Accupuncture

arieberry · February 2015

My husband and I have been TTC for a year now, my periods are always very regular, I have been temping and using Opks and they are always pretty consistent with when I'm ovulating. My OB recommended I start doing yoga and seeing someone who does fertility acupuncture, because she thinks it's me stressing about getting pregnant that is preventing it from happening. Have any of you ever tried this, or heard of it being successful?
Thank's!

MagicMikki · February 2015

If it's been a year or more since you've started TTC, it's time to see an RE. Acupuncture and yoga sound relaxing and all, but there is no clear link between either of those and increased fertility. Sounds like a classic OB statement, to be honest! I saw my old midwife, my regular OB, and a new OB after TTC for 1.5 years with no success... All three told me the same thing, to just relax, continue using OPKs, and just be patient. Lamest advice ever, I know now! I ditched my OB for an RE. You never know what types of roadblocks you're experiencing.

Anyway, of course yoga and acupuncture will be relaxing, but they are likely NOT your solution. Good luck!

Waterlily234 · February 2015

I'm doing acupuncture and yoga now in anticipation of IVF. I love it. I have only been to 4 sessions of acupuncture so far but it has helped me immensely. My appetite is better, I'm sleeping better, my digestion is better. I have high hopes that it will work to improve my lining/blood flow and get my body in a better place to either conceive on my own or to help along with IVF. Acupuncture works even if it's the placebo effect. That being said I have been checked out thoroughly by an RE. I would also like to mention that as much as I HATE to hear "relax" ...especially from people in my life that don't understand the IF struggle, there is something to it.

DrthVdr · February 2015

Stress does not prevent pregnancy.

The lack of knowledge on here now is astonishing. Even more so if a medical doctor really told you that.

alana919 · February 2015

I agree with Waterlily. While I haven't had fertility success with acupuncture in my most recent medicated cycle, I do believe it helped other facets of my health which in turn helped some things change for me in the most recent cycle. Just like Waterlily, my sleep and digestion were better and my lining was fabulous by the time I triggered. They do say it takes up to 10 treatments before you see a change but I do believe it helps. Friends that have underwent IVF have sworn by acupuncture and chiropractic care. In order to get pregnant your whole body needs to have energy flowing properly though it so conditions are "perfect" and there's a reason Traditional Chinese Medicine has been around for hundreds of years.

If you been trying to conceive for over a year, I would go to an RE just to have that advanced medical opinion before starting acupuncture. That way the can treat your needs more specifically if you choose that route.

I fully admit that I don't always buy into things without research but my RE also recommend acupuncture so I decided to try it. My first session the acupuncturist recommend the book The Infertiltity Cure by Randine Lewis. It gets a little deep into TCM but it gave me some great knowledge about things I have been experiencing in my TTC journey.

kotkoda · February 2015

YES! Acupuncure worked for me and worked for 2 other people I know. All of them were over 40 and had issues conceving. I absolutely advise ANYONE with these isues to try that FIRST THING. It is much cheaper and less invesive than IVF (plus it helps you with other issues you may have). Make sure to go to an acupuncturist who is SPECIALIZED in fertility and have a good SUCCESS RATE (check YELP). It usually costs $80-120 a treatment, but it is worth it. A good acupuncturist should help you within 2-3 cycles (max). Good luck ladies!

kfb829 · February 2015

I love acupuncture, but like a pp mentioned, find one who specializes in fertility acupuncture. If anything it is very relaxing and a de-stresser for me. I love my acupuncturist. Don't know where you are, but if you are in the NYC area I can recommend mine. He's amazing - compassionate and knowledgeable. He's been doing fertility acupuncture for almost 20 years.

DrthVdr · February 2015

kotkoda said:

YES! Acupuncure worked for me and worked for 2 other people I know. All of them were over 40 and had issues conceving. I absolutely advise ANYONE with these isues to try that FIRST THING. It is much cheaper and less invesive than IVF (plus it helps you with other issues you may have). Make sure to go to an acupuncturist who is SPECIALIZED in fertility and have a good SUCCESS RATE (check YELP). It usually costs $80-120 a treatment, but it is worth it. A good acupuncturist should help you within 2-3 cycles (max). Good luck ladies!

IVF is not something people choose lightly. If someone has gotten to a point where IVF is needed and has been recommended by a medical professional, no amount of acupuncture is going to help. PLEASE stop spreading this information. It is misleading, and ignores the fact that there are real medical issues at play that can lead a couple to choose IVF.

MagicMikki · February 2015

I am with @DrthVdr‌ on this one. Infertility can certainly be a serious issue for many women, and while certain holistic approaches such as acupuncture and yoga certainly don't HURT, they likely are not the answer. I'm definitely not against any sort of natural alternatives to medical intervention, but in this case, it sounds like OP's doctor was attempting to say that this will be her answer without any further testing. This sounds like an answer from a doctor who is short on answers, and is attempting to blame the one thing that he can spot-- the obvious stress that is TTC.

Also, I'm sure many women have had a successful pregnancy following acupuncture, but there is no scientific support linking acupuncture to increased rates of conception for women (well, couples...) who are actually experiencing legitimate infertility. The link in this case is purely coincidental and is no stronger than the link between increased pregnancy rates for women who have upped their chocolate intake the month the ended up pregnant.

No amount of acupuncture a woman might receive will help with pregnancy when her partner's SA numbers are low. It doesn't sound like male factor (or other more serious female factor) was at all considered by OP's doctor.

Of course, I say again that it definitely wouldn't hurt! And I'm sure regular acupuncture and yoga would be very relaxing! I just hope that OP doesn't rely on this as the answer to all fertility issues.

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