Has anyone done acupuncture along with your IVF or FET? Do you recommend it? I have started looking into it because I figured it wouldn't hurt to try during my next FET, but I have found that in my area, no one does this. I would have to travel about an hour to get to the closest acupuncturist that deals with fertility issues. Is it worth the stress trying to drive over there after the FET? DH would have to drive me due to me taking Xanax before the procedure, so he would miss even more work. I am planning on asking my RE for his opinion also, but he has never mentioned acupuncture before.
I am in love with my acupuncturist. She specializes in women's infertility and has PCOS herself and needed Western medicine to conceive her 4 children. My DH is a GI doctor so I've struggled with him on seeing her. He supports me going to see her but doesn't want me taking the herbs she suggests. After 2 years and finding out about my c-scar defect he's come around and this cycle has allowed me to take everything she wants to give me. Obviously we don't know if this cycle worked or not but I can officially say I tried everything!
I know a lot of women see their acupuncturist the day of transfer, but mine does not think that is necessary/useful. She likes to clear her patients of heat (you'll find out all about heat when/if you start seeing one) a week before the transfer and then not see you again until you get a positive pregnancy result. So if you're interested you could go check them out and see what their feelings are about it.
I'm not sure it's helped me at all except mentally I feel like I'm trying everything I can!
IVF #1, Stimmed for 12 days, ER 8/22/14, 9 retrieved, 7M, 7F!! Freeze all due to fluid in uterus.
FET end of October 2014 cancelled due to fluid in uterus due to possible c-scar defect
Surgery scheduled 12/12/14 to fix possible isthmocele
3/26/15 transferred one 8 cell grade 4 embryo and one 6 cell grade 3 embryo = slow rising betas for 2+ weeks = ectopic MTX shot 4/29/15
Repeat c-scar surgery June 2015
2nd and last IVF cycle August 2015, stimmed for 12 days, 2 egg retrieved, both mature and both fertilized. Transferred both 8-cell embryos on Day 3, beta 9/5/15 = BFFN
I go to one. I enjoy it and find it relaxing, but it obviously hasn't gotten me pregnant yet. In my case, since the primary benefit is stress reduction, having to drive an hour to get there might cancel that out. But it can't hurt to try!
*****Signature/Ticker Warning******
Me: 41, DH: 45 DD, 6/15/2013 TTC #2 beginning January 2014 AMH 1.05; FSH range 7-11
My clinic recommends acupuncture immediately before and after transfer. My acupuncturist came at the same time as me, and did it before I rolled in and after I rolled out. Obviously didn't pan out, but I doubt that was the acupuncture's fault. There are studies showing the increased uterine blood flow can be beneficial.
I saw an acupuncturist for my current IVF cycle (my second) and this cycle is going very well. Granted, I also integrated human growth hormone into my protocol, but my RE is a big believer and supporter of acupuncture as a complementary treatment.
It is definitely worth considering, and I like @efhoping2010 's suggestion to see if the practitioner can come to you. Also, many acupuncturists do work with women dealing with IF but don't label themselves as specialists in this area. Mine falls into this category. She is excellent and has treated many women during IVF and FET cycles, but she doesn't market herself as a specialist in this category.
Good luck!
Me: 35 DOR - AMH 1.1 FSH 5.6
DH: 39
09/01/10 - First pregnancy - my sweet son was born
04/25/14 - Miscarriage at 9 weeks - Turner Syndrome
08/01/14 - Miscarriage at 8 weeks - Trisomy 9
October 2014 - Unsuccessful IUI
November 2014 - IUI month skipped due to cyst
December 2014 - Unsuccessful IUI
January/February 2015 - Failed IVF (standard long protocol) - 7 eggs, 6 mature, 4 fertilized (ICSI), 0 made it to blast, 0 for testing
March/April 2015 - Microflare IVF protocol with HGH - 6 eggs, 6 mature, 5 fertilized (ICSI), 2 blasts for biopsy!
May/June 2015 - Microflare IVF protocol with HGH - 9 eggs, 6 mature, 5 fertilized (ICSI), 3 blasts for biopsy!
06/18/15 - Two healthy embies based on PGS testing by Natera!
June/July 2015 - FET cycle with estradiol & PIO shots, a Neupogen treatment, and accupuncture
I have been seeing an acupuncturist for the past few months. I've only done IUI's and non-procedure cycles since I started with her and she is flexible about when I go in - so far she has wanted to see me once before ovulation and once after, but hasn't been adamant about a certain cycle day. I'm not sure how that might change with IVF.
I (like others mentioned) do it just to know that I've put my 100% into this.
She's nice and it's relaxing and she seems very committed to getting me pregnant, and is also very respectful of my doctor's opinions and wishes (which she is familiar with having so many patients from the clinic). Although being there is relaxing, it's just another thing that requires child care and juggling to get to which is not relaxing.
On cycles I haven't been able to do an IUI I've taken the herbs she's suggested.
We'll see.
TTC #2 since April 2012
Year 1 - nothing
Year 2 - two m/c
Year 3 - unexplained diagnosis & 4 failed IUIs with
Clomid/Letrozole
Year 4 - still unexplained & 3 failed IUIs with
Follistim & Ovidral
I haven't done IVF yet but I did acupuncture back in the fall after my D&C since it was recommended by a second opinion RE we went to. I ended up having a CP while doing acupuncture and after I used up the package I had paid for I stopped going. Realistically I know my loss had nothing to do with whether or not I was getting acupuncture but since it didn't help then I am hesitant to go back to it. Although I know there are studies out there showing that it can help with more successful outcomes with retrieval and transfer. If you are interested in it I would see if they could come to you at the clinic. I know that's what the practice I was going to would do.
