Accupuncture?

catiiz73

What are the thoughts on accupuncture and its effects on fertility?  I have seen a few recommendations of it on the internet but husband is skeptical.

I am new here and was looking for somewhere with people like me (except you guys speak a foreign language here with all of the acronyms).  I will have to work on getting the lingo down.

 History on me:  Married at 18 to an awesome guy (DH) who had custody of his 2 girls (3 and 1).  We tried to get pregnant 3 years later with a foray into minor fertility treatments, clomid, laproscopy, etc.  Stopped when expense got to be too much and for some other reasons. 

Girls are now out of the house and thought what the Heck, let's try again.  Saw a real fertility specialist (RE?) and after 2nd laproscopy (stage II endometreosis  & PCOS reconfirmed), we are working toward our 1st IUI. 

 I am 36 going on 37 and feeling old to be starting all over again but we really want a baby.  Keeping this information to ourselves as most people think that we are living the good life with no kids at home.  So happy to find a place that I can talk openly about it and hopefully no one here thinks that I am crazy. !

 S 

lizette0626

Welcome, you have come to the right place. I have not tried accupuncture myself, but I know some of the girls here have and I'm sure they will chime in soon. They are very helpful on this board. And don't worry, no one here will think you are crazy.

JenB7

I have been doing accupuncture since November. So far, I'm still not prego, hard to say if it's helping...

JilliansMoma

S-

I don't have any concrete proof only my story so here it is and I hope it gives you some insight. (sorry it's so long)

My hubs and I were TTC #1 since 2004 (but we never used BCP or any type of protection from the time we got together in 2000).  We tried for the full year because I was under 35, then we tried clomid through my OB with no success.  She referred us to the RE and I had the HSG and hubs had SA, (I was all clear he had slow swimmers) Had one cycle of injections and IUI (BFN), next cycle discovered a cyst on my ovary back on BCP to try to reduce it and ended up needing surgery to remove.  After I was healed from the surgery tried IUI two more cycles with no luck by now it's summer 2007.  After the last IUI failed I told the hubs I needed a break from TTC.  My plan was to lose the 20lbs the RE wanted me to and start acupuncture.  I found an acupuncturist who told me that if I expected to get PG right away he couldn't help me but he would be able to help me get "balanced" making it easier for conception.  I was using him for 6 weeks and found out I was PG with my DD in Sept. of 2007.

So after 3 years of TTC, multiple trips to my RE and 3 failed IUI's I was PG.  I swear it was the acupuncture.  Plus I have never had more energy as I did when I was going to him.

GL hope this helps again sorry for the length!

MarriedaSportsNut

I wish I had an inspiring acupuncture story for you, but for me it did nothing. I must've had 8 or 10 appts. during my second IVF and I had no better response (2 eggs) than I did on a later cycle. And I ended up with a BFN.I couldn't detect any other health improvements as a result. Given I was totally OOP I wish I'd spent the money on massages instead.

Wish I had better news--hope this helps keep you weigh your options--and good luck!

 

 

 

Jilliesmomma

I went to an acupuncturist for a while, but it was for weight loss and to help with my auto-immune disorder.  I didn't lose weight, but I felt very relaxed and loved my experience there.  To this day, I feel relaxed when I hear Chinese music.    And to be fair, I was taking prednisone - so it was against the odds that I'd lose weight anyway. 

Welcome to the board.  Hoping you get your + very soon.  

redsoxbono

I did acupuncture for a couple of unmedicated cycles.  People that are advocates (like one of my best friends who swears by it) and all of the literature say that it takes time.  I didn't get pregnant, and I had to stop because of the expense.  My acupuncturist is great and very knowledgeable.

I think if we do an IUI or IVF I would go to her for that cycle.  I just can't afford $85 a week indefinitely. 

izzourclue

Acupuncture is interesting because Western medicine is starting to buy into it, but they still can't really explain it.  I think because it works with "lines of energy" in our bodies.  You can't "see" them when you dissect bodies, but they are finding more scientific means of proving they are real and proving the positive affects of practices like acupuncture, reflexology, and pressure point work.  Anyway, I have been considering trying it myself for TTC as well as some anxiety issues, but haven't tried it yet.

I can say that we took my very old and arthritic greyhound to the vet to get acupuncture done every 2 weeks the last 6 months of his life.  And that worked so much better to ease the stiffness and pain in his hind quarters than any of the pain meds.  He felt so good after a treatment he literally bounced out of the vet office.  The vet told me that animals usually have really good results with acupuncture because they have no prejudice towards it.  They just sit back and let it work.  What I got out of that is, you have to believe that it will work for you for it to be its most effective.  Good luck! 

catiiz73

Thanks for all the responses.  Still trying to decide and worried about the expense on top of the IUI and maybe IVF.  It's nice to see a place to ask questions.

 S

hollymichael

I'm a little late to this post, but here is my experience. I have been seeing an acupuncturist off and on since the summer.  I am still not KU, but . . .

IUI #1, 2 follicles, post wash counts of 2 & 4 mill for B2B IUI (no acupuncture).

After both DH & I went to acupuncture & he took chinese herbs,

IUI #2, 4 follicles, post wash counts above 30 million both days!!

So, I tend to believe it does something.