Mumsnet Talk

Have been trying for a year. 2 miscarriages one at 12 weeks one at around six. I will be 35 this april and know that my odds will be slashed in half after that. I just feel so useless. I thought that trying accupuncture or alternative therapies even if they don't really help might make me feel more proactive and/or give me relaxing me time.

I had 2 cycles of acupuncture after an ectopic pregnancy (that cost me a tube) and got pregnant with dd who's now 2. I had 1 session after a mmc and am now 30 weeks so I'd recommend it to anyone and everyone!

Get in touch with a practitioner and get started, I had sessions on certain days to encourage egg release from the 'right' side where my remaining tube is and then after suspected ovulation (I used temp charts and opk's) to help with uterine lining. After such horrible disappointments with pregnancy loss it definitely made me feel proactive.

I'm 39 btw, you have plenty of time!

I'm a huge fan. It sorted out my allergies (IBS & hay fever) and has helped with my positive outlook whilst we go through IVF. If anything it's just a chance to relax and talk about stuff to someone who doesn't judge. It's important to make sure you get on with your therapist.

Good luck!

I did before IVF and during my 1st pregnancy and again 2nd time around. It was very relaxing and helpful to have the sort of casual counselling space to help me deal with the treatments. I would highly recommend.

There are a lot of acupuncturists who specialise in fertility and pregnancy as well so it might be worth seeing one of them for a trial session.

TTC DD1 4 months - 4th month started acupuncture and became pregnant that month

TTC DD2 13 months - 13th month returned to acupuncture and once again fell pregnant immediately.

If we go for a 3rd I'll be going there from month 1.

My fertility nurse reccomends it. She says if nothing else it helps your wellbeing which in return can help you concieve.
Ask your hospital if they can reccomend anyone. I'll be starting in Feb.

Tried it, like it. Am not pregnant yet!

I tried it to get my (post pill) irregular cycle sorted out when I'd been TTC 6 months, got pregnant after 2nd session (same night I calculate!) so definitely recommend it

I also think it worked for me. Cycles and hormones all over the place after a miscarriage so went for acupuncture and am convinced it helped me conceive DD who is now 6mo

Tried it, wanted it to work, seemed to make no difference and cost a lot of money. Had 2 MMC's, then cycle became really irregular and was struggling to both conceive and just generally emotionally.

Acupuncturist was very experienced and definitely thought she could get my cycle more regular. I saw her every week for about 10 weeks until we both had to admit it wasn't working.

I have heard it works for others and really wanted it to make a difference for me but sadly it didn't so please try it but don't expect it to be the magic solution.

thanks so much for all your responses.
redbird12, I 'll try know not to get my hopes up. I'm not viewing it as the answer to all my problems, but I figure it can't hurt and if nothing else might relax me a bit.
What do they do in a session? any tips? where do the pins go? does it hurt?

Worked for me. I had been tested and told I had a hormone imbalance, and that I'd need "help" to conceive. I had 6 months "trying", then 6 months of acupuncture, and could actually feel things settling into a normal rhythm. I felt fertile (hard to explain). I fell pregnant at the end of the 6 months acupuncture.

In my case, it was a lot of questions at the beginning about my cycle, history etc. Then treatments twice a week for the first months, gradually decreasing just to twice a month.

Lots of needles, but they didn't hurt too much.

I'd say give it a go.

I've been having it on and off since january which is when we had our first appointment at the fertility clinic after 18 months of trying and an mc. Like you OP, I wanted to feel a bit more in control and that I was 'doing something' amid all the waiting around. I had acupuncture about 5 years ago for a completely different issue but one side-effect I wasn't expecting was that my irregular, painful periods completely evened out. For that reason I thought it might help with fertility.

I'm not convinced it made much difference to my cycles and I didn't get pregnant naturally during treatment but I definitely found it helped calm me down, boost my energy and the psychological benefit of having someone to talk to about TTC who wasn't a medic but had a lot of knowledge was definitely helpful. I then had acupuncture throughout my first IVF cycle which resulted in a surprise BFP (still in shock!). I have no way of knowing whether the acupuncture made any difference but I certainly felt calmer and more relaxed because of it.

When you first go the practitioner will take a history of your symptoms (very holistically), feel your pulse, look at your tongue and give you a diagnosis from a Chinese medicine perspective. I found that really interesting alongside the western one. You then lie on a couch while they put the needles in at appropriate points. You can feel the needles but it's not a pain as such and there is not usually any blood unless they nick a capillary. I bruise easily so did get occasional bruises. I would have on average about a dozen needles in a treatment at various points - wrists, ankles, knees, abdomen, top of my head - but the location will depend on your individual diagnosis. The needles stay in for 25-30 minutes or so by the end of which I was usually asleep! My first appointment was an hour and subsequent ones were 45 minutes long. I'd say it's worth a try, if it's not for you you don't have to pursue it further.

How much does it cost roughly?

I think I was between £35 and £40 a session, can't remember exactly.

I'm having it now, not for fertility but abdo pain (that the hospital can't treat because I finally got pregnant before the planned op!). I have to take strong painkillers which, while not unsafe in pregnancy, aren't ideal. I found my local university do acupuncture at a discounted rate. Students obviously but under supervision. First session was free then I paid £50 for five sessions (bargain!). I was skeptical but it's really helped! I found after two sessions, I can go longer between painkillers, I can take less some days and its helped with my constipation too.

I have needles in my leg and Lower back but obviously it varies depending on what they're treating. I would definitely reccomend it.

I had 2 mc around 12 weeks. My cycles were all over the place and I had mild pcos too. Acupuncture got my cycles regular and a decent length within a few cycles. The month my acupuncturist went on hols my cycle went mental again but as soon as I resumed treatment it went regular again. I was advised to give it 6-9 months to balance everything out (apparently my womb was 'too cold' and my energy too low in traditional Chinese medicine). I have it 6 months then tried, got preg immediately (although never had any trouble conceiving) but this time had a perfect pregnancy Amd now a 5 month old. I should point out I also had treatment for natural killer cells (western treatment) once pregnant but this had nothing to do with regulating my
Cycles which I truly believe was down to acupuncture.

Some people respond to it better than others but it's worth a try.

I was lucky as my GP clinic offered acupuncture on the NHS. I had my first session in November, having TTC since early April without success. Yesterday I found out I'm pregnant after two sessions. I have to admit I was sceptical about acupuncture to begin with but now I'm almost convinced it can be effective.