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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Secondary Infertility - Acupuncture or Reflexology?

80 replies

ionaming · 11/10/2005 22:58

Hiya, been ttc no. 2 for a year now & have been diagnosed with low progesterone & a short luteal phase. I've tried all the usual suspects - vit B6, B Complex, Agnus Castus etc & I'm currently awaiting my 1st appointment with the Fertility Consultant.

But in the meantime, I thought I might give acupuncture or reflexology a go, but I'm not sure which is better? Also, any recommendations for practioners in the North Hampshire/Surrey area would be great

OP posts:
jane313 · 29/11/2005 07:51

Jen28, were you ovulating? What were your hormone levels like? Where did you have your acupuncture?

Thanks

Jen28 · 28/11/2005 23:17

PS: A lot of therapists are paranoid about doing any kind of treatment in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, so may be unsure about treating you if ttc as a lot of the professional guidelines say to treat someone who is ttc as though pregnant. But there are reflexologists and acupuncturists who specialise in fertility treatments, so they will treat you when ttc but will probably want you to be pretty sure of your dates and work around them.

Jen28 · 19/11/2005 16:53

I had an amazing acupuncture success story. I used to have only had 3-4 periods a year but my hormones were completely normal, ovaries were scanned and were normal, no PCOS, no weight issues - in short no medical explanation. My GP's advice was to have sex every 2 days!! After three years of trying - including 6 months on a double dose of clomid (single dose didn't work) and ultrasound cycle monitoring - so we could see the egg ripen and get the timing perfect - I got pregnant and then had a miscarriage. I found a really sympathetic female acupuncturist with a special interest in fertility due to her personal experience. She got my cycle to 32-34 days permanently within three months of treatment and we got pregnant first month trying. She continued to treat me during my pregnancy - both acupuncture and reflexology are safe during pregnancy. I did ask my gynae if she had any concerns about me seeing an acupuncturist and she said no. Check with the therapist you are thinking of using but I would say that acupuncture and reflexology are complementary with conventional medicine (e.g. clomid) and would enhance its effect. I now have a ds aged 14 mts and had to be induced in the end so my acupuncturist gave me a "warm up" treatment and as soon as they put in the gel, I went into labour, instead of the usual 8-16 hours later. I can give more details of the exact acupuncture treatments I had and what it was like if anyone is interested.

iris66 · 19/11/2005 15:05

AoR Website sorry - try this!

iris66 · 19/11/2005 15:03

The Assoociation of Reflexologists is the largest reflexology oprganisation in the world their UK website is here and all their practitionersa re listed by area. HTH

twinklemummy · 19/11/2005 14:56

isnt there a national wed site wheret hey area all regsitered and u can use to find a local one ?

Fee05 · 12/11/2005 11:52

Can anyone advise me on this?......I am about to start clomid and have PCOS but I would like to try reflexology to help with the symptoms of PCOS. Is it ok to have refelxology whilst taking clomid? I also heard that it can be dangerous to have reflexology if you are pregnant (i.e. not yet aware that you had conceived)

strike1 · 11/11/2005 14:43

Has anyone got agood accuputurist around the twickenham/sw london area? I found a good one in Brixton but she seem very pricey. I wanted to know if anyone else had treatment in this area and could offer advice and recommendations?

Littlefish · 10/11/2005 09:08

Not with secondary infertiity (yet!) as our dd is only a year old. We were trying for 2.5years and were one month away from starting IVF when I found out I was pregnant naturally.

I was having reflexology and both my DH and I were having acupuncture. We had also given up coffee, alcohol, red meat and any cow dairy products. (Sounds really extreme when I write it down!)

My reflexologist is absolutely fantastic and I always come away feeling energised and relaxed at the same time. If you want her details, please CAT me, although she sometimes has a bit of a waiting list.

Trix1 · 09/11/2005 22:26

Thanks littlefish - if shes amazing may be worth the drive. Have you got personal experience?

Littlefish · 09/11/2005 22:22

Is Cheltenham too far away? I know an amazing one there.

