I first started this blog years ago when we were going through fertility treatments. But as of 2014, this will be my BLOG OF ADOPTION! My husband and I have decided to adopt from overseas and so I will use this to keep my friends and family up to date as well as for my own form of therapy as we embark on this new journey. CHINA OR BUST!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Acupuncture?
Has anyone tried Acupuncture along with fertility treatments? What is your take on it during a frozen cycle and do you think it helped? How many times did you do it? Do you think it helped your chances or at least helped you mentally?
I am an acupuncture whore. Love it. I've been going for about 2 years to keep myself 'centered' or basically to have a really relaxing nap once a month. My normal acupuncturist is a community acupuncturist and charges on a sliding scale ($15-40/session); I would see him about 1 or 2 times a month.
I also go to a fertility acupuncturist when we're cycling (she's between $55-80/session), I see her about 2 or 3 times a cycle depending on what we're doing. We're gearing up for IVF #1 and I'll go back to her once I'm off birth control. Um, we haven't gotten pregnant, so it probably hasn't actually helped our chances, but it has helped me cling to my sanity most months and that's got to be worth something.
I"m an RPLer so I don't have experience with IVF. However, I LOVE my acupuncturist. I have no idea how much it helps my body, but I know that I leave each session (i go once a week) more relaxed and at ease than at any other time of the week. Considering I suffer from anxiety and he also treats that - I assume it works. HOWEVER This is my third acupuncturist. My first for fertility issues, but I've been to ones before. And none of them held a candle to this guy. So I say CHOOSE YOUR NEEDLE-POKER CAREFULLY! Word of mouth is good. But also check credentials. For example, red flag: If an acupuncturist offers you herbal supplements and hasn't had EXTENSIVE training in herbal medicine - I call shenanigans! But overall - definitely a good and worthwhile thing. I say go for it!
Hi from ICLW! I would love to hear how acupuncture helps. I also want it to help the following, besides my PCOS: weight loss, my big mouth, financial problems, and my MIL. Is it a cure-all? LOL.
I haven't done acupuncture during a treatment cycle, but have done it two other times. I went last fall while we were going through the infertility diagnosis--I liked it, and definitely found it relaxing. I stopped because I just couldn't make it work in my schedule. I also went for about a month before we did IVF this summer. Both times I have gone twice a week. I agree with what mommyodyssey said--choose your acupuncturist carefully--make sure they really know what they are doing with respect to fertility. At the very least, they should be a licensed acupuncturist (L.Ac.).
I've done acupuncture with some cycles and not with others, so far I'm 1/2 in cycles with acupuncture and 1/2 in cycles without. That being said, I did find it relaxing during such a stressful time and that's always a good thing. Even if it doesn't help, it can't hurt!
Hi, My clinic offers acupuncture before/after a transfer and I did it the first 2 times and it HURT. A lot of women it doesn't bother. My 3rd transfer I told the nurse it hurt and she said not to do it. I didn't do it the 4th time either. My stats: Acupuncture: 2 chemical pregnancies No acupuncture: 1 pregnancy ending in miscarriage at 11 weeks, 1 TWIN pregnancy (from a frozen cycle) still going strong (I hope) Hope this helps...
I started acupuncture a month before I started my first IVF cycle. It totally made a difference in my cycle and my IVF cycle has been successful so far. I'm still seeing my acupuncturist and plan on it through out my pregnancy.
I haven't done an FET yet, but plan on one late next summer and I plan on continuing. I believe acupuncture helped me relax enough to allow my body to function properly. Now it just keeps me from freaking out at every turn.
My acupuncturist is board certified in reproductive medicine and even tho my clinic has their own acupuncturists, my RE specifically wanted me to see this guy. He was a little more expensive, but my husband says its the best money we've ever spent!!!
I am an acupuncture whore. Love it. I've been going for about 2 years to keep myself 'centered' or basically to have a really relaxing nap once a month. My normal acupuncturist is a community acupuncturist and charges on a sliding scale ($15-40/session); I would see him about 1 or 2 times a month.
ReplyDeleteI also go to a fertility acupuncturist when we're cycling (she's between $55-80/session), I see her about 2 or 3 times a cycle depending on what we're doing. We're gearing up for IVF #1 and I'll go back to her once I'm off birth control. Um, we haven't gotten pregnant, so it probably hasn't actually helped our chances, but it has helped me cling to my sanity most months and that's got to be worth something.
I"m an RPLer so I don't have experience with IVF. However, I LOVE my acupuncturist. I have no idea how much it helps my body, but I know that I leave each session (i go once a week) more relaxed and at ease than at any other time of the week. Considering I suffer from anxiety and he also treats that - I assume it works.
ReplyDeleteHOWEVER
This is my third acupuncturist. My first for fertility issues, but I've been to ones before. And none of them held a candle to this guy. So I say CHOOSE YOUR NEEDLE-POKER CAREFULLY!
Word of mouth is good. But also check credentials. For example, red flag: If an acupuncturist offers you herbal supplements and hasn't had EXTENSIVE training in herbal medicine - I call shenanigans!
But overall - definitely a good and worthwhile thing. I say go for it!
I'm trying it out for the first time next week (If I can get the essay the require done in time!) and will report back :)
ReplyDeleteHi from ICLW! I would love to hear how acupuncture helps. I also want it to help the following, besides my PCOS: weight loss, my big mouth, financial problems, and my MIL. Is it a cure-all? LOL.
ReplyDeleteI haven't done acupuncture during a treatment cycle, but have done it two other times. I went last fall while we were going through the infertility diagnosis--I liked it, and definitely found it relaxing. I stopped because I just couldn't make it work in my schedule. I also went for about a month before we did IVF this summer. Both times I have gone twice a week. I agree with what mommyodyssey said--choose your acupuncturist carefully--make sure they really know what they are doing with respect to fertility. At the very least, they should be a licensed acupuncturist (L.Ac.).
ReplyDeleteI have heard of many women who have had success with Acupuncturists. Just make sure you find someone with Inferility experience!!
ReplyDeleteHappy ICLW
#75
I've done acupuncture with some cycles and not with others, so far I'm 1/2 in cycles with acupuncture and 1/2 in cycles without. That being said, I did find it relaxing during such a stressful time and that's always a good thing. Even if it doesn't help, it can't hurt!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteMy clinic offers acupuncture before/after a transfer and I did it the first 2 times and it HURT. A lot of women it doesn't bother. My 3rd transfer I told the nurse it hurt and she said not to do it. I didn't do it the 4th time either.
My stats:
Acupuncture: 2 chemical pregnancies
No acupuncture: 1 pregnancy ending in miscarriage at 11 weeks, 1 TWIN pregnancy (from a frozen cycle) still going strong (I hope)
Hope this helps...
I started acupuncture a month before I started my first IVF cycle. It totally made a difference in my cycle and my IVF cycle has been successful so far. I'm still seeing my acupuncturist and plan on it through out my pregnancy.
ReplyDeleteI haven't done an FET yet, but plan on one late next summer and I plan on continuing. I believe acupuncture helped me relax enough to allow my body to function properly. Now it just keeps me from freaking out at every turn.
My acupuncturist is board certified in reproductive medicine and even tho my clinic has their own acupuncturists, my RE specifically wanted me to see this guy. He was a little more expensive, but my husband says its the best money we've ever spent!!!
Good Luck to you!