them for referrals. One name on the list was Anca’s.
I looked at this very same site and read the stories like the one I am writing now. They gave me hope when I needed it the most and I called Anca the next morning on my way to work. I was halfway through the IVF process when I had my first appointment with her.
The first meeting lasted two hours. Anca conducted a review of my health and medical history that was more thorough and accurate than any doctor I have ever met with. She asked questions that let me know not only that she knew what she was doing, but that she cared.
She was professional and nurturing; she put me at ease immediately.
In the end, the IVF failed and the process left me feeling broken. After only one attempt, the doctor actually suggested I look into egg donors or adoption. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Anca, on the other hand, was optimistic. She asked that I wait three cycles before I try anything else because she believed that with her combination of acupuncture and personalized herbal therapies, she could help me achieve a viable pregnancy naturally despite my history.
I went to Anca once a week, took the herbs she prescribed and started recording my basal temperature. It was amazing how she could look at my temperature chart or feel my pulses and diagnose so many problems. Each week, I felt more encouraged and more in control of my fertility. I looked forward to my appointments; I left each one feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and positive. Over the course of treatment, Anca became a confidant, ally and friend.
Ultimately, it took only two cycles. I found out I was pregnant and immediately called Anca. I continued to see her throughout my pregnancy and she told me early on that I was having a girl. She was correct—my daughter was born in February 2006.
My husband and I swear by acupuncture. We have turned numerous friends onto it, all of whom have gone on to become pregnant. We are so grateful to Anca for all of her help and support. She gave us the most precious gift in the world: our beautiful daughter.” -Penny