Therapeutic Services
Free Initial Session with Carolyn Berger, LCSW
Carolyn N. Berger, LCSW, has been helping people build families for 20 years. She is a psychotherapist specializing in infertility, all family building options, and adoption. She is Founding Chair, Board Member and Adoption Coordinator of The American Fertility Association. Carolyn writes and speaks frequently on family building options and was recently interviewed by “The Today Show” on raising families created through birth and adoption, a subject she knows well—her sons, ages 16 and 20, came into her family through medical technology and adoption. She is available for counseling at New York Fertility Services by appointment and your initial session with her is free! If you are interested, you can reach Carolyn at 914-834-6396 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Body Awareness:
Here at New York Fertility Services, we understand there is a myriad of ways to travel the road to fertility success.
Knowing everyones situation is unique, we constantly strive to add the best resources, and brightest people to assist you on this journey.
Our personalized approach means having the resources available all under one roof. Further, our integrated approach of Eastern Wellness practices, and Western Technological advancements in ART medicine only touch upon the tools we use to help you reach your goals.
Read on and discover the benefits of New York Fertility Services and our adjacent location to The Berkley Center for Reproductive Wellness and Women's Health.
A healthy mind and body are so important when undergoing fertility treatment. Patricia Moreno, author of IntenSati Method: The Seven principals to Thinner Peace, understands this and applies it to her unique, high energy IntenSati cardio classes and to her life. Patricia is a patient at New York Fertility Services and is expecting a daughter with her partner, Kellen. Here is what Patricia has to say about Dr. Batzofin and BFS:
After a year of fertility treatments I was referred to Dr. Batzofin and as soon as I walked into his office I knew I was in the right place. I was hoping to find someone who would be positive, loving and supportive and I did. Every person in the office was personable, caring and sympathetic and Dr. Batzofin made a challenging time a positively memorable one. We are blessed to be welcoming our baby daughter in a few months. We are eternally grateful. With love, Patricia Moreno
Everyone can use positive thoughts, affirmations and a guide book for a healthy mind, body and life. If you would like to learn more about Patricia's IntenSati Method, visit her web site at http://www.satilife.com.
The Berkley Center For Reproductive Wellness & Women's Health
A Sensible and Sensitive Medical Alternative
The Berkley Center For Reproductive Wellness & Women's Health, a focal point for holistic therapy in Manhattan is directed by Mike Berkley, Licensed Acupuncturist and Nationally Board Certified Herbalist.
The Berkley Center is world renowned in treating reproductive disorders with acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, and massage. We take a comprehensive approach to increasing your fertile wellness. Studies have shown that using acupuncture in conjunction with IVF or IUI increase the chances of conceiving by up to 30% (see medical articles).
The Berkley Centers’ focus is on healing the root causes of infertility. Our approach is straightforward: first we help you to achieve greater overall health; then we focus on greatly enhancing your reproductive function.
At the Berkley Center For Reproductive Wellness & Women's Health you will be treated with kindness, warmth and compassion. From the meticulous and comprehensive initial intake to the effective follow-through therapy, our specialists utilize ancient and modern techniques in acupuncture and herbal medicine to treat a wide array of fertility disorders including poor ovarian reserve, poor egg quality, luteal phase defect, chronic miscarriage, thin endometrium, endometriosis, irregular periods, amenorrhea, hyperprolactinemia, PCOS, idiopathic infertility, low sperm count, poor morphology and poor motility.
The Berkley Center For Reproductive Wellness & Women's Health is completely devoted to treating infertility.
Mike Berkley, L.Ac.
Director, Berkley Center for Reproductive Wellness
Mike Berkley, the founder and director ofThe Berkley Center for Reproductive Wellness & Women’s Health, in New York, is licensed and Board Certified in Acupuncture in the states of New York and Connecticut. He is also Board Certified in Clinical Herbal Medicine by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
Mike is a Member in good standing of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM); Resolve, New York, American Infertility Association, the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine; the Acupuncture Society of New York; and the American Association of Oriental Medicine. In addition, he is an Advisory Board member of The InterNational Council on Infertility Information Dissemination, Inc. (INCIID).