Trix1 · 09/11/2005 22:14

does anyone recommend any reflexology therapist in the west midlands?

pindy · 04/11/2005 09:58

Hi - sorry didn't get back before about why reflexology, really busy at the moment, but promise I will give my reasons soon.

katierocket · 04/11/2005 09:55

Well that's partially positive isn't it ionaming (if there is such a thing as being partially positive!) HOpefully the consultant will be able to shed more light on it/have suggestions of best thing to do next. Make sure you write down any questions as you think of them and then take them in with you, I forgot half of what I wanted to say.

Yes I've finished Clomid and although they could up the dosage I don't want them to, it wasn't nice really. I have an HSG on Monday then follow up with consultant on thursday. we could then decide to try IUI next cycle. We're on about 19 months of trying now, quite unbelievable when I think of it like that. Ah well, hopefully soon....

Let me know if you do decide to go for reflexology.

Original poster
ionaming · 03/11/2005 20:33

Hi Katierocket, we're just plodding on with (unlucky?!) cycle 13 - how about you? I think I found the first six months of ttc really soul-destroying when nothing happened, but have become pretty much resigned to it now & finding it easier to cope with. I don't get that awful disappointment each month when AF turns up because I have no expectation of conceiving without treatment anymore. Makes things far easier in a way.

I've had some more results back - a repeat day 21 prog test came back with a level of 38 (indicating ovulation), whereas the previous one was only 2.0! So, whereas I was orginally referred for low progesterone & non-ovulatory, it now looks like this might not be the case. Still got a short luteal phase though, so definitely still a problem somewhere! My day 3 LH/FSH levels came back in the right "ratio", so looks like PCOS is now ruled out.

Haven't tried reflexology yet - have my 1st consultant appointment in 2 weeks, so will wait & see what happens there. If they schedule lots more tests, then will go ahead with reflexology. It also coincides with dd going full-time at school, so will be easier to fit any reflexology sessions in during my lunchbreak at work!

When is your next appointment? Hope all goes well for you..... I remember you were pretty fed up with clomid & its side-effects Any progress towards IUI?

OP posts:
katierocket · 03/11/2005 10:39

HOW'S IT going ionaming?

twinklemummy · 30/10/2005 11:57

cheers its hard finding the time to get there though

sweetheart · 28/10/2005 14:24

ionaming - Fleets very popular!

There is an alternative therepy place in Aldershot which I have been to to see an Osteapath but they do all kinds of treatments there.

It's the General Medical Centre
12-14 Union Street
Aldershot

Tel: 01252 666898

twinklemummy · 28/10/2005 14:20

was anyone able to help us on this one at all?

twinklemummy · 24/10/2005 21:21

hi are there any general holistic therapists in and around b,ham too

Original poster
ionaming · 24/10/2005 20:56

Yep, looks like it's working now.....have sent you a CAT

OP posts:
oaktree · 24/10/2005 14:18

soory -have tried to change it so please try again ifyou 'd like to

Original poster
ionaming · 23/10/2005 21:22

Thanks everyone.

Pinewood - thanks for the link - lots of different therapies to look into there

Oaktree, tried to CAT you, but get message saying you have chosen not to receive Mumsnet messages!

I have the details of Mojomummy's reflexologist, but would like to be able to compare a few.

An update: I've now had my appointment through for the infertility consultant & will be seeing him in just over 4 weeks, so hopefully might start making some progress. Have just started cycle 13 of ttc....hey ho

OP posts:
Pinewood · 23/10/2005 20:07

Hi Ionaming. I have used a lady in Finchampstead, Berkshire for Reiki which is not far from the Hampshire/Surrey boarder. She is a general holistic therapist and does do reflexology and other treatments but unfortunately not acupunture. Here's the link: Beverley Chilcott Hopefully this link will work!

oaktree · 23/10/2005 18:24

I am very close to Farnborugh & can tell you who've I'VE SEEN IF YOU CAT me

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