Success Stories

I came to Dr. Rubio as a "reject" from a reproductive endocrinologist (RE). The RE I saw, at a prestigious University clinic in Los Angeles, took one look at my lab values (elevated FSH, slightly elevated prolactin), my husband Bill's sperm specifics and pronounced his verdict: less than a 1% percent chance I would ever get pregnant. After one visit, after one set of lab results, without really listening to us or gathering more information, he decided that I was basically a hopeless case. He said that he had never known a woman with such a high FSH (17) to ever get pregnant. At 34, he said that I was in premature ovarian failure. The good doctor said that Clomid would be a waste of time, and that even with $3,000-$4,000/month of injectibles my chances would not improve - but he would take my case anyway. Very magnanimous of him. Bill and I were disgusted and turned off by this encounter. I am so glad that I had already done some research about alternative therapies, and as a nurse practitioner I had the medical background to know that the field of Reproductive Endocrinology is an evolving one. They did not know it all.

I decided to embark on a course of alternative therapy. I used daily visualization and affirmations seeing myself as a mother. The next step was to find a doctor of Chinese Medicine. The first acupuncturist I saw did not inspire any confidence for me at all. Her assessments were rather vague, and she did not seem to have a grasp on my western medical history. I had heard of Emperor's College through my employment at the UCLA student health center which has acupuncture interns doing rotations there. I found out that one of the professors at Emperor's College specialized in reproductive medicine and I was lucky enough to get an appointment with Dr. Rubio that week. It was the start of a great therapeutic relationship.

Dr. Rubio was thorough, knowledgeable, and understood my lab values and western medical history. Although he treated me with Traditional Chinese Medicine, he was well aware of the import of my husband's and my lab results as they related to our desire to conceive. One of the best things about our interactions with Dr. Rubio is that he was just as engaged and interested in getting results as we were! We never got the feeling that he was just going through the motions - he was an active participant in helping us to achieve our goal. He was sensitive and responsive to the changes that my body went through from treatment-to-treatment and adjusted the therapy accordingly. He assessed my husband Bill and his treatment was managed with Chinese herbal medicine alone. I needed acupuncture and herbal medicine to get my body back in balance.

After approximately 5 months of treatment, I missed my period and did a home pregnancy test: Positive. Three weeks later I went to see my obstetrician and, after the ultrasound, he asked me if I had taken any fertility drugs. I looked at the screen and cried as I saw two heartbeats! TWINS!!

I truly believe that if I had gone ahead with the assisted reproductive medicine, I might never have conceived. My body was already too out of balance, and the RE's negativity would have defeated my already-fragile hopes. I know that I chose the right path to pregnancy for me - not just because of the joyous outcome - but also because the process felt organic and natural. In Dr. Rubio we found a skillful clinician, but also a caring and encouraging friend who was as invested in our dream of having a family as we were.

I am now in my 35th week of pregnancy with two large and healthy twin girls and we could not be happier. Ruby and Cristel join in our thanks to Dr. Rubio for helping to make this miracle happen.

Having a baby is a truly joyful and miraculous event. And for those of us over the age of 40, we need every bit of help that science and nature can offer. I was 38 when my husband and I got married. We immediately started trying to have a family. My gynecologist had warned me about decreasing fertility levels in females over the age of 35, but nobody can predict when cupid's arrow will strike and the instinct for motherhood will kick in.

After six months of trying to conceive the natural way, we went to see my OBGYN, who also happened to specialize in infertility. My husband and I both went in and had several tests done to evaluate our fertility status. As it turned out, my husband - a smoker of 30 years - had a low sperm count, and I had one blocked fallopian tube. Per our doctors recommendation we began the process of assisted reproductive medicine with fertility medications and artificial insemination. After several tries without success, we proceeded to stronger medications and an in-vitro insemination - again without success. This routine did not work for us, and it was quite emotionally and financially draining. After 2 1/2 years we decided to try something else, or just adopt.

Quite coincidentally, at a holiday party, I ran into an old girlfriend who appeared to be about six months pregnant. I knew that they had been trying for a second child for at least a decade! She told me that Chinese Medicine had been the key for her. A week later I ran into an old friend who asked me what my fondest wish for the New Year was. Without hesitation I replied that I wanted a baby, and I grimly related the difficult process we had been through for the past two years. Both of these friends mentioned the same name - Dr. Rubio. I made an appointment the next day and began the process of Traditional Chinese Medicine in my hopes of conceiving.

Dr. Rubio told me at my first visit that despite my age and fertility history, I should not lose hope. He said that it was definitely possible to get pregnant, but that it would take some time. I was an active professional in the entertainment industry and had international duties to oversee as well. Dr. Rubio suggested that I might need to prioritize my life a little different if pregnancy was my number one goal. He recommended that I decrease my work hours and eliminate my travel requirements as much as possible to lower my stress levels. He told me that stress can affect reproductive hormones adversely and that it was these hormones that we would be trying to bring back into balance in order to assist my fertility.

