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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

Acupuncture for fertility

264 replies

A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 26/04/2021 13:09

I've just started acupuncture and am two sessions in. Was wondering if anyone had any experiences on it they could share, and how long its worth continuing it for?

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Original poster
A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 29/04/2021 06:51

@beckyCarlos no the needles are as thin as a hair, feels nothing like an injection at all! Some points do sting/ache a little, but nothing too bad. She showed me them before my first session because I was curious and nervous!

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beckyCarlos · 28/04/2021 22:29

@intrigued2020 I'm not massively keen on needles and things but I know people who have had it for sports injuries and stuff and they said it's not jabby jabby like 'usual' needles, and I'm sure my friend said she fell asleep lol x

Intrigued2020 · 28/04/2021 21:36

@beckyCarlos - Thank you 🤗 So far so good... I found the treatment a bit strange at first and some of the needles can ache a bit but if it is doing something then I don’t mind it! What I really liked is that she asked me a lot of questions around my fertility history and periods/ health etc so I felt that she is honestly interested in helping me which is good. It is not cheap so I want to make sure that it’s worth it 👌 You will have to let us know how you get on ☺️

beckyCarlos · 28/04/2021 21:23

Good luck @intrigued2020! How are you finding it? X

Intrigued2020 · 28/04/2021 21:18

Hi everyone, just reading this thread and thought I would jump on! It’s so encouraging hearing the success stories 🤗 I have just started acupuncture with a Zita west trained therapist. I have had three sessions over the past 3 weeks and I am currently ovulating so we shall see what happens 🤗 I’m crossing my fingers for success 👌

beckyCarlos · 28/04/2021 18:08

Just sent an enquiry to a Zita West trained acupuncturist 30 minutes away, thank you all again :) x

beckyCarlos · 28/04/2021 17:38

Thanks everyone :) I've heard good things about Zita West so that sounds like a good place to start! X

Original poster
A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 28/04/2021 17:24

@beckyCarlos I also looked for fertility specialists in my area, turns out mine also was trained by Zita West. There's a list on her website also I think

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choccrumpet · 28/04/2021 16:48

@beckyCarlos I googled Zita West trained acupuncturists near me and choose one nearby, have yet to go so don't actually know what he's like. Otherwise my friend goes to another one for other reasons and recommended her but I don't think she's got any specialist training (is that even a thing?) so thought this one might be better for me

WetJan · 28/04/2021 16:35

Mine was recommended by word of mouth (a colleague of my mother had four rounds of IVF and the only successful one was with acupuncture).

beckyCarlos · 28/04/2021 16:16

Hey everyone! How did you find your acupuncturist? I've done multivits, mediation, and yoga but figure another thing can't hurt but I don't know where to start looking :) x

Original poster
A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 28/04/2021 15:57

@Onemoremakesthree thanks so much, that sounds so positive also. Especially after the losses, I'm sorry to hear about those

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A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 28/04/2021 15:55

@Fkrkrodps thanks so much for sharing

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Onemoremakesthree · 28/04/2021 15:53

I had it after a year of trying and 3 miscarriages, was pregnant after about 2 months of acupuncture once a week, stopped once I found out then started again to help with morning sickness. I can definitely recommend it for both. Good luck

Fkrkrodps · 28/04/2021 15:43

I had acupuncture for a short luteal phase. I’d only been trying for a few months, but I was worried about the short luteal phase and thought I’d give it a go. I started weekly sessions at the start of my monthly cycle and conceived that month. I’ve no idea whether the acupuncture helped or not with that. I did notice that after a session, around the time of ovulation, I noticed a twinge that I hadn’t felt previously. I continued with acupuncture throughout the first trimester. I don’t know if it helped, but it was a psychological boost.

choccrumpet · 28/04/2021 15:39

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I've read the same and tried it for one cycle and then just didn't keep it up! I like the taste of it too. Looking at the one I got now and it says it is from concentrate so will have to look around for another one. Probably worth trying if not eating meat could be an issue there

Original poster
A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 28/04/2021 14:18

@choccrumpet tbh at my scan they said all looked okay from a uterus health MOT perspective also, so I’m not sure why I take it 😂 it’s in the Zita West supplements, and was mentioned in a lot of ivf threads where people had more than one scan and compared whether their lining had improved (and in many cases it had) so I thought why not 🤷‍♀️

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Original poster
A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 28/04/2021 13:46

@choccrumpet Just a half glass a day from just before ovulation for the tww. I actually really like the taste. But it has to be not from concentrate, and so my local shops don't stock it. Waitrose and Tesco def do

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choccrumpet · 28/04/2021 13:19

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 interesting! When I had my ultrasound the tech said my lining looked good for whenever I was there in my cycle but pomegranate juice wouldn't hurt I'm sure. How much do you drink daily & when? I did try it once but kept forgetting to drink it daily.

We didn't go through my diet in detail so maybe we'll talk about it more in my appointment.

Was anyone else told anything about their diet by their acupuncturist?

Original poster
A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 28/04/2021 13:11

That's awesome he thinks he can help with energy and cycle though

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Original poster
A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 28/04/2021 13:10

Hi @choccrumpet I went through my diet (veggie) with mine, and she seemed happy with it. Lots of wholegrains and 7+ portions of fruit and veg a day seemed to be her focus. I started pomegranate juice to promote uterine lining, but I ran out and didn't have a chance to get to the shop near me that sells it, so that's been a bit of a failure this month!

Has anyone else been told to eat or drink / take anything specific by their acupuncturist?

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choccrumpet · 28/04/2021 13:06

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I've booked my first appointment for tomorrow, I found someone Zita West trained near me so am going to give him a go.

We spoke over the phone about my cycle, history of chemicals, trying for 9 months, if I feel tired which I do and also about my diet where I said I'm a vegetarian by choice. He mentioned that eating red meat is encouraged especially to those undergoing IVF (we are not) as it helps promote energy levels, the right uterine lining or maybe he said endometrium, I can't remember which one, and was something I may want to consider. I've heard that being a veggie is good for pregnancy but also not. Is this something that other acupuncturists have mentioned to anyone who is a veggie here?

My cycles have been getting longer with late ovulation so he said acupuncture should help with all of that including helping me feel better and with energy levels too so i am looking forward to my first appointment.

Original poster
A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 28/04/2021 11:48

Just wondering if anyone else has had any experience of acupuncture for fertility?

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Original poster
A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 27/04/2021 09:16

@sabtom 😂 no it is not! Last time the needles made me feel a bit nauseous also. And any in the bony parts (feet, knees etc) sting. I might just be being a wuss

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sabtom · 27/04/2021 07:30

I've just started acupuncture and I'm also on my second session. I have no idea if it'll work but at this moment I've been ttc for over 2 years and I'm will to give anything a go! However, it's not as relaxing as reflexology lol

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