What do you think of acupuncture?

heathergirl67

Mumbo jumbo or legit? I've seen conflicting studies, so I'm not sure either way.

 I'm seeing an acupuncturist who I really like. I definitely feel better emotionally when I visit. I feel like it really helps me process things. For that reason, for me, I think it is worth it, whether or not there is any real medical benefit. It's an alternative to therapy.

But then she tells me things are happening biologically and I don't know whether to believe it or not. To be honest, I want to believe what she's saying is accurate. Maybe that's because hers are the only answers I have to what's wrong. Maybe it's because I feel like if she's right, and I can get things worked out emotionally, I'll get pregnant.

But I've never seen any solid data that links anxiety or negative emotions to infertility. I've seen how it can slightly hamper fertility, but not cause full-on infertility.

For me, the path will be the same whether what she's saying is legit or not. Because I recognize that even if it doesn't lead to increased fertility, I need to work things out with a therapist for my emotional health. But I do wonder. I'll give you an example:

Her: You seem warmer than the last time I saw you. Have you been sweating at night?

Me: No. Actually... yes, I have. The past few days. I've also gotten like 5 coldsores the past month and I'll usually only get about one a year!

Her: I think that what we're doing is working, because it's getting your blood moving more, heating you up. But the coldsores and the night sweating really make me think that you're still internally very tightly wound, closed up. You're not letting go and letting that warmth spread throughout your entire body yet. You'll get there.

She also looks at my tongue, feels my pulse, and told me to start taking a natural iron supplement since I'm a vegetarian. I dunno, I have a more skeptical way of thinking about things, so when I hear that stuff I automatically think, "Baloney." But then again, I could see how anxiety could bring out a usually dormant herpes virus, giving me cold sores. And the night sweats... I just don't know.

Is it real? What do you think?

ColleenS629

I don't know. I wanted to try it because my RE did a study that shows it increases success rates but the place that does it for them charges $200 for treatment at the ET and doesn't take insurance. My insurance covers it at some places but I can't find out from them where they cover it. I don't think I can justify paying $200 for something my insurance would partially cover but at the same time, I do want higher success rates.

Olive44

I've been going once a week for several months, and now that I'm doing IVF I'm going twice a week.  I really look forward to going just for the relaxation I get out of it.  I also like to think it's helping.  It is very expensive, but I feel like I want to give this 110% at this point. 

mdm2137

I just started going to acupuncture for the second time. I went last year for anxiety and it really helped. I don't think acupuncture will get me pregnant-- but I do think feeling well helps my general well being and just gives me a better attitude. I'm not saying a bad attitude or being negative will keep someone from getting pregnant, I just think being balanced and in a better state of mind helps me function better day to day. I was recently diagnosed with vulvar vestibulitis. The past few months I have been extremely uncomfortable and now I can look back and see that my worst days were the days when I was extremely stressed at work. So I do believe there is a strong mind-body connection, but not so much with getting pregnant. We can't make our tubes, utes, or ovaries work right if they just don't work. Hope this makes sense....

rjl07

I went to someone for about 6 months and took the herbs when I wasn't on fertility meds, but I never really felt much.  I found a new person that I saw for 6 weeks and I think she really helped me.  I didn't take any herbs, but she added in the moxa stuff and put needles in places that the other one didn't.  I'm really convinced that she was able to help clear up my cysts and get me ready for IVF.

Blessed1010

Many women over on SAIF and PAIF swear by Acupuncture.  You have nothing to lose.

AmyRM

Well, my doctor -for nonTTC reasons- suggested an alternative direction and gave me the name of an acupuncturist. I'm not so sure, and haven't been to eager to go.

Thanks for posting this. It certainly gives you something to think about. I'm curious now.  

GuppyAmy

I went before and during my IVF. And I got pregnant. I had another miscarriage but  I did get pregnant. However, it made me feel better. Less bloated, anxious, and sore from all the meds.

As for the cold sores- I get them when I'm REALLY stressed so maybe what she's saying is right... who knows? But I think the benfit is you can feel like you're doing something to help. 

stillbaking

I've been doing acupuncture for a while now with my naturopath and I love it. I don't know if it's really helping or not, but I went from a cycle where I o'd on CD51 to one where I o'd on CD24 and got pregnant. And I feel like at the very least the relaxation is helping my mental wellbeing if nothing else. And that alone is worth it. We're taking a break from acupuncture right now while we are TTA but when we do get the go-ahead to try again, I'll start back again.

suntoto

Here is my 2 cents, but it is probably unpopular.  I think it is all a waste of money.  I tried it once and I only lost money on it.  But different things work for different people, so it might work for you.

KristysRedBarn

I don't know.  If it makes you feel better, or more relaxed, then I think it's worth while.  The thought of it stresses me out and I would have to drive an hour and a half to go, so I think it would be counter productive for me.  I have done reflexology before and have considered doing that again.

bbhalphen

I started it last month to try and ovulate earlier.  If I don't see an earlier ovulation in a few months, I'll quit.  I am loving it right now because she also gets the knots out of my back, so it's been well worth it for me!

mlmtgg

mumbo jumbo or not I loved my acu. for me it helped a lot with stress, anxiety, and just general relaxation. and can I say that acu is what finally worked (or got me this far) for my IF issues - I can't, but I can say I started it in July and got my sticky bfp in September. I also just loved my acupuncturist who gave me great ideas for relaxing, eating well, etc.

for me, I'd say go with what you feel about it, and how it makes you feel.