To not do acupuncture?

[AnnaSteen]

Did one round of IVF and acupuncture with it (BFN). Didn’t enjoy it or find it relaxing. Rushing to and from the appointments and feeling pain when needles went in /afraid to move in case I jolted them. Tried to find a new acupuncturist so went to one highly recommended and same pain / rushing for appointments as none of these people seem to work after 5.30 and I work full time!! WIBU to not bother with acupuncture for next round? I could go to the spa for a massage and use the pool every weekend for the same money and do it on the weekend so no rushing - but I’m terrified I will be giving up something that might help the IVF work!

It's complete quackery. Of course YANBU; don't waste your money.

It's obviously not quackery at all. But your body, your choice.

It's not quackery at all, but it works differently for different people. If you didn't feel it the first time it's fine to give it a miss.

I think the only evidence for acupuncture and ivf is having it pre and post transfer so could you just do it then and skip doing any other time?

I have had acupuncture for the last year pre and post ivf. I also really don't enjoy it!

Has it worked? Well I'm 14 weeks pregnant after my first round ivf

However I have CFS (chronic fatigue syndrome). I have had it 19 years.... and I can't tell you the last time I have felt this good. Some of my worst symptoms and just evaporated. It is categorically not quackery. I didn't even go to acupuncture and have any expectations of it helping my CFS so it can't even be accused of being a placebo effect.

Not having expectations doesn't preclude a placebo effect. You need a double blind experiment to determine whether it is more than placebo.

Yes I am aware of that thanks. What I'm saying is that as I wasn't going for CFS symptoms and it's been an added bonus I am definitely not imagining it.

I found it painful as well OP and not at all relaxing it didn't help me get a BFP with ivf. I think so what you are comfortable with if it's stressing you fitting it in and the actual process is uncomfortable wouldn't bother.

It’s not Quakery but it doesn’t suit everyone. If it’s not for you OP don’t do it.

Best of luck on the next cycle.

I've had it for pain management and it's been incredible. Absolutely not a placebo effect.

If you don’t enjoy don’t do it. Do find something to help you relax. I’ve used the zita west relaxation and that was nice as you were at home.

Thanks everyone! When I hear success stories I get very worried and think I should suck it up - but then I did do it religiously for my first IVF and it didn’t make any difference so maybe I will try find something to help me relax like the suggestion by @takemetoinsanity

I had a meltdown about it this eve. It’s another thing to feel so pressured about. I also don’t have any problems myself - it’s male factor infertility so maybe it works more for women with female factor issues around their cycle etc.

It’s hard to know what to do.

I've had it for pain management and it's been incredible. Absolutely not a placebo effect

If the pain is better, then it could still be placebo affect. Placebos work (even on animals!), that's the point.

There have been countless trials and none of them prove acupuncture any better than placebo.

www.theguardian.com/science/2013/jul/26/acupuncture-sceptics-proof-effective-nhs

I had acupuncture for one of my IVF cycles (had 6 in the end). It did nothing for me other than empty my bank account and make me stress about not being relaxed enough as I ended up rushing to appointments after work, then driving home in rush hour traffic.
I wanted to stick with it to say that I’d tried everything, but in the end I used the money I was spending on one session of acupuncture (I was having three sessions a week) and treated myself to a couple of massages before and at the start of the next round, which although was very nice and really relaxed me, didn’t get me a BFP either. Ironically the cycle that worked was the one where I’d written it off as our last shot, travelled a lot for work during treatment and started having a glass of wine or three to relax!

Could the people claiming that acupuncture isn't quackery please show some evidence? I mean real evidence, not anecdotes.

@AnAC12UCOinanOCG considering my condition has had very little scientific research into the fundamentals of what causes it there certainly had been no scientific study into acupuncture and CFS, i have never even had it recommended as a "here try this" which is all you ever get for CFS. CFS is recognised but not understood and there is no proven treatment.

You may call it anecdotal, tbh I really don't care. I've lived with it for 19 years and don't feel I have to justify myself for sharing that I've finally found something that helps me (and I don't even like the treatment!). "Walk a mile in someone else's shoes" springs to mind when people try and ask me to prove something that relates to my condition. People in my situation are desperate to hear about anything that may help,

People in my situation are desperate to hear about anything that may help,
I know, which is one of the reasons quackery makes me so angry.

I'm truly happy you're feeling better.

I am having acupuncture going through ivf. I had had it before for pain relief too. It’s hard to show evidence as lots of it is based off how you ‘feel’ eg pain relief after reconstructive shoulder surgery. I really struggled with the pain and during physio still had limited mobility. Had acupuncture alongside physio and mobility improved by 40% and way less pain. Maybe due to the fact I felt more relaxed. As for evidence with ivf it’s early days yet but before we started the ivf treatment and were still trying naturally I went from a 38/39 day cycle (classed as long) and one day bleed that wasn’t that healthy looking to a 29 day cycle (more classed as ‘normal’ and 3 day more healthier bleed. Increased lutal phase too which was important when ttc. Again maybe because I was more relaxed who knows. Not sure if that is evidence or anecdotal but that has been my experiences

@prayingandhoping, there are quite a few anecdotal reports of people with ME feeling better during pregnancy, as well as other conditions that affect the immune system.

I actually had acupuncture with a physic for a back injury and it did give me some relief and while it was sore it wasn’t as painful as in my feet/stomach with IVF. I just don’t want to give up on something that might help me get pregnant but I don’t get the relaxation or stress relief from it that others seem to - I dread going and all the rushing around it.

Hmm. I’ve known people have it for severe persistent headaches and they’ve been completely cured of them but I had it at the end of pregnancy to try and help bring on labour and it did diddly squat...so, I don’t know wether it has real effects as I personally didn’t see any.

@AnAC12UCOinanOCG

NICE have reviewed the evidence for acupuncture & based on that recommended it for the treatment of tension headaches

They also acknowledge possible but unclear evidence that it helps back pain & chronic pain

I work in an NHS chronic pain clinic & we are currently running some of our own research into acupuncture

If you google NHS guidance on use of acupuncture you will find links

And to OP, I have no experience of IVF but I’m sure it is stressful enough without racing around to extra appointments! In your situation I would definitely opt for a massage or something that I would find relaxing and enjoying.

good luck

fattylawmaker

Yes, I'm familiar with the research. Have you read the studies NICE based their decision on? I have no idea what they're playing at - the research is hardly robust.

I hate seeing desperate people being taken advantage of. Look at the OP stressing that she's harming her chances of becoming pregnant by not wasting money on a "treatment" that causes her pain and anxiety and doesn't bloody work.

Oh, of course it’s quackery. And shown repeatedly to be quackery.