I had trouble finding someone for acupuncture that was fertility friendly, so I am opting for a relaxing massage before retrieval and after transfer with my IVF cycle.
DD conceived after 3 years of ttc.
MFI - DH had varicocele repair and took Clomid to get DD b. 02/2010
TTC #2 since 6/2010 10/2012 DH diagnosed with Epilepsy A few failed IUIs summer 2012 and 2013. DH taking clomid and waiting to see if he needs another vericocele repair. Hoping for a 2015 baby or babies. Wishing, hoping, waiting.
Thanks ladies! I will check with the acupuncturist and see if she is willing to travel to me. I never even thought to ask! You all have also given me some ideas for questions to run by her as well! Thanks again!
I'm like the rest of you....I just want to make sure we try everything in our power! We will be transferring our only two frozen blasts next month and if it doesn't work I just want to know in my heart that I had done all I could.
Re: Acupuncture
TTC #3 since June 2013
BFP #1 7/21/2013--EDD 3/30/14--D&C 9/24/13
BFP #2 1/28/14--MC 2/7/14
IUI #1 5mg Femara + trigger = BFN
IUI #2 5mg Femara + trigger = BFN
IUI #3 5mg Femara + trigger = BFN
Me: 41, DH: 45
DD, 6/15/2013
TTC #2 beginning January 2014
AMH 1.05; FSH range 7-11
July 2014: IUI #1. Follistim + Pregnyl. 2 follicles--BFN
September 2014: IUI #2. Follistim + Pregnyl + Ganirelix + Crinone. 4(?) follicles--BFN
October 2014: IUI #3. More Follistim + More Ganirelix + Pregnyl + Crinone. 4 follicles--BFP! Beta #1=10 Beta #2=33 Beta #3=97 Beta #4=158. M/C 11/1/14
December 2014: IVF #1. Microdose Lupron protocol. 9R, 9M, 9F. 3 5-day blasts transferred 12/15. BFFN.
August 2015: IVF #3. 14R, 13M, 11F. Froze 5 blasts for CCS testing. 3 normals. FET planned for 10/2015.
My Ovulation Chart
I am a huge fan of acupuncture and so is my clinic, I have been going weekly for this most recent cycle and often with my past cycles.
Would your clinic allow your acupuncturist to come into the room after your ET?
Me: 35 DOR - AMH 1.1 FSH 5.6
DH: 39
09/01/10 - First pregnancy - my sweet son was born
04/25/14 - Miscarriage at 9 weeks - Turner Syndrome
08/01/14 - Miscarriage at 8 weeks - Trisomy 9
October 2014 - Unsuccessful IUI
November 2014 - IUI month skipped due to cyst
December 2014 - Unsuccessful IUI
January/February 2015 - Failed IVF (standard long protocol) - 7 eggs, 6 mature, 4 fertilized (ICSI), 0 made it to blast, 0 for testing
March/April 2015 - Microflare IVF protocol with HGH - 6 eggs, 6 mature, 5 fertilized (ICSI), 2 blasts for biopsy!
May/June 2015 - Microflare IVF protocol with HGH - 9 eggs, 6 mature, 5 fertilized (ICSI), 3 blasts for biopsy!
06/18/15 - Two healthy embies based on PGS testing by Natera!
June/July 2015 - FET cycle with estradiol & PIO shots, a Neupogen treatment, and accupuncture
07/08/2015 - Transferred one lovely embie
07/17/2015 - Beta #1 136
07/20/2015 - Beta #2 529 -- BFP!!!
I have been seeing an acupuncturist for the past few months. I've only done IUI's and non-procedure cycles since I started with her and she is flexible about when I go in - so far she has wanted to see me once before ovulation and once after, but hasn't been adamant about a certain cycle day. I'm not sure how that might change with IVF.
I (like others mentioned) do it just to know that I've put my 100% into this.
She's nice and it's relaxing and she seems very committed to getting me pregnant, and is also very respectful of my doctor's opinions and wishes (which she is familiar with having so many patients from the clinic). Although being there is relaxing, it's just another thing that requires child care and juggling to get to which is not relaxing.
On cycles I haven't been able to do an IUI I've taken the herbs she's suggested.
We'll see.
TTC #2 since April 2012
Year 1 - nothing
Year 2 - two m/c
Year 3 - unexplained diagnosis & 4 failed IUIs with Clomid/Letrozole
Year 4 - still unexplained & 3 failed IUIs with Follistim & Ovidral
Year 5 - trying on our own
Dx: Me: Recurrent Pregnancy Loss; DH: Low Morphology (2%)
BFP#1: MC 3/1/11 at 6w1d - EDD 10/21/11
BFP#3: MC 2/8/14 at 4w5d - EDD 10/13/14
BFP#6: CP 11/6/14 at 4w2d - EDD 7/14/15
IVF #1 with ICSI & PGS: May/June 2015, ER 6/3/15, 17R/17M/15F
IVF #2 with ICSI & PGS: July 2015, ER 7/16/15, 16R/11M/9F
PGS results = 6 normal embryos (4 boys, 2 girls)
FET 9/23/15 = BFFN
TTC #2 since 6/2010
10/2012 DH diagnosed with Epilepsy
A few failed IUIs summer 2012 and 2013.
DH taking clomid and waiting to see if he needs another vericocele repair.
Hoping for a 2015 baby or babies.
Wishing, hoping, waiting.
TTC #2 since April 2012
Year 1 - nothing
Year 2 - two m/c
Year 3 - unexplained diagnosis & 4 failed IUIs with Clomid/Letrozole
Year 4 - still unexplained & 3 failed IUIs with Follistim & Ovidral
Year 5 - trying on our own