Acupuncture

[KylieP]

Hi I'm looking for any acupuncture stories please, positive or negative - did it help anyone with PCOS or irregular periods? Did it help anyone ttc and can it actually kick start ovulation? Any down sides or risks to fertility? Thanks x

Certainly no risks to fertility. Me and my partner (low sperm count/poor motility) are trying for pg2 using acupuncture - we are three months along on this course of action after a year of TTC without knowing that we had male fertility issues. Watch this space on that one.

I also had acu during pg1 (I was 37/38) and had a fantastic pg and homebirth. My DS was breach around week38 but I swear the acupuncture/moxy turned him so I was able to have the homebirth that I dreamed of. Who knows if this is true but I really do believe it helped me to have a positive experience.

I think acu will help regulate your periods but recommend you get a full diagnosis if you think you have PCOS as the acupuncturist needs to know. I have also heard that clomid will do the trick - so you could combine?

I appreciate that some people are v sceptical about acu and would tell you simply to get conventional treatment. So perhaps you need to consider both.

Good luck.

I had a positive experience of acupuncture - of course I cannot say this is what me get pg - but it really helped my state of mind so much that if you can afford it I can't see any harm in trying it. found it relaxing, energising and a good time to just focus on believing it would happen.
Having said that if you suspect or know of specific issues like pcos then it does make sense to check out all conventional routes too

I have PCOS and had been trying for DS for nearly 2 years and had been about to start on Chlomid. After 3 sessions of Acupuncture I was pregnant. Who knows if it helped but I like to think it did and it I found it so relaxing. Good luck.

Hi, interestingly enough I read a blog not so long ago on Pride Angel on chinese remedies and accupuncture helping fertility and it being used in some hospitals. It did not specifically mention your problem as was on infertility in general. I did have acupuncture to help with morning sickness with my first child 14 years ago so I guesss it must have some use because it did help me. I would maybe consider it as another help? Sometimes it makes us feel better that we are doing something to help, if you know what I mean? sorry, hope this helps, good luck, let us know howw you het on xx

Thanks all, I think I'm def going to give it a try after my holiday in July if nothing has happened by then, sounds like some people really believe it helps. Am trying to be more positive about the ttc thing generally and trying not to stress too much about it. Will let you know how I get on and anyone else who tried it, please let me know if it helped you in any way, thanks x oh and I will def talk to my doctor after six months too so we can look into it the western way as well!

Well - I deffo endorse acupuncture. Just got our BFP after three months of DP getting the needles following very poor test results for semen analysis... Good luck to you!

Hi KylieP
I had my first acu session on Friday as after almost 2 and a half years of trying it turns out I'm not ovulating
I'm on my 2nd month of clomid at double dose as I didn't ovulate the first month
I feel like it's going to help me focus on what's happening and feel like I'm more in control. She's given me advice on diet, exercise, eg don't do anything too energetic during the time of the monst post ovulation as this when any fertilised egg would be trying to embed so you need to stay warm and calm etc
I'm going back on Friday and plan to have a min of 2 months worth of treatment. As others have said, even if it doesn't help me get pregnant, it will at least help me chill out and focus on my body
Good luck!

Thanks both! Right I'm definitely doing it, it sounds like it can only be a good thing to do. Caipirinhas, why are you not ovulating, do they have any ideas? It's so frustrating isn't it. Also, why so long before you tried clomid, was that at of choice or is that how long the tests etc take to find out whether you're ovulating? How do you know you are not ovulating at all, or whether you're just having a couple of anovulatory months? It's tough isn't it, good luck x

I went to the gp after about 18 mths, they did a blood test but apparently everything was ok. We were referred and the 1st was ridiculous, he basically told us to 'be together more'. I had an xray to check my tubes,which are fine and our next appt was with a different who queried that they didn't seem to have checked my progesterone - that was in Feb, 6 mths after I went to the GP
I have no idea if I've ever ovulated and am trying not to think about that as the thought of having tried for over 2 years, with all the heartache etc, whilst not ovulating makes me so mad
I don't know why either. I had a scan and all looked normal

I'd give acu a go. I know someone who is paying for IVF after 18 mths and is now wondering if she should have tried.

Xx

How is it going with your acupuncture and clomid caiprinihanas? I've booked in for my first acupuncture treatment this Tuesday. Funny everyone says it's relaxing even though someone is sticking needles into you! Really hope it helps. My temps have just been constant really this month, up and down slightly, but doesn't look like I ovulated. On day 28 now. I felt a bit guilty the other day as I went out for a heavy night out, and I've been trying not to do that too much in case I do ovulate and get pg but it's hard giving up drinking when you don't feel like there is any point as not ovulating! x

Hi KylieP

I had my second session on Friday and from my temps she said she thought if I was going to ovulate it would prob be this weekend as my temp was going up but then the enxt morning it went down loads. Went up again today though so who knows. Just really hope I ovulate this month
Do you know if they would do IVF if you weren't ovulating even after clomid?

I find the acu good for having some time to just focus on your body, it's not mega relaxing like a massage would be but it's time for just you, and it doesn't hurt.

I'm seeing my GP this week to get a prescription for next month's clomid as I've had to use 2 months in one this time and so I'm going with some questions which I've got from the acupuncturist like how do we know I have a dominant follicle if they're not doing a scan etc

Good luck! let me know how you get on

Check out fertility resources section of Catlin Allen's website.

Hi all, just to suggest also that if anyone can't afford acupuncture (I know my DH nearly had a heart attack when I suggested it) there is some evidence out there about the fertilty benefits of gentle yoga....I've always done it and find it super relaxing. Any centre should be able to suggest appropriate classes for someone TTC ie not bikram / hot yoga.

