Success Stories

I first started seeing Ryan at Acubalance in January 2010.  Since a teenager, I have always had irregular/infrequent cycles which my doctor attributed to hormonal imbalances and diagnosed as oligomenorrhoea.  At the time, my husband and I were not trying to get pregnant however we knew that we would want to start trying to conceive sometime within the next year.  My main purpose for receiving acupuncture was to attempt to regulate my period so that when the time came, we would have an easier time conceiving.  Throughout my treatment of weekly acupuncture and Chinese herbs, not only did my

After losing our first son at 22 weeks, I was scared to get pregnant again. I didn't know how we would be able to get pregnant again and deal with the anxiety and fear of carrying another child.  After hearing about Acubalance from a friend, I started to see Spence on a weekly basis to get a healthier mind, body and spirit. His approach was amazing. The time he took to get to know me and understand what was going on physically and mentally made me feel very confident and supported.

I think when us guys hear the words "fertility issue", we tend to look for ways to fix what's broken.  My wife and I have been through the grinder and every test conceivable (<-yeah it's a pun) for Western medicine.  There was no easy fix for what was quickly starting to look like an "infertile couple".  Our last option was surrogacy, but we still needed healthy eggs from my wife and good sperm from me to proceed.  We asked around about what we could do to increase our chances of having success with creating healthy embryos.  Acubalance was mentioned a few times so we gave it a whirl.  It really was the best advice anyone gave us. 

After my first attempt at IVF failed due to poor egg quality and quantity I asked my OBGYN what I could do before I started my second round to prepare my body and increase my fertility.  He suggested that I try acupuncture and referred me to Dr. Brown’s clinic Acubalance.

Finding Baby Tiger

Canada Day weekend 2007 found me in bed crying for three days as I miscarried at 10 weeks. My husband lied next to me, holding me the whole time. I felt so crushed, so broken, like my body, and my life, was betraying me. I had to undergo a D&C at the hospital. We had gotten pregnant after about six months of trying. I was 37 at the time, my husband almost 48.  

My story starts on a sad note, but it is a story with a happy new beginning, because out of this sadness I rose up again like a phoenix from the ashes.

It is with great joy that I thank Dr. Lorne Brown and the entire Acubalance team for their extraordinary care. I’m happily and healthfully 24 weeks pregnant with my first child at age 36.

After several years of trying to conceive unsuccessfully, I was diagnosed with stage four endometriosis in March 2007. The doctor said that I only had a 20% chance of getting pregnant naturally but would have a better chance using assisted reproductive technology. This was very devastating news.  Based on our chances, we contemplated trying IVF.

I would like to thank Spence and the rest of the Acubalance team for their stellar knowledge and support in my successful 'pregnancy achievement'.  I am now 37 and 25 weeks happily pregnant with my first child.  My partner and I had been trying to conceive for 5 months, when I visited the doctor, and started acupuncture.  My feeling was that being 36, and never having been pregnant before, I needed a boost to help my fertility.  I was starting to feel anxious, but hopeful that it wouldn't take too much help to get pregnant.

After a year of trying to conceive, I was diagnosed with Premature Ovarian Failure at the age of 26.  Devastated, my husband and I thought our chances to have a child were over.

After having tried to conceive on our own for a year and a half, my husband and I were referred to a doctor at the UBC Fertility Clinic. After many tests, I learned I was not a candidate for IVH because of my low ovarian reserve. ( I had a low antral follicle count, and my FSH was 14. It is desirable for AFC to be at least 5, and FSH to be below 10). On top of the existing issues, I was 40 years old- no spring chicken!