At first it was very difficult to cut back on my work duties. However, the thought that I was actively assisting my efforts to get pregnant empowered me to make the necessary choices. It was also difficult to get used to the taste of the Chinese herbal teas he prescribed as part of my fertility treatments. He even had my husband taking herbal pills to bump up his sperm counts. Despite the long drive from work to Dr. Rubio's office, the treatments themselves became a respite and refuge for me.a time to recuperate, be still, relax and visualize myself being pregnant.

After 14 months of treatment, miscarrying twice along the way, our dream came true: we were pregnant. And we did it the old fashioned way.

When I think of those first few weeks of my pregnancy - how Dr. Rubio strongly suggested that I rest and cancel my international travel plans - I can only smile and be thankful that I listened. My son Cameron is now almost two years old, and even though I am now 44 years old, I am again making the weekly pilgrimage to Dr. Rubio's office in hopes that miracles come in twos.

My husband and I had been trying to get pregnant for four years without success, suffering two miscarriages along the way. As a forty year-old career woman, I knew that the clock was not only ticking, but almost expired. I spoke to friends who had tried assisted reproductive techniques, but the medicines just sounded so toxic to me, so I opted to try a more natural approach first. After doing some research in the field of natural approaches to getting pregnant, one name kept coming up again and again - Dr. Rubio.

Despite my age, Dr. Rubio felt that I was in good health and all that was needed was for my body to get back in balance. He said that once my body was gently brought back in to balance with some lifestyle changes, dietary modifications, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, my body would do what it was made to do: conceive.

After a few months of weekly acupuncture visits and Chinese herbal medicine, my husband and I achieved goal: pregnancy. The fulfillment of this dream is only the beginning of the story however. Although I was thrilled to be pregnant, I knew that there were serious possible risks associated with pregnancy in a woman my age. Also, because I had already suffered two pregnancy losses, I did not want to risk an amnio. Obviously though, I wanted to be realistic about the statistical situation in women over the age of 35. Dr. Rubio told us not to worry, that Chinese medicine had a long history of creating healthy babies and smooth pregnancies. When I went for my first ultrasound and triple screen test, I was more than a little anxious. I needn't have been. My ultrasound was perfect, and my triple screen showed that my risk level was that of a 27 year-old! I am now about two weeks away from delivery and it has been a dream pregnancy. I am so thankful for Chinese Medicine and Dr. Rubio.

I considered myself a healthy 39 year-old. I never thought that I would have any problems with infertility. Unfortunately, after a year and a half of trying to get pregnant without success, I turned to my gynecologist and Dr. Rubio for help.

Dr. Rubio supported my desire to utilize assisted reproductive techniques but he also suggested that I would have a higher likelihood of success if I used acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to get my body in balance first. I had had a history of irregular menstrual cycles with painful periods and poor circulation for years. After three months of treatment with Dr. Rubio, these symptoms resolved.

I was fortunate enough to conceive on my second attempt at artificial insemination. Sadly, I miscarried at 10 weeks and my husband and I were devastated. My stress levels, insomnia and depression hit an all-time high. I couldn't stop crying. I couldn't have made it through this dark and painful time without Dr. Rubio's kind words and support, and the rebalancing that the Chinese medicine helped me achieve. The treatments helped me to relax and quickly rebuild by body to conceive again.

Two months after my miscarriage, I attempted in-vitro fertilization and conceived on the first attempt. However, the pregnancy was very difficult. Besides the usual problems of nausea, fatigue, heartburn, indigestion, insomnia and the like - I was also experiencing shortness of breath, leg cramps and abdominal cramps that had me concerned. Dr. Rubio's treatments helped to alleviate each of these symptoms as they arose. At fifteen weeks, I was diagnosed with placenta previa and prescribed bed-rest for one month. During this time I was having uterine cramps and bleeding and the Chinese medicine treatments were able to alleviate this in just three sessions. With three months left in my pregnancy, I was again experiencing contractions and threatened placental separation. I was prescribed bed-rest for the remainder of the pregnancy, and I continued my treatments with Dr. Rubio to strengthen my body and support the pregnancy.

After two years of trying to conceive, and eight months of a roller-coaster pregnancy, I am now the proud mother of a beautiful baby girl. I am so grateful for Chinese medicine and Dr. Rubio for helping me to go through a very frightening and difficult experience, but one that turned into my little miracle. Although I probably could not have gotten pregnant without the help of modern science, I am sure that I could not have stayed pregnant without the help of Chinese Medicine.

My husband and I had been trying for a year to get pregnant, suffering one miscarriage at the 10th week. Because I was 40 years old, there was some concern as to how long it might take to conceive, if we could conceive at all.

I was referred to Dr. Rubio from a friend who said that he had helped her get pregnant. After the initial consultation, he started me on a regular regimen of acupuncture treatments and Chinese herbal medicine to bring me back into balance, and to strengthen my reproductive health.

Within the first month I noticed a difference. The acupuncture treatments helped me to relax as we continued our efforts to conceive, and I began to notice feeling more "ripe" or fertile in my uterus. My periods became more full and rich - they reminded me of my periods in my twenties. We continued treatments from February through August, and then my period did not come. I was with child!

This time around my pregnancy was without complication, and I am convinced that Dr. Rubio was the #2 man that helped me bear my son Ryan.

Incidentally, because I conceived naturally, my delivery was natural as well - 10 hours - no drugs.