Acupuncture

[AuntieDoris]

After 15 months of TTC and no joy I have booked to see an acupuncturist whilst we wait for an appointment with the fertility specialist.

Did anyone find acupuncture helpful and what should I expect?

[sunnyg]

Hi AuntieDoris
I think it's definitely worth having a go. Acupuncture isn't for everyone. I've had a lot of it in the past for other things like headaches and found it very good. My DH and I are going through fertility treatment now and I went to see a acupuncturist recently. Seeing the reason we are having the treatment lies on DH's side, she actually didn't want to see me again after the first session and now DH is going once-a-week and taking lots of interesting chinese pills! (Bless him!). I think as long as your practitioner
is experienced in fertility issues then there is no reason not to give it a try.

Good luck!

[Stasi]

I've never done acupuncture myself, but am considering looking into it. I've read posts from lots of women on here who have all found it very helpful. Not just for relaxation, but also regulating periods, extending luteal phase, stimulating ovulation etc etc.

As the results are achieved, and these women have no other cause to explain the changes, I think it's worth a try.

It can be very expensive though, so you need to be aware of how you're feeling after sessions, and whether you think it's working. Though it seems to work for many people, I'm sure there are many others who find it makes no difference.

[Teds77]

I'm usually deeply sceptical of things like acupuncture but I have used it during my two rounds of IVF.

As others say, you need to find someone who is experienced in fertility issues but also someone who you like/find supportive. I've no idea if the treatment is improving the blood flow to my ovaries or baby box but I do find it very relaxing - something that's really important if you are going through the stress of infertility/fertility treatment. I also leave treatments feeling really positive, again something that can be difficult to do after months of disappointment.

[Fairygodmother1]

Hi ya,

I had my first session yesterday. Fingers crossed it will work. We've been TTC for 4 years. I had it about 2 years ago but only had about 3 or 4 sessions before our wedding got in the way of things.

I fee like I'm doing everything I can but still not happening for us so I thought I'd give it a go again as others on other sites recommended it.

He told me my circulation is poor (yep I totally agree as am always cold, hate the cold & always have cold feet - even in summer!), & that my energy is low. I had lots of needles in my stomach (I do hate needles), in my legs, 1 in each hand & 1 in my head. They hurt more when he took them out, didn't notice them going in. Was very relaxed when I got home.

Got another session booked next Thursday.

[CareBear1]

I went for a couple of sessions a couple of years ago, didn't really see much point to it so stopped. I can now see it was just that accupuncturist I wasn't getting on with. Following a recommendation from someone else on these threads (womanly tales) I looked for a low cost multi-bed centre near me. Try googling this near you, I think its the new trend in acupuncture. Contrary to what it sounds I'm still in a room on my own and its only £20 a time. I've been going weekly since August. For the last 4 years my cycles have consistently been the same: 32/34 days in length, ovluating late at about day 18, and spotting during the week before my period. Since starting acupuncture (plus herbs and diet changes) my cycles have been 26-28, ovulating more like day 12/14 so dramatically different. I'm convinced its why my chart is starting to look smoother. I'm a big fan of Randine Lewis' 'The infertility cure' which describes how and why acupuncture works, among other things. I'd always discounted the 'science' side of this kind of thing before but am started to think that Dr's in the uk are all very well if you need an engine change, but if its just a bit of fine tuning then this stuff might be the most effective thing. Having said that not pg yet but here's hoping. tbh having tried nearly everything else i'll give anything a go! x x x

www.fertilityfriend.com/home/carebear1

[CareBear1]

PS Fairy my feet are always cold too!! Try hot foot soaks, so nice and good for the 'qi' flow apparantly. I personally find it a good excuse for why dh has to get me a cup of (green) tea, as I can't get up!.

PS all, plus when you know which points do what you can stimulate yourself with a bit of massage at home which i find gives me something to do when i'm trying not to eat chocolate.

[CareBear1]

PPS Teds, just read through the other threads to see where you are up to, good luck for the 2ww, have got everything crossed for you. x x x

[whereismywine]

Hi. Ive been ttc for 12 months now. I had acu just before I even started trying for painful periods and spotting before my period. I have so much to say about this! The woman I first went to was good and I noticed clear changes to when I ovulated (from day 17 to 14), more ewcm and less spotting. However, to maintain it, I needed to go weekly - once a month wasn't enough and I couldn't afford it. The woman could also be just a touch..not unfriendly...but I never felt totally at ease? Anyway I stopped going for months ut have recently found another lovely lady and the whole experience is far more me. She's more motherly and hippy and really knowledgable about all things fertility. I didn't realise how it could be so different. I've had four appointments with her now and my very light, one day period became a 'proper' period this month! I also think the talking really helps me. It's a lot of money but heck, so is ivf. I really really do believe it works. I also had no hay fever at all this summer for the first time ever and I'd had work for that too.

[whereismywine]

Care bear I get cold feet too and isn't the spotting annoying. It worries and bothers me. Have you any theories on what causes it? I worried that my eggs weren't strong enough to support the luteal phase but my acupuncturist poo pooed this and said it was a minor hormone imbalance. I wish it wasn't there though.

