Anne Chiaramonte is a focused and experienced acupuncturist who has been practicing for over 12 years. We receive plenty of calls from women who have PCOS and are currently trying to get pregnant; the feedback we receive from these women who are being treated by Anne is great appreciation for her wholehearted concentration on solving hidden fertility and health problems. Since this is a common reason why our patients see us, we decided to post an interview about Anne and how she became so passionate about PCOS.
What led you to San Francisco?
“I went to college and graduate school in LA. I started my practice there but wanted to be closer to my family who resides in the bay area. I joined an acupuncture clinic in Marin in 2006 where I practiced for almost 10 years. Eventually, I moved to San Francisco, and now I have 2 small boys so practicing in the city has been wonderful. My favorite part about working at Mama Lounge is that I can continue to treat women and practice alongside other like-minded mamas.”
Where did you go to school for undergrad and acupuncture?
“I studied anthropology and pre-med at UCLA and stayed in LA for graduate school in Traditional Oriental Medicine.”
What led to your interest in acupuncture?
“Entering college, I was very interested in health and medicine—but somehow medical school didn’t feel right. I spent a couple of summers going through massage certificate programs, and these introduced me to holistic medicine where I started a path towards becoming a Naturopathic doctor. However, during my college years, I had an odd neurological issue that came up that doctors struggled to come up with a diagnosis and treatment plan. I eventually sought acupuncture and not only did it help my issue immensely, but I really connected with the whole process. I appreciated the lengthy initial interview and inquiry that finally led to my diagnosis.”
What path led you to women’s health and fertility?
“Almost as soon as I started graduate school for acupuncture, my girlfriends confided in me about their health issues. A few of my friends had PCOS and felt like they weren’t getting anywhere with conventional medicine which I kept in mind throughout my schooling. A couple of years in, I was able to focus on women’s health and studied with a few renowned faculty who specialized in this area. I came to find out that hormones are quick to respond to acupuncture; add in lifestyle, diet and herbs—I saw that even stubborn cases like PCOS can be resolved. At about the same time in 2002, the first study on the benefits of acupuncture during IVF cycles was published; it was an extremely exciting time to practice acupuncture, and it also started a dialogue between acupuncturists and fertility specialists.
What do you think you have a knack for professionally? Who are your favorite patients to treat?
“I really enjoy looking at the big picture of a patient’s health history and goals, then coming up with a plan. My favorite patients are the ones I see over time. Ultimately it’s the connection, the relationship, I have with my patients that is so meaningful to me. Seeing patients over a period of time also gives me the opportunity to refine my diagnosis and to change the course of treatment when necessary.”
What problem are you best at solving for your patients?
“I love to find hidden jewels of information in lab work. Seemingly healthy women often haven’t had comprehensive labs drawn. I find labs incredibly helpful, especially for those patients who’ve been searching for answers for quite a long time. Endocrine (hormonal) issues are often found in this type of lab review. I also love connecting the dots between the gut and fertility. Taking the time to go through all aspects of health with an initial patient will almost always lead to some pretty important discoveries. A common discovery is how the digestive system might be impacting hormones and the ability to conceive. “