Mike graduated from The Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in New York in 1996. He was the class Valedictorian, graduating in the top 10% of his class.
Mike is one of the first acupuncturist/herbalist in the United States to work exclusively in the field of Reproductive Pathology. He works exclusively in the area of reproductive medicine and enjoys working in conjunction with some of New York’s most prestigious reproductive endocrinologists.
He has appeared on:
1997 - Dr. Robert Atkins Radio Show, WEVD, New York, NY
1997 - News All Day, NY1-TV, New York, NY
2002 - Today in New York, WNBC (NBC), New York, NY
2002 - Live With Regis & Kelly, WABC-TV (ABC), New York, NY
2002 -The Early Show, WCBS-TV (CBS), New York, NY
2004 - Interviewed on WHLV Talk Radio, Buffalo, NY
His lectures include:
Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, "Concepts and Applications of Traditional Chinese Medicine", 1997
Resolve New York, "Infertility and Herbal Medicine", 1998
Resolve Brooklyn, "The Use of Acupuncture and Alternative
Medicine in the Treatment of Infertility", 1998
American Infertility Association, "Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Primary Infertility", 1998.
American Infertility Association, "Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine and Infertility", 2001.
Resolve New Jersey, " Infertility, Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine", 2003
Mike is currently writing a book on reproductive disorders and Chinese medicine. He has been treating reproductive disorders since 1996
Some Things to Consider about Nutrition and Your Fertility
1. How does nutrition affect conception?
A woman’s intake should help prepare her body for conception. A good prenatal supplement with high doses of folate and Vitamin B12 is essential. A woman should start thinking about what to buy, cook and eat as well as the amounts to consume even as much as 3 months before conception, to balance out her own deficiencies or excesses. The Nurses study followed over 17,000 women over 8 years, identified a combination of five lifestyle factors in two-thirds (69%) of women with ovulatory disorder fertility. These include diet, weight control and exercise and reported many infertility cases may be preventable through diet and lifestyle changes.
2. How can you tell if you have nutritional deficiencies?
In our modern lives “sub-clinical” deficiencies which are not picked up by regular tests give subtle symptoms. A symptom can range
from dry hair to brittle nails. One deficiency may seem more severe than the other and could be related or unrelated. For instance deficiency in Essential Fatty Acids can produce some of the same symptoms as a deficiency in Biotin that can also be correlated to Premenstrual Syndrome or Infertility. An imbalance in the intake of different fatty acids can result in arterial disease. Zinc deficiency can manifest through hair loss, it can also be a cause of Male Infertility.
3. Why does nutrient balance matter in pregnancy outcome?
Eating correctly during pregnancy lowers the baby’s risk of illnesses in later adult life because of good nourishment in the womb. For the mother, it provides nourishment without excess weight gain which could cause gestational diabetes or contribute to high blood pressure. Following a few simple rules can help: eating a healthy variety of fresh whole foods (organic whenever possible), checking and correcting your nutritional status, adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, being screened for infections, avoiding environmental hazards and timing your fertility investigations.
4. How important is body weight?
Even in normal weight women with sub-clinical bulimia nervosa there is hormonal dysfunction from imbalanced nutrition (pathologically low FSH and LH levels). Irrespective of the method of conception, Obese and underweight women have an increased risk of miscarriage. A review of 16 studies reported that women with a body mass index of 25 or more had significantly higher odds of miscarriage, regardless of the method of conception. Just losing 10% body weight improves rates of fertility. With actual obesity, the miscarriage risk is even higher. A study of over 5000 IVF patients in Australia found that women with a body mass index over 30 had a 50 per cent greater chance of miscarrying than women of normal weight.
5. What else may influence fertility?
Untreated Celiac disease, has been linked to infertility. Excess abdominal fat even with normal body weight may contribute to infertility. PCOS, often undiagnosed, affects fertility. For men, sperm quality is linked to diabetes.
6. Anything to avoid besides (caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, high mercury fishes…etc.)?
We need to be weary of crash diets which can cause a malfunction of the hypothalamus, resulting in reduced secretion of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which can cause disruption or cessation of the follicle stimulating hormone needed for egg stimulation. Quinine, the key ingredient in tonic water, has been linked to birth defects. Aspartame stimulates the pituitary gland, possibly causing elevated Prolactin levels, which can prevent ovulation from occurring.