[CareBear1]

I could say loads about this too! Know what you mean whereis. think part of it is the talking and diagnosis of what's causing the symptoms - so important that the acupuncturist suits you. the first lady I went to years ago, when i said i might have pcos she made a face like 'ooh that's bad'. this lady i'm seeing now is of the opinion that unless a woman has gone through the menopause or there's a physical cause, that pregnancy is always possible, and even conditions like pcos can be improved.

Regarding the cold feet, according to my acupuncturist this is related to the energy flow and if there are signs of coldness in the extremities or around the uterus then applying heat can counteract this and help to rebalance the energies of the whole body. The idea is (if I've got this right) that if the body is out of balance then the first system the body will 'borrow' energy from is the reproductive system. The needles apparantly act as a 'conductor' to help energy flow, and you can apply external heat, keep warm etc, plus generate internal heat through 'warming' foods like root vegetables, ginger etc. Some people have the opposite of 'too much heat' in their system and need to do the opposite, apply cooling foods like spinach etc.

Regarding the spotting, I've seen a couple of consultants who thought this for me was likely to be some cervical erosion i've got - cells on the outside of the cervix. I get bleeding after quite vigourous sex which i think is from this. However according to my acupuncturist the 'spleen' has a holding function of holding the menses in place (as well as holding the embryo in the uterus) and that if the spleen is weak then spotting will occur. In my chart for Sept, the last 7 days go down incrementally rather than remaining high and dropping suddenly which is apparantly classic spleen deficiency and 'luteal phase defect'. I always thought that condition was a kind of permanent thing but apparantly not, this can be improved by improving the 'spleen' energy.

whereis are you charting too? did you get spotting before the period this month or just a proper period? Last month i had 3 days spotting compared to 5 days the month before. this month i am hoping for 1 or 2 days max - bit different from hoping for a pregnancy!

[Teds77]

Thanks for the good wishes Care - hoping we both get our bfp soon xx.

[Fairygodmother1]

WIMW have you tried royal jelly for egg quality? I've been taking it 3 x daily for the last month. Bough from Holland & Barret. That might help soothe your mind that you're eggs are not up to standard.

The things we women do lol.

*Care8 I've not drunk 'tea' in years now. I have nothing but herbal tea!

[blacktreaclecat]

I had acupuncture during my ivf treatment. The lady I go to is lovely and specialises in fertility. I got lots of mature eggs and have ended up with a bfp and 2 blast frosties. I am still seeing her to support the pregnancy.
As an aside I would avoid taking chinese herbs- either partner- during fertility treatment. My clinic had a run of very poor fertilisation that they worked out was due to patients taking Chinese herbs. My consultant also advised me to stop taking royal jelly.

[whereismywine]

Hi care. This month I had 5 whole days of very light spotting before my period came. Usually it is 2-3 days and rarely 1 but never none. It isn't a lot and I think I only notice because I'm trying and looking? And yes, it is the lack of spotting that is my main focus at the moment rather than a baby which feels a bit like winning the lottery! I will keep you posted for next month. I hope its better than this one.

[wrighty2010]

Hi, I had accupuncture before trying to conceive and twice a week afterwards through my doctor to help with morning sickness (well all day sickness to be honest) Can't say whether it helped beforehand as IO was doing a lot of other things but definatley helped my morning sickness. Read a blog this morning on Pride Angel talking about reflexology and accupuncture, may be worth a read if you have time blogs.prideangel.com/post/2011/11/Can-Reflexology-help-you-get-pregnant.aspx
Hope this helps!! Good luck xx

[bugsylugs]

blacktreacle glad you said that I was going to re chinese herbs did not know about the royal jelly though but not been taking it. Where are you having acupuncture is it near your centre?

[blacktreaclecat]

Bugsy I live in Leeds so my acu lady is here. We travelled 1.5 hrs to Care for the excellent success rates and for array cgh.

[AuntieDoris]

Bollocks. I lived in Leeds until July - I should have found someone whilst I was there!

[CareBear1]

for info

acmac.net/

[AuntieDoris]

Would love to go to a multibed place but there are only about 3 practitioners on the island.. none of which operate this facility.

[Fairygodmother1]

in think I'll stick with my £20 a session as the nearest would cost me about £15 in train fares! lol.

Looking forward to my next session on Thursday.

Is anyone else feeling different inside? I do feel slightly warmer but that sould be all in my head

[CareBear1]

Hmm, just got back from acupuncture. Just so nice, totally took all my worries of the day away. I do feel different inside Fairy, not warmer but less 'clenched' if you know what i mean?

[Fairygodmother1]

I've got another session this afternoon. Looking forward to it!

[Fairygodmother1]

I'm just back from my session & had a very weird experience. I felt like I was gonna have a panic attack! i suppose I haven't really been feeling too great today (a bit fluey)but it was so weird. Now my body feels relaxed but I feel really harassed...weird huh?

Anyone ever felt similar or any idea why I'm feeling that?