Accupuncture with FET

llhfreedom · April 2018

Hello! I am new to the whole discussion thing, but I am getting close to starting our June FET and I have heard a lot about benefits of doing acupuncture along with it. Has anyone done this and had success, or maybe is doing this currently? I am not sure when I would need to start it, how long/often to do it for? etc.... Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you

prudence9-2 · April 2018

Welcome @llhfreedom

ive been doing acupuncture once a week since I started TTC.

Out of my 5 transfers (4 FET & 1 fresh), in 2 transfers I didn’t have acupuncture once I had the transfer. Those transfers were BFN. The other 3 were BFP

** TW **
the reason I stopped going to acupuncture after my second BFP was because that pregnancy ended in CP and I blamed acupuncture for it. Of course that was probably not the cause. But make sure you see acupuncturist that treats pregnant women.

I then had two more transfers that ended with BFN. So for my last transfer I decided not to stop acupuncture once I had the transfer. And it ended with BFP. *** end TW***

whether acupuncture helps or not, I’m not sure. But it does help blood flow, relaxes you and helps with sleeping.

llhfreedom · April 2018

prudence9-2

I was thinking about just doing it through the transfer up until my first set of bloodwork. I had some trouble getting my lining thick enough before and my last FET ended with a BFP, which ended up being a chemical pregnancy. With the cost of it, I don't think I could continue through the pregnancy anyway.

You don't have to answer if you don't want to, but what did you mean when you said it ended in CP? Is that a chemical pregnancy?

prudence9-2 · April 2018

@llhfreedom yes. CP is chemical pregnancy. I think if you can continue until beta that would be great. As it might help with implantation. Just make sure the acupuncturist you go to is comfortable treating pregnant women. And knows what points to use to help with implantation

northbeach3 · April 2018

hi @llhfreedom -- i did short term acupuncture with my fresh IVF transfer. I went 1x per week before transfer and then did acupuncture immediately before and after transfer. That cycle I did get pregnant and had stopped going after the transfer. i had some pretty severe morning sickness and had considered going back b/c i'm told it can help minimize symptoms (but don't know truth to that). sadly, i had a MMC so didn't end up making it back to treat the morning sickness.

i have an FET coming up in mid-may, so plan to do similar short-term acupunture 1x week until transfer, then again immediately before and after transfer. really can't say if it helps or not, but it seemed to "work" last time so superstition is driving me to go again this time. don't think i'll continue treatment after transfer unless they say that it can help nausea.

artemis618 · April 2018

@llhfreedom For my FET cycles I’ve generally gone about once a week before transfer (starting during period), and used a local-to-my-clinic acupuncturist for the on-site before and after (“German protocol” https://www.pullingdownthemoon.com/blog/2011/november/acupuncture-before-and-after-embryo-transfer.aspx) acu. The premium for German protocol was annoying, but I did achieve implantation each time. I also just find it relaxing. Now I’m mostly going weekly.

@northbeach3 My insurance actually covers acupuncture for morning sickness (but not infertility), so maybe there’s something to it?

Good luck!

llhfreedom · April 2018

artemis618

My insurance covers acupuncture itself but they said that they may not cover it for infertility because it is not standard treatment, so we'll see. That's mainly why I'm trying to find out when and how much I should be going because I have limited funds to do it.

callisy

Do you think it would be better to start after my period, when I start my estrogen for the FET? Or should I start earlier, like while I'm on birth control, before my period? I have heard about doing it right before and right after the transfer, and I don't think I'll be able right before because they schedule me so early, but I'm thinking I might do it right afterwards on my way home. I'm really nervous because this is our last embryo, so I want to do everything I can to make this work!!!

artemis618 · April 2018

@llhfreedom Some providers will bill for other conditions...depending on billing ethics. I may inquire about billing for morning sickness this weekend even though (knock on wood) I don’t really have any symptoms - any earlier it might not be very reasonable. My insurance limits me to 20 sessions per condition, and lumps all musculoskeletal pain in as one.

I know you didn’t ask me, but for my medicated cycle I started Estrace on day 2 or 3, so the timing (starting Estrace or starting period) was almost the same for me. Pretty sure I did weekly starting with that period leading up to transfer (which was shorter for my medicated cycle - with this last natural cycle FET I was a good 8 days late ovulating because of lupron during stim cycles right before). So could be as few as 3-4 visits before depending on the timing.

northbeach3 · April 2018

Just got back from my first acupuncture visit of this FET cycle. She put me on 1x per week before transfer, immediately before and after transfer, and continued visits 1x per week post transfer.

Given the MMC, she thinks the continues acupuncture could be good to help with blood circulation. In my first cycle, she diagnosed with signs of anemia, poor blood circulation.

Im jealous of yalls insurance. My HMO covers squat.

northbeach3 · April 2018

Also, I think you can wait until you start your next cycle before starting up acupuncture. It is pricey!! She gave me a break on price but had to buy 6 session pack for $408!

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