7. Are there foods that promote fertility?
There is no one food or method that will magically do the trick. It is the balance of the “synergistic whole” of everything, not just what we consume or do at a meal or for a week that affects our long-term health, hormone balance and fertility. You can be transform your body through consistent good habits and healthy appreciation of your challenges. Each of us responds differently to nutrients and lifestyle factors depending on our genetic make-up. For some woman, wild yams which contain "plant estrogen" produce estrogenic effects that have been shown to be valuable in relieving female problems
8. Is sperm quality tied in with nutrition and lifestyle?
Zinc and B vitamins (B6, B12 and Folate) are essential nutrients for proper sperm production and generation of motility. A deficiency may result in lowered testosterone levels. The usual recommended dosage of zinc is about 15 to 30 mg daily, coupled with 1 mg of copper for balance. Diets rich in anti-oxidants improve sperm quality. Men who smoke, drink excess alcohol or do drugs will have poor sperm quality. Being obese is also linked to poorer sperm quality.
9. What role does lifestyle play in a successful pregnancy?
“Letting go” was positively associated with pregnancy in a study of 88 women undergoing IVF. Our “nourishment” includes our experiences and stress levels. Organ function can be affected in different ways in regards to our emotions relating to those experiences. For example, stress can cause constipation which in turn affects nutrient absorption and our mood. Other people can help us to see things we do not readily see. Therefore, advice should be sought within areas of our lives that need attention as potential parents.
Kavita Jhaveri-Patel, HHC , AADP
Certified Holistic Health Counselor
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Kavita received her training to practice Health Counseling at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, which is the only nutrition school integrating all of the different dietary theories—combining the knowledge of traditional philosophies with modern concepts like the USDA food pyramid, the glycemic index, the Zone, and raw foods. You can take advantage of her shared knowledge at her website: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Be sure to register to recieve her free monthly newsletters.
Training and Education
The Institute for Integrative Nutrition, New York City, NY
Professional Training and Certification Program
Boston University, Boston, MA
BSBA Major Finance Minor Economics
Certification and Accreditation
American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP)
Board Certified and Accredited Member
Affiliations/Publications
New York Fertility Services
Provide support to patients struggling with fertility
Holistic Health Articles and Newsletters
Used for distribution to clients and email subscribers
What brought me to Health Counseling?
A couple of years ago, I was stressed in my job. I was feeling tired every morning, dragging myself to work, having dizzy spells, suffering irregularity, and noticing breakdowns in my body. Day after day, I continued to make myself believe I was happy and healthy. Until, finally one day, I admitted how poorly I was treating myself. From that day forward, I decided to turn my life around and embark on a conscious path of living through changing my diet and lifestyle. I now live and work with passion, no longer experience the dizziness, irregularity, and lack of energy I once felt. I now understand what it means to live a fulfilling and fun-filled life. Now it is my personal goal to empower and support others in achieving a happy, healthy, rewarding life of their own.
My Health Counseling Practice
We now have proof through medical research, such as the Harvard Nurses’ Health Study which has been ongoing since the 1970s, that diet and lifestyle has a large impact on fertility. This is especially seen when dealing with ovarian related infertility. When faced with these challenges, I help my clients take control of their health and realize that they can change their situation. It is time to deal with conception in a positive way. Trying to conceive can be stressful. I take great care with my clients to improve their quality of life and therefore create a supportive environment to begin this next phase of their lives. One focused on health and joy, which is what living and creating life is all about.
We will work together to:
- Improve how your body functions through understanding what foods contribute to reproductive health
- Boost your energy and immune system
- Experience a more even mood throughout your day
- Diminish anxiety and stress and introduce relaxation techniques
- Understand and reduce food cravings
- Have a happy, relaxed relationship with food & life
- Develop healthy habits to improve your life
We'll discover which foods best support your unique bio-individuality, and how to balance healthy eating with your busy life. It is my goal is to empower you to live with more energy, happiness, and confidence. Through that focus we will enhance your reproductive health, and help you achieve your specific goals.
Contact Information: Phone:(973) 723-0240 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website: www.kavitawholistic.com
