Fertility, Pregnancy & Women's Health Acupuncture in Oakland
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Prajna Choudhury, L.Ac. | Energy Matters Oakland | Specialist Certifications in Fertility & Obstetrics
For women navigating the full arc of reproductive health β from regulating a difficult cycle to supporting a fertility journey at 40, from easing pregnancy discomfort to finding footing in perimenopause β acupuncture and Chinese medicine offer something that most conventional options don't: a treatment approach that meets you exactly where you are, addresses root causes rather than suppressing symptoms, and supports your whole system rather than isolating a single variable.
Prajna Choudhury, L.Ac. has spent nearly 20 years working in depth with women's health at Energy Matters in Oakland. She holds specialist certifications in both fertility and obstetrics, and her approach integrates acupuncture,Β Chinese herbal medicine, dietary guidance, and the kind of patient education that gives women real agency over their own reproductive health. She serves patients across Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda, Piedmont, Emeryville, San Leandro, the East Bay, and beyond.
Women's Health at Every Stage
Menstrual Health & Hormonal Balance
PMS, painful periods, irregular cycles, heavy bleeding, and hormonal imbalances are among the most common presentations Prajna works with β and among the most responsive to Chinese medicine treatment. Rather than suppressing symptoms with hormonal contraceptives or managing pain with anti-inflammatories, acupuncture and herbal medicine address the underlying constitutional patterns that give rise to these experiences in the first place.
Chinese medicine offers a sophisticated diagnostic framework for menstrual health β one that distinguishes between different types of pain, different patterns of bleeding, different hormonal presentations β and tailors treatment accordingly. Each patient receives an individualized protocol based on their specific pattern, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Prajna works with: PMS and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), painful periods (dysmenorrhea), irregular or absent periods, heavy or prolonged bleeding, hormonal imbalances, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and luteal phase defects.
Fertility Support
Fertility acupuncture is one of the most researched and clinically established applications of Chinese medicine. Prajna brings specialist certification in fertility alongside nearly two decades of clinical experience supporting patients through a wide range of conception journeys β from those trying to conceive naturally to those navigating IVF, IUI, egg freezing, and other assisted reproductive technologies.
Her approach to fertility is comprehensive and whole-system. She tracks and educates patients on basal body temperature (BBT) charting, menstrual cycle phases, and the signs that indicate optimal reproductive health. She works withΒ Chinese herbal medicineΒ to regulate cycles, improve egg quality, support uterine lining, and address the systemic patterns β digestive, nervous, endocrine β that are inseparable from fertility outcomes. Patients dealing with anxiety or stress alongside their fertility journey will find that Prajna's work inΒ mental health and nervous system regulationΒ is woven into every fertility treatment.
As her patient Nina Rizzo described after getting pregnant at 40 following an unsuccessful IVF cycle: "Her acupuncture sessions were holistic, not just about fertility, so if I was having digestive issues or anxiety, she'd address that too. She taught me an incredible amount about menstrual cycle phases, basal body temperature, hormone strips, and fertility diet. My BBT was all over the board when I started working with her, and after a few months under her care it was normalized."
Prajna works with: natural conception support, IVF and IUI preparation and accompaniment, unexplained infertility, diminished ovarian reserve, PCOS-related infertility, endometriosis-related infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, male factor infertility support, and fertility preservation.
Pregnancy Care
Acupuncture is one of the safest and most effective tools available for managing the range of physical and emotional experiences that accompany pregnancy. From the nausea and fatigue of the first trimester through the structural strain and sleep challenges of the third, regular acupuncture treatment supports the pregnant body in maintaining balance and resilience throughout.
Prajna holds specialist certification in obstetrics and has supported hundreds of patients through pregnancy. She provides treatment that is carefully calibrated for each trimester, avoiding points contraindicated in pregnancy while using the full sophistication of Chinese medicine to address what her patients are actually experiencing.
Prajna works with pregnancy-related: nausea and vomiting (morning sickness), fatigue, pelvic girdle pain and sciatica, back pain, heartburn and digestive discomfort, anxiety and sleep disturbances, breech presentation, and labor preparation.
Postpartum Recovery
The postpartum period is one of the most under-supported transitions in a woman's life. Chinese medicine has a deep and well-developed tradition of postpartum care β recognizing that birth depletes the body significantly and that the weeks and months after delivery require dedicated nourishment and restoration rather than an expectation of rapid return to baseline.
Prajna supports postpartum patients with: physical recovery from birth, postpartum depletion and fatigue, postpartum depression and anxiety, breastfeeding support, hormonal stabilization, and rebuilding overall vitality and resilience. She also providesΒ primary care and family medicineΒ support for the full household as families grow.
