IVF Ladies- If you did acupuncture...

Kathy4678 · January 2011

When did you start going?? I would like to start going before going through IVF, but how early did you start? Were you on stims already or before that?

Just trying to get an idea of the schedule!

ETA: Also- how many sessions did you do while cycling?

And I guess this could really apply to anyone doing acupuncture during treatment- not just IVF'ers!

TIA!

tankeroni · January 2011

Thank you for asking this! I was looking into acupuncture for my next IVF cycle too and this was one of my questions!

jesselayne8 · January 2011

I would love to do accupuncture but the only two clinic here are major sketchy not to mention I am not sure I want to spend the money. Maybe when I move I can find a good place. Let me know how it goes.

Kathy4678 · January 2011

jesselayne8:
I would love to do accupuncture but the only two clinic here are major sketchy not to mention I am not sure I want to spend the money. Maybe when I move I can find a good place. Let me know how it goes.

There are a ton of clinics around me. The one my RE suggests is super far away so not practical. Needless to say, I have to do some research before selecting one. Part of the reason I'm tryin to get an idea of the time commitment!

I'm hoping it will ease the stress of cycling a bit... (crossing my fingers)

punkymama · January 2011

I haven't signed up for the accupuncture due to my work schedule being so crazy right now. I do know that they could possibly want you to go at least once a week depending on your individual situation. The consult is the longest, it's 1.5 hours to 2 for the fertility accupuncturist.

Everyone I know who goes says it's super relaxing and they absolutely love it. I hope I don't have to start going but I will probably start at the end of my IUI if it's not successful. Even though I haven't done it, I would if my work schedule wasn't so ridiculous.

STL34 · January 2011

I tried it for IVF #2. I started about a month or so before starting stims. I went 2 times while stimming and twice on the day of ET (before and after) and then one or two times after ET and before getting a BFN. I really went about twice a week for the entire time. There were a couple of weeks that I could only make it one time. Other than that, the only special appointments were on the day of ET.

adaisybug · January 2011

I am excited to hear responses. We have not had our IVF cycle yet, but when we meet with the RE this week, I am going to ask about it. Thankfully, my RE clinic has an in-house accupuncturist (sp?), so I am looking forward to it!

Itmamma · January 2011

I was told to go before starting Stims because once the Stims kick in they take over and acupuncture can only help with side effects. It is rec to do it before and after the transfer. I loved it and highly rec it but make sure they are familiar with an ivf cycle and don't let them pressure you into anything. There is a lot of info from the Domar center, she wrote a few books on mind body stuff as it relates ti IF, sorry I don't remember her first name. Good luck!

Mrs.Johns · January 2011

I noticed a huge difference in my acupuncture cycle vs. the non-acupuncture cycle. If I have to do IVF for another child I will absolutely be doing acu. I started going once per week about 6 weeks before stims. While on stims I went twice per week. I went 2x on the day of ET, immediately before and immediately after. I really enjoyed it and felt like I could feel the blood going into my ovaries. It was also very relaxing and something that I was doing for myself. It was nice to escape and just zone out to relaxing music and feel like I was doing something positive for mind and body. Good luck!

ETA: I also 100% agree with the person who said to make sure they know about acu and infertility. My acupuncturist specialized in infertility and put the needles in certain places to make sure the blood was going to my ovaries/ute.

mdluv21 · January 2011

I started about 6 weeks before the ER, right before I started the BCPs.

I went once a week until stims and then twice a week and then right before the tranfer and right after and then back to once a week.

I think it did help, especially the two on the day of transfer but what I think really helped me was the diet they recommended. I did not do any herbs.

Oh and I 100% agree to go to a place that specializes in infertility, mine worked very closely with my RE.

MrsLoos · January 2011

I started in Feb. last year and was going every week. I took a break over the summer and started back up in November once we decided to do IVF. I went every other week for 2 months before starting Lupron. Now that I'm on stims I'm going as needed (1 or 2 times a week) I'llalso go right before retrieval and before/after transfer.

tosh24 · January 2011

I'm not doing IVF, but I am doing acupuncture.

I go twice a week between AF and O, and then once toward the end of my LP. I don't know about anyone else, but I actually get headaches/migraines after the treatment. I think I'm just one of those more sensitive people.

I've been noticing changes in my cycle though (this is only my second cycle). I O'd earlier than I ever have last cycle (CD 13!!), had a longer LP by one day, didn't have my usual severe PMS symptoms, and so far, am having a shorter, way lighter AF (it's day 4 and she's just about gone - usually I'm a 6-7 day-er with heavy flow).

My RE's acupuncurist is too far away so I called the local fertility clinic and asked who they deal with. My acupuncturist's main practice deals with infertility, so she is very knowledgeable in that regard.

LuckyOBlessed · January 2011

Im not doing IVF but I recently started acupuncture ~ I go twice a week but he said that when my cycles shorten I will only go once a week or every other week.

LnR70707 · January 2011

I started a little late (according to the acu)...about 2 weeks before starting stims. I went about twice a week until retrieval, then once a week until I dumped my acu at 6 weeks (she wanted me to continue throughout the whole damn pregnancy....even at 6 weeks I was finding it to be more a PIA than a help).

BBColt78 · January 2011

I had started acupuncture in March, which was before I knew I would do IVF. I started for stress and had the thought that IVF would be on the horizon. All acu docs are different, but in the beginning, I was going three times a week for about two weeks. Then two times a week for two weeks, then once a week for four weeks, and finally I started once a month.

For IVF, he had me go twice before retrieval (about a week before). He did want me to come after transfer, but I got psycho and worried that acu could mess up my cycle (so weird).

After my IVF worked, I kept going once a week to help "stabilize" the pregnancy. I stopped going after about 12 weeks of pregnancy because I felt great

HTH- Good luck!

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