Acupuncture- feedback?!?

Acedit

I am looking for some feedback on acupunnture. If you used acupuncture did you start prior to your ivf cycle? If you only used during your Ivf cycle how often did you go? Did you feel like it was helpful? Thankfully my insurance covers acupuncture, one less oop expense. I'm looking forward to your feedback...

Ham113

I started acupuncture a few days before starting stims for IVF #1  During stims, I went twice/week, then 24 hours before and after transfer, then weekly through beta. My acupuncturist told me to plan on weekly appointments if my cycle was successful, at least through 1st trimester.  I think technically the acupuncturist would recommend starting a few months before an IVF cycle, but I didn't choose to do it for my IUI cycles. 

Not sure if it was helpful or not, since my cycle wasn't successful, but it did help relax me.  I tend to overanalyze things and am a bit of a control freak, which stresses me out during treatment cycles, and I definitely felt that at the very least the acupuncture helped reduce my stress.  If it's covered by insurance, I would totally do it.  Acupuncture is not covered by my insurance, but I plan to continue weekly appointments leading up to IVF #2 and then throughout that cycle. 

babydreams13

I started it a few weeks before my FET which was a chemical.  Starting it back up today about 3 weeks before IVF #3.  I'm not sure if it really helped but I'm willing to try anything.  GL

happygirl1013

Mine is oop bit worth every penny. I go 2x a week before and during stims. Just helps me relax and take time for myself. Highly recommended.

pblge

I did it for about six weeks before IVF#1, although I can't say with certainty it helped. See siggy. I've only had one appt for IVF#2, but am planning on weekly.

CallaLily30

I tried it once and I wasn't a huge fan of it. Maybe I just didn't give it enough of a chance but I just didn't feel like it was for me.

STBMrsMiller

I've done it for all of my IVF cycles and my second IUI. Where I've actually seen it help is with my normally thin lining, since it's supposed to increase blood flow to the uterus. For IVF, my doctor recommended six times (once a weekish) before transfer, then day before and day of.

tptbabe

I started going before we started conventional treatments. It actually helped to regulate my cycles and I felt better in general! (She prescribed me TCM supplements as well.) I started going again last month in prep for our IVF cycle. She told me that she likes to start 3 months in advance so that it's affecting the eggs from the very start of their maturation. We're OOP (mostly anyways. Our insurance covers $230/year) and it's 100% worth it to me!

HopefulSoul2

I'm with @callalily30.  It definitely wasn't for me.  I have a few friends that swear by the treatments; however, it was torture for me. lol.

I hate needles.

Good luck!

Lady2010

I have been going to a fertility acupuncturist since October.  I still haven't gotten a bfp - so not sure if it works.  And I am not someone who really enjoys it - I am constantly wondering how much longer I have to lay there. (And I hate needles) But I keep going because if there is a chance it works/helps, I will try it.  (I also have 2 friends who went through IVF, successfully, and did do acupuncture)

My doctor did recommend / endorse acupuncture - so I also figured that must help.

In terms of frequency - I get them once a week roughly in the first half of my cycle - while stimming.  I then go the day after ER and the day after ET.  

Good luck!

walker14

With IVF #1, I did it beginning around the time I started stims and went up through retrieval.  I was pleased w/ my retrieval (got 3 embryos to freeze).  My RE recommended I do it to help thicken my lining before ET.  I had already been going but went more often.  My cycle was a fail.  It's really hard to know if it helps or not... For me it is $70 a session and not covered by insurance, so it is somewhat hard to justify.  That said, I think I will do it again w/ IVF #2 b/c it can't hurt.  I enjoy it, just not the cost!

jlr96

I am also not a huge fan of it but I do it because it really is supposed to help.  For my IUI's I only went within 24 hours of the IUI but for IVF, I went twice a week, starting 6 weeks prior to stims all the way up to ET.  My acupuncturist specializes in infertility & he also put me on Chinese herbs that were supposed to help with egg quality & stim response.  I didn't have a ton of eggs retrieved so I'm not sure if all of this helped or not, but I would do it again.  If anything, I think it helped with the side effects of stims.

herecomesthesun

I started acupuncture in February 2013, once a week. I just needed a break from medicated cycles and thought it couldn't hurt. It did not help me get pregnant on its own, but when I did decide I was ready for IVF in November 2013, I absolutely feel like it helped me to relax and that is never a bad thing.