Acupuncture: what are your opinions / experiences?

Erma81

Hello there!

I've noticed through the years that a lot of ladies use acupuncture along with IVF treatments. But from what I've understood, its efficiency to treat IF is far from established. I was wondering if any of you have tried it, or if any of you have any opinion about it. I don't believe that it could be the miracle remedy for us (I have immunological issues and my tubes are blocked, try and fix this with a bunch of needles...), but I figured that if it at least helps me to relax, the worst that could happen is that I feel better emotionally. What do you gals think?

mrscsw

I have tried acupuncture before and really like it.  We tried acupuncture before IVF, but obviously it is not a cure.  I am doing it for the first time in conjunction with this round of IVF - well I have my first appointment today.  My blood work and ultrasound results have not been good so far, so I am hoping this will relax me and we get better results! 

pblge

There's some evidence that acupuncture may help improve IVF success rates, but not everyone agrees. Acupuncture is hard to study because when done well it's very individualized. I did it with IVF #1, and perhaps it helped (see siggie). I've decided to stop doing it, because the thought of more needles just makes me want to cry. I'm using the Circle + Bloom guided meditation series this cycle, and I'm really enjoying it.

tptbabe

***PG/Loss mentioned***

I've been doing it for 3 months prior to our cycle and during as well. I started it a few years ago, and actually got pregnant (which ended in m/c) but it really helped to even out my cycles and ovulate better. Obviously it's not going to help with blocked tubes, but I believe that it can help with the other aspects of your reproductive health. I stopped when we started seeing an RE [again] and waited until we were going to be cycling to start again because it can be really expensive and we needed to save our money!

I too have immunologic issues and she was able to pinpoint a few issues that I had. She had me on a few supplements to hopefully help with my antibodies, but I didn't see much difference there honestly. (I stopped them before cycling obviously.) I did find that we got ALOT more eggs than we were expecting though (7 more than my AFC!) and we had a great fert rate. I'm pretty sure alot of that had to do with the acupuncture.

shelbeans82

I am doing acupuncture this cycle for the first time.  I talked to RE and he said they don't endorse it but they don't mind if you try it (basically it can't hurt).  I like the acupuncturist, and how she explains things from her teachings in Chinese medicine, it makes sense to me.  The actual treatment is fine, and its nice to be able to relax for 30 minutes without having to do anything else.  It is expensive but I am able to use my HRA/FSA to pay for it and I know it is short term, and compared to the thousands we are spending on IVF what's a bit more (especially if it helps in any way make this work!)

mm29

IFinTN said:

My clinic recommend a specific course of it if they see diminished blood flow to the uterus on Doppler US. They cite a study that shows it increases blood flow to uterus. They even have an on site accupuncture for before ET. However, when I asked if it improved egg quality/quantity my RE said they don't have any studies to prove it but it can't hurt.

This! Per the ultra sound IFinTN mentioned it was found I have diminished blood flow. So I did electro-accupunture my last cycle. I always do it when I cycle. As you can see I've never had a sticky baby,but I really enjoy it.  When I cycle I go twice a  week until transfer and then once a week after that.  

mm29

@IFinTN, My acupuncturist attaches the electrodes to the needles and slowly increases the voltage until I tell her to stop.  She leaves them on for 15 mins at one level and then comes back in and increases the voltage higher until I tell her to stop for another 15 mins.  I actually really liked it.  It's only uncomfotable for a min or two.  

Lillovebug79

My clinic recommends it through a specific acupuncture clinic that has specific programs for fertility and IVF. The one for IVF, they have you start 4 weeks before your ER, going twice weekly. Then the week of ET, it's three times a week. Then just once a week after that. It's pretty expensive though, I believe the whole IVF package is around $900. Which would be fine if it was helpful. I'm looking to see if it is covered at all through my insurance because I'm not sure I believe in it enough to spend another $900 on it. My cousin did it with her IVF which was successful but who knows if that had anything to do with it.

I tried it once while doing our first IUI and I hated it. I think it's because I'm so tightly wound that it's hard for me to relax in the middle of the day. While I was trying to "relax", I swear 5 of the needles just popped out of my skin without me even moving. The acupuncturist said she has never seen that happen. Lol. I really didn't enjoy it but if it's helpful, I'll give it another try!

Some people enjoy it for all sorts of different issues. It can't hurt to just try. Maybe see if a clinic has a special for new patients so you can try it out at a discount!

vpine

I've tried it - for 3 months in 2011 and 3 months in 2013. I tried yang pills in 2011 along with twice a week acupuncture because I was told my body needed to warm up in order to conceive, I always had pre-ovulation temps in low 96 range. In 2013, I tried daily Chinese herbs along with weekly acupuncture, was having electro-acupuncture in abdomen during ovulation week and also cupping in lower back to help ovaries. I didn't conceive so I can't recommend it for that, I stopped going because my insurance only covers specific # of sessions. The only thing I can say about the herbs, I always have cramps before AF arrives, during the herbs, I didn't have any cramps and AF would show up unexpectedly so the no cramping was good. I would recommend acupuncture for relaxation only.

Erma81

Wow! Thanks everyone for sharing! I think I will give it a try. The worst that can happen is that I will have to learn to relax in the middle of the day (which I noticed is very difficult for me when I had my intralipid transfusion last time: those 2 hours not being able to do much drove me up the walls!), which is a good thing too. So I should get some benefit out of it, somehow. Thank you for your advices!

