Since mid-April, Carbondale’s Glow Studio has been certified to help clients glow even more. Owner and acupuncturist Lorrie Fissenden passed her advanced certification exam to become a fellow of the Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine Board of Reproductive Medicine (ABORM). The benchmark authorizes her as a specialist practitioner.
“I am now a board-certified fertility expert,” Fissenden explained, “and I couldn’t be more excited to bring this level of specialized care to families in the Roaring Fork Valley.”
ABORM is an international organization that integrates Eastern and Western medicine practices for fertility and reproductive care. It requires fellows to demonstrate thorough knowledge of in vitro fertilization (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI) and other Western medicine fertility treatments in addition to acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine approaches for optimizing fertility. ABORM emphasizes the importance of keeping traditional Chinese medicine practices current with contemporary fertility research.
Fissenden has been interested in helping others since her undergraduate studies in clinical psychology. She wanted “a career path that would allow me to work with clients one-on-one to provide real help and healing,” she told The Sopris Sun. In her early 20s, however, she was experiencing her own health challenges, and her Western doctor’s prescriptions weren’t resolving them.
“When I finally saw an acupuncturist, she took the time to ask about my diet, stress levels and many other factors my doctor hadn’t addressed,” she explained. “When I left her office, I felt like I was finally on the right track toward feeling better, and that’s what I strive to give my clients today.”
Fissenden completed her master of science in Oriental medicine at Southwest Acupuncture College in Boulder, Colorado, in 2017. She is National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine board-certified and licensed in both Colorado and California.
In her practice, Fissenden says she adjusts offerings to meet the needs of her clientele. “Being an acupuncturist is very different from being an allopathic doctor; we don’t separate the body into different parts because everything is connected,” she stated. “If a fertility client comes in with a headache, sinus congestion or knee pain, her treatment will address everything going on with her that day.”
Fissenden described acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine as “important pieces of the infertility treatment puzzle.” Research shows that acupuncture improves egg quality, increases uterine lining receptivity, calms the nervous system to decrease cortisol and balance hormones, she emphasized.
“Fertility treatment today is truly a team sport,” Fissenden stated. “My patients are often working with reproductive endocrinologists and other specialists, and earning this fellowship means I can show up as a more informed, more confident member of that care team. I understand the protocols, the medications and the timelines — so I can coordinate care in a way that genuinely makes an impact.”
Fissenden said she hopes to help IVF and IUI patients understand that acupuncture can help the body respond better to medications, improve uterine blood flow around the time of transfer and reduce the stress and anxiety that so often accompany fertility treatment. For those trying to conceive naturally, acupuncture addresses underlying imbalances like irregular cycles, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis and unexplained infertility by treating the root cause rather than masking symptoms.
“What I love most about traditional Chinese medicine is that I never have to tell a patient their symptoms are all in their head,” Fissenden said. “Symptoms are always connected to a root cause, and the whole body and mind are treated as one. That philosophy resonates deeply with me and with my patients.”
Acupuncture is the perfect complement to an active lifestyle, especially for women, Fissenden stated. “Living here [in the Roaring Fork Valley], we demand a lot from our bodies. If our hormones are out of balance, we might not get the sleep we need to recover, and we might experience more injuries.” She emphasized that “acupuncture addresses inflammation to reduce pain, while also balancing hormones to improve stress levels and sleep, ensuring optimal recovery and a sustainable active lifestyle.”
For Fissenden, the work is personal. “As a mom, I know what it feels like to yearn for a child,” she added. “This work means a lot to me. If you or someone you know is on a fertility journey, I would love to be part of your care team.”
The Glow Studio is located in Carbondale. Fissenden, L.Ac., MSOM, FABORM, specializes in fertility support, perimenopause, sleep, digestive health and cosmetic acupuncture. You can learn more at www.glowstudioacu.com