Perimenopause & Menopause
The hormonal transition into and through menopause is one of the areas where Chinese medicine offers some of its most clinically significant benefits β and where the alternatives are often either pharmaceutical interventions with significant side effects or insufficient conventional support. Prajna provides natural, non-hormonal approaches to managing the symptoms and supporting the transition.
She works with: hot flashes and night sweats, sleep disturbances, mood changes and anxiety, brain fog and cognitive changes, vaginal dryness, irregular periods in perimenopause, low libido, and bone and cardiovascular health support through the transition.
Chinese Herbal Medicine for Women's Health
As a National Diplomate of Oriental Medicine β a credential that encompasses advanced competency in Chinese herbology βΒ PrajnaΒ brings a depth of herbal expertise that significantly extends what acupuncture alone can achieve. Chinese herbal medicine is a particularly powerful tool in women's health because hormonal regulation, cycle support, and constitutional strengthening often require daily therapeutic intervention that extends beyond the acupuncture session.
Herbal formulas are prescribed individually based on each patient's specific pattern and presentation. They extend the effects of treatment between sessions, address constitutional patterns that require sustained therapeutic input, and provide targeted support for fertility, hormonal balance, and reproductive health outcomes. Prajna's herbal training allows her to offer natural alternatives to hormonal contraceptives, fertility medications, and other pharmaceuticals for patients who prefer to minimize pharmaceutical interventions.
What Patients Say
"Prajna helped me get pregnant!!! (at 40!) I was willing to try fertility acupuncture and Chinese medicine after an unexpectedly unsuccessful round of IVF. I should have started with her instead of with IVF. Her acupuncture sessions were holistic, not just about fertility, so if I was having digestive issues or anxiety, she'd address that too. She taught me an incredible amount about menstrual cycle phases, basal body temperature, hormone strips, and fertility diet. My BBT was all over the board when I started working with her, and after a few months under her care it was normalized and she deemed my body ready to try. I got pregnant right away and my baby is on the way! I owe my growing family to Prajna." β Nina R., Oakland
Frequently Asked Questions
How does acupuncture support fertility?
Acupuncture supports fertility through several mechanisms β improving blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, regulating the hormonal axis that governs the menstrual cycle, reducing stress and cortisol levels that can disrupt ovulation, and addressing the constitutional imbalances that underlie many fertility challenges. Chinese herbal medicine extends these effects between sessions and can address conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, and thin uterine lining more directly than acupuncture alone.
How long does fertility treatment typically take?
Most fertility patients benefit from a minimum of three menstrual cycles of treatment before attempting conception or proceeding with IVF β this allows enough time to regulate the cycle, improve egg quality, and address underlying constitutional patterns. Some patients see significant changes more quickly, particularly those with simpler presentations. Prajna will give you a realistic picture of what to expect based on your specific situation at your initial consultation.
Can acupuncture help alongside IVF?
Yes β acupuncture is widely used as a complement to IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies. Research and clinical experience suggest it can support outcomes by improving uterine blood flow, reducing the stress response associated with the IVF process, and supporting recovery between stimulation cycles. Prajna coordinates treatment timing around retrieval and transfer procedures.
Is acupuncture safe during pregnancy?
Acupuncture performed by a trained and licensed practitioner with obstetrics training is very safe during pregnancy. Prajna holds specialist certification in obstetrics and has extensive experience working with pregnant patients throughout all three trimesters. Treatment protocols are carefully adapted for each stage of pregnancy.
Does Prajna work with LGBTQ+ patients and non-traditional family structures?
Yes. Energy Matters is an explicitly LGBTQ+ and BIPOC affirming practice. Prajna works with single parents by choice, same-sex couples, transgender and non-binary patients, and all family constellations. Reproductive health care is for everyone.
Insurance & Fees
Prajna is in-network with Cigna and the VA. All other insurance: superbills provided for reimbursement.
Initial Acupuncture Consultation: $195 (includes treatment)
Follow-up Acupuncture: $135
About Prajna Choudhury, L.Ac.
Prajna Choudhury is a Licensed Acupuncturist and National Diplomate of Oriental Medicine with specialist certifications in fertility, obstetrics, dermatology, and facial rejuvenation. She is also an Ordained Dharma Teacher in the lineage of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. She was formerly a professor and clinical supervisor at the Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College in Berkeley and the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences in Oakland. She sees patients Monday through Thursday at Energy Matters in Oakland.
Learn more about Prajna Choudhury, L.Ac.
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