Erma81

Ah the things we'll do to get pregnant! If it can be any comfort, a friend of mine who is very afraid of needles (she almost faints, or faints, every time she gets a shot) had acupuncture (not infertility related, but still). She said those needles had not bothered her at all! Hopefully it will go well for you also @Nikwiss‌ if you try it.

Lindsey7348

I commented on your other post, but of course will mention here too since I forgot any explanation

My acupuncturist specializes in infertility. So you might want to seek out someone who does as well. If they don't, I am sure its fine, but mine is very well versed on what is going on in the reproductive area. In fact, my RE recommended that I go to him and once before a cycle, my acupuncturist said he was going to email my RE and ask my bloodwork results so he could treat me accordingly. I thought that was impressive

He uses elctro-acu if I am cycling naturally, and needle point if I am in an IVF cycle. 

Like pp, it is to help improve blood flow, lining for uterus, and also to even out your hormones (i.e.: if you are too 'cold, or too 'hot' , which I am, they do something for that ha) 

Trust me, I was sooo anti holistic stuff before infertility. But I truly love it and believe in it. 

Now, my DH says I'm too granola and one Toyota Prius away from living in Wanderlust  

Erma81

@Nikwiss‌ : Exactly! And if it's not for you, then stop! At least you will have tried it and will not have to wonder if you should have. And if it's for you (even if only as a stress reliever as you write), well then great! I have my first appointment on Wednesday, we'll see how that feels

Erma81

@Lindsey7348‌ : Sounds great! The lining of my uterus tends to be on the thin side, even if we medicate to make it thicker, so that's good news! I live in a very little town, so I am afraid I will have to be happy someone is using acupuncture here at all! He is not specialized in infertility per say, but he did mention he works with that. I am also the kind of person who is usually anti holistic (I'm a PhD student, so it goes against my core training! ), but eh, what the heck, I don't have much to loose do I? Like @Nikwiss‌ wrote, even if I only come out of this more relaxed, it's at least that! Thanks for your comment!
ps Still laughing because of your DH's comment. He he!

wishiwaspreggo

Eh, I think acupuncture is good for IVF (there's evidence it helps the day of embryo transfer) but I tried it for IUI and it didn't seem to make a difference since I ain't pregnant.  If I'm going to spend money strictly for relaxation I'd rather splurge on massage.  It's cheaper for one thing, and it feels better than acupuncture!  I liked the acupuncture in my back and may seek out an acupuncturist in my area to keep up with that.  But the needles in my belly sucked.

Erma81

@Nikwiss‌ I will!

przemosbabe

I did accpuncture for like 6 months during my IUI treatments. My first two IUIs I had 5/6 follices and they were all great sizes, my lining was great...everything was perfect. But the accupuncture did not help. My issues are endometriosis and I also have high natural killer cells. I don't think accupuncture can help that, so I quit going after I got high NK cells diagnosis. I may try accupuncture before and after my embryo transfer if I make it that far. This is my first Ivf.

Erma81

Good luck with your first IVF @przemosbabe ! 

Erma81

So, here's the update. I went to my first appointment yesterday, and it went very well. The needles are tiny, cannot feel them enter the skin. It is a strange feeling, and I don't know how to describe it, but it feels like they are doing something while they are there. My clinique has sent people to this guy before, so I hope it's a good sign. We will keep on working with acupuncture weekly during the summer, along with supplements he recommended, and we'll see how we do when fall comes along with planning our FET. If nothing else, this will force me to relax at least once a week. 

AuroraP725

I have a thinned lining and diminished ovarian reserve. I just recently started going to an acupuncturist who specializes in infertility. I agree, it can be relaxing. I won't be starting my next IVF cycle until late July/early August, but hopefully the treatments now will help somehow. I figure they can't hurt at least.

SKLH

I've always been skeptical of accupuncture (still kinda am) but after 4 failed transfers I was at a total loss. I asked my clinic if they had a accupuncturist they work with... and they did. The problem is my RE's clinic is 2 hours away so that's a LOOOOOONG drive for just accupuncture. My husband and I decided that we would take the plunge (what else could we do to get IVF to work!?) and we made appointments to see the accupuncturist 1 time before transfer and then the day of transfer I went before and afterwards. The accupuncturist ONLY does infertility accupuncture so he's specialized in it. Guess what? That cycle worked. IVF embryo transfer #5 worked! DId accupunture make it work? Probably not but it certianly didn't help!

In my mind I liked that it certainly improved blood flow and it also is proven to balance your immune system. I thought of as maybe it would allow my immune system to not freak out and be more balanced when we transferred the embryo? The bottm line is, something worked! lol

Erma81

Exactly, it can't hurt really ... My clinic is closed during summer, and I don't want to try again right away anyways. First I thought I would go for the FET in august or september, but now I'm not sure anymore. Those months are crazy busy for me at work, I feel like it would be wise to wait until october or november. Which feels weird, because I don't want to wait really. Actually, I want it to have worked... a few years ago! Anywho, we'll see if acupuncture at least can help me to relax a bit. I realized the other day that my resting heart rate went from about 60 four years ago to above 80 today. This is way, way to high, infertile or not. If nothing else, I hope it will help me with that. Fx for my next FET, whenever it may be! [-O<