Mike Berkley, LAc, FABORM
Mike is a licensed and board certified acupuncturist as well as a board certified herbalist. He is a fertility specialist at The Berkley Center for Reproductive Wellness in the Midtown East neighborhood of Manhattan, New York.
My wife and I wanted to start a family. We tried, and we failed repeatedly. I was not an acupuncturist then and had no understanding or belief in it. That did not hold much weight with my wife. We both underwent testing and found out that I had poor morphology and poor motility, and she had anti-sperm antibodies. Nancy saw an acupuncturist and herbalist, who also convinced me to go for treatment. Three months later, Nancy was pregnant. We now have a twenty-nine-year-old, healthy, happy, and successful son. This is when I became a believer. I decided to go to acupuncture school. I went for four years for acupuncture studies and then two more years to study herbal medicine. I knew from the first day at school that I wanted to specialize in treating others who were suffering from the terrible and challenging battle of infertility. I have spent the last twenty-seven years making my dream come true by helping my patient’s dreams come true. I am so grateful for the path I chose. A life dedicated to helping others has shown me a satisfaction I would have never known. I am thankful to my wife, and I am grateful to my patients.
This experience led Mike to obtain his degree in acupuncture from the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine’s New York campus and his National Board Certification in herbal medicine. Equipped with the necessary license and fueled by an insatiable thirst for knowledge, Mike studied Western medical approaches and the ancient wisdom of Chinese medicine about infertility treatment. Through rigorous study and invaluable clinical experience, he developed unique acupuncture protocols and proprietary herbal formulas, tailoring them to each individual or couple seeking his assistance.
My Journey to Motherhood
I’m Margo, a 39-year-old woman living in the heart of New York City. For the past few years, my husband, Tom, and I have been on a rollercoaster of hope, heartbreak, and ultimately, miracles. At 43, Tom is my rock, but our dream of starting a family hasn’t been easy. I want to share our story—not just for us, but for anyone out there facing the same struggles, because I know how lonely and overwhelming this journey can feel.
It all started about two and a half years ago when we decided to try for a baby naturally. I was 36 then, full of optimism. But month after month, nothing happened. After a year of trying, we went to a fertility specialist. The results were tough to hear: my follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level was 21, and my anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) was a disheartening 0.12—both signs that my egg reserve was low. Tom’s tests weren’t much better. He had a low sperm count, poor motility, and sperm DNA fragmentation. The doctor was kind but blunt: our chances of conceiving naturally were slim.
Still, we pressed on. We went through three egg retrievals for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Those were grueling—countless injections, endless appointments, and the emotional toll of waiting. From those retrievals, we got four fertilized eggs, and two made it to the blastocyst stage. When we heard we had two blastocysts, Tom and I were over the moon.
We celebrated with takeout from our favorite diner, dreaming of the family we were so close to having. But then came the devastating news: preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A) showed that both blastocysts were chromosomally abnormal. Our hearts sank. It felt like the universe was playing a cruel joke.
We were at a crossroads. After much soul-searching, Tom and I decided to explore the donor egg route. It wasn’t an easy decision—there’s a strange mix of grief and hope in letting go of the idea of a biological child. But before we could dive into that process, a friend mentioned Mike Berkley. I’d never heard of him, but she raved about his work as a fertility acupuncturist with a stellar reputation among patients and doctors alike. His clinic, The Berkley Center for Reproductive Wellness, has been helping couples since 1998. Something in her story sparked a glimmer of hope in me. Maybe, just maybe, this could be our last shot.
We decided to give it a try. I started treatment with Mike, who was warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in our journey. For five months, he treated me with acupuncture and customized herbal blends, tailoring everything to my body’s needs. He even collaborated with my reproductive endocrinologist, blending Western medicine with his expertise in traditional Chinese medicine. It was unlike anything I’d experienced before—holistic, compassionate, and precise.
When it came time for my fourth retrieval, I was cautiously hopeful. The result? Six eggs retrieved. Three became blastocysts, and—miraculously—all three were chromosomally normal. I’ll never forget the moment we got that call. Tom and I just sat there, tears streaming down our faces, unable to believe it. After all the heartache, we had three healthy blastocysts.
We transferred one, and I prayed harder than I’ve ever prayed in my life. At 37 weeks pregnant now, I can feel our baby kicking, a reminder of the miracle growing inside me. We still have two healthy blastocysts frozen, waiting for the future, giving us the possibility of growing our family even more.
I can’t overstate what Mike Berkley and his team at The Berkley Center did for us. They were a lifeline when I thought all hope was lost. Mike’s knowledge of both Western reproductive medicine and acupuncture is extraordinary, and his kindness made every step feel less daunting. Without him, I truly don’t know where we’d be. Tom and I are forever in his debt.
To anyone out there struggling with infertility, I urge you to reach out to Mike. His clinic is in New York City, but he also offers phone consultations nationwide, guiding local acupuncturists to support your treatment. He’s approachable, supportive, and easy to talk to. You can reach him at 212-685-0985. The Berkley Center is a hidden gem for couples like us, and I believe God led us to them.
This journey hasn’t been easy, but it’s brought me here, counting down the days until I meet our baby. To all of you on this path, I wish you strength, hope, and your own miracle. Don’t give up. Sometimes, the right help comes from the most unexpected places.
Find out more: www.berkleycenter.com