Having said that, if nothing has happened for me TTC-wise in a few months I intend to start acupuncture too as don't think I'm ovulating post-MC....

hi squeaky

it is pricey - I'm paying £45 a session and hope to have weekly session for a couple of months - but it's way cheaper than IVF which is next for us if clomid doesn't work.

it might be worth going for one session as I think one of the main benefits for me so far is the acupuncturist spending time explaining stuff to me, what happens when etc (eg don't do aerobics at certain times of the month as you need to have a nice thick lining for an egg to attach to and aerobic exercise draws the blood to you muscles when you need it for the lining) and so she's educated me loads. I always feel a bit rushed in and out of appointments with my consultant whereas this feels like proper me time

good luck!

I did a series of acupuncture - don't know if it worked but I was happy doing it - we are now parents of a 4 year old and a 1.5 year old!! The first one I also took a round of clomid. And got pregnant after that.

The acupuncturist said that he didn't feel that there was anything wrong with my reproduction bits but said there was a lot of stress. (he pronounced this after feeling my pulse etc).

My brother and wife conceived after doing some sessions with traditional Chinese medicine too. This was after western meds (clomid etc) didn't work.

Good luck!

Great, I really think it's worth me trying this. I can see why the yoga thing make sense as I've heard stress has a real impact, and I can also see why it makes sense to eat well, stay warm and relax in the second half of the cycle. My doc says she would need to refer me to a specialist to find out if I'm not ovulating as she can't tell - is that right? What tests do they run and how long is it before they give you clomid if they think you need it? x

Ps caipirinha do you know if you did ovulate this wkend (fingers crossed) and how are you checking that for sure? And when you asked about whether they would do IVF after clomid, did you mean for me personally or do I know if they will in general? I haven't got to the clomid stage yet but due to suspected PCOS I think it may be necessary if acupuncture doesn't help x

I just meant generally really. I don't think I've ovulated yet this month going on what my temperature says and that's on double dose of Clomid. I used OPKs last cycle but they showed I ovulated when my blood test said I didn't and I won't know about this month for sure until I've had my blood test again next week, but I'm now charting my temp and it's so up and down that I don't think it's happened yet
They would probably do a day 21 blood test to check your progesterone. I got my prescription for clomid from my consultant when he gave me my blood test results
x

How old are you caipirinhas as I think that affects how quickly they move on to IVF? Also what is a dominant follicle? Was just reading on another thread on here that you get six 'rounds' of clomid, is that what you're having? I'm having a bad day today worry-wise, trying to stay relaxed and positive! x

I'm having a bad day today too...

I'm 34. I have to be referred for IVF before I'm 35 in this area and the consultant has said he'll do that at the next appointment if nothing has happened on Clomid. They've given me a 3 month prescription for Clomid which I think is quite common to start with.

I've learnt about follicles recently! Basically you grow follicles from about day 4 and one will be dominant so the others witll just fade and the hormones go into growing that follicle. At the point of ovulation, the follicle pops and releases an egg. This happens after a surge in LH which is what the OPKs measure. Some NHS districts get you to go for a scan on about day 12 to see if you have a dominant follicle but they don't do that where I am so I don't know if this is happening or not....

How old are you?

I turned 30 in Jan just after I started trying. Someone on another thread was just saying that temping can be wrong - she was temping and it was all over the place, no clear shift and she just got her BFP. So you might have ovulated even though the temps are all over the place, fingers crossed. Keep going with the acupuncture, I was just reading about two people (one who was going through IVF and one who was about to start) who got pregnant and think having acupuncture helped. I'm finding it hard to speak to friends and colleagues when all I want to do is talk about ttc but can't, it's really hard! Every time I promise myself I'll relax I find myself online googling possible cures, fertility stats and things that might be wrong - am going mad! x

caipirinhas- Do you know when you are not meant to do aerobic exercise when TTC? We will be trying for our 2nd this year and I Zumba twice a week and its high intensity.

Babyjames - going on what my acupuncturist said, you probbaly shouldn't do anything too energetic the week of ovulation as your body needs to create a thick lining for the egg to attach and the for the week after as the egg will be trying to attach. She said you need to imagine your uterus as this warm nest type place and so she said stay warm and cosy and try and imagine the environment a fertilised egg would need to be able to embed
Could be mumbo jumbo but it does kind of make sense to me, at leats worth trying for a couple of months
She also recommended that I have warm food rather than eg sandwiches and said we should stay off coffee and alcohol. She also said that DH shouldn't sit with a laptop on his lap as his bits need to stay cool!

KylieP - it is hard. I have a colleague at work who is on her 2nd month of clomid too and it's been really good having someone I can talk to about it all as she's as fed up as me. It sounds like it's still fairly early days so try not to get too disheartened
x

Hi ladies, just wanted to tell you I had my first acupuncture session, she's trying to bring on my AF (am on day 31) so we can start trying to encourage ovulation for next cycle. I had some really weird sensations when I was having it! What was interesting too is that I felt so relaxed, I realised I'm quite a tense person, determined to relax more generally now and hoping that will help with ttc. She said the same thing about keeping warm and trying to make my body feel like a fertile place, keeping warm, sleeping lots etc. I think it makes sense too caipirinhas. Fingers crossed. Any ovulation signs for you yet? x

that sounds like it went really well KylieP!
I'm not sure about me, my temp has gone up a tiny amount over the past couple of days so we'll see...
Stay warm! x