Acupuncture for fertility - Emma Cannon or others - any experience?

[lolalight]

I'm having acupuncture with Emma Cannon for some fertility issues and I wondered whether anyone had any experience of her? I've had a few sessions am finding her quite dismissive and not particularly interested in me (mobile going off throughout session etc) - I just lie on the bed and she sticks some needles in and then I'm done, no discussion of how I'm feeling etc or explanation - but I'm wondering, is this just acupuncture?! Am wondering whether to change to Andrew Flowers in Camden or the Asante clinic. Very grateful for anyone's thoughts as it's a lot of money for us to be shelling out so I'd like it to be worthwhile.

Thanks!

I've no experience of your therapist but tbh she doesn't sound very good.

Yes, she may be trained but I would expect a warm, nurturing environment and the opportunity to talk too, as she is providing the treatment. Mobile phones going off is just plain rude.

I really rate acupuncture for fertility; I had four bouts of iui / ivf, two with acupuncture and two without and I got pregnant both times I had acupuncture.

My therapist was fab but as she is in west Wales doubt it would be much use to you but I would advise you to try another therapist.

The very best of luck

OP- you know that it doesn't work, don't you? Please save your money and spend it on something nice.

lots33 - thank you for that, maybe I should trust my instincts and go somewhere else, it's just that she's so well known so I would have thought she would be good!

I had acupuncture and it didn't work for me but what I did value are the things you say you're not getting - talking through my cycle, how I was feeling etc.

We had four IVF cycles. The only thing I did different on cycle 4 was acupuncture. My DD is now nearly ten :) I read Zita West's book which I found helpful and used her bibliography/information bit to find a lady who specialised in fertility acupuncture. She was lovely. Do find out another therapist in your area who specialises as it is no good having stress over something that is suppossed to be about helping you find a calm, serene place to build your quilt (aka as thick womb lining!) for the embryo's to snuggle into!!

Caip & marriedtoagoodun - thanks for your feedback, you've kind of confirmed my thoughts, it does seem silly to pay for something which I'm finding more annoying than useful!

I have been having acupuncture for two years now and have not become pregnant so it clearly isn't having the desired effect in terms of pregnancy!

However, I love my acupuncturist. She is gentle, interested, a fount of wisdom on fertility and listens and advises. Without her advice and support I'd be in a far darker place now and she is excellent at helping with stress reduction. So, I guess I pay for a kind of holistic counselling? And I know there is no way of knowing if it REALLY works and I am sceptical of hokum (though ttc has destroyed my hokum detector). However, after surgery last year I had a treatment all up my spine (I felt so poorly) all the needles got a red ring around them and I went home and threw up. £39 pounds to puke! But from then on I felt 100 times better, it was the oddest thing. She can also shift a headache and period pain. Maybe it's all in my head, I don't know. But I pay my 39 every month to six weeks knowing I walk out calmer and restored and that's a cheap price compared to counselling.

Shame on Emma 'baby bible' Cannon if this is how she's treating vulnerable clients. I bet she costs a damn sight more than £39 too. Please try someone else with a reputation for empathy.

I have seen Emma Cannon - she is more expensive than your average acupuncturist but that is because you get much more than just acupuncture. She has 20 years experience and she picked up on things that no one else did and got me to the medical help I needed. She knows what she is doing. Her practice is lovely and if the phone went off it's normally because she was on call for an emergency patient not because she is disinterested. I always found her kind, supportive and effective.
(Most importantly, because of Emma Cannon, I am now 34 weeks pregnant with my first baby which I never thought would happen) :)

Hi, just wanted to add my experiences about Asante clinic. I had a baby two days ago and went to them for ante natal treatment at the end of my pregnancy. I have no knowledge of your acupuncturist or any other but found staff at Asante were fantastic, especially Natalie Kaufman (don't know if that's the correct spelling?). She provided an impeccable service and the desired effect occurred from the acupuncture. If you want to try another acupuncturist, I happily recommend her!

lola mine was in the west mids so way out if your area. Only used her for one cycle supporting iui and got pg immediately but can't say whether it helped it not given I never tried iui before either. Can sat she was wonderful though and a complete breath if fresh air. I probably benefited most from her counselling. If you're not happy then you should get rid. Btw if anyone wants the name of mine please just pm me as I'd thoroughly recommend her

I know this is an old post lolalight, but I was interested in what you said about Emma Cannon. Are you still seeing her? I saw her for around 9 months. I also found her distracted and disinterested at times. I have read her book the Baby Making Bible, and had high expectations after reading that, as she mentions in the book things that she talks about with clients, techniques that she tries, but in practice she did very few of the things mentioned in her book. I think she made a name for her self as a so-called 'expert' on fertility by writing a few books, and she has a good PR team. The reality for me was that she did very little but happily took my money every other week (£60-80 a for a half an hour session), for most of which she is not even in the room! I was a fool for continuing to see her for so long. I'd be interested to hear other peoples experiences.

apple I agree that some practitioners are very good at self promotion and in reality are actually no more more effective or knowledgeable.

I realize I'm pretty late to this conversation but I just wanted to comment on my experiences with Emma. I read this thread last night and felt so passionate that I had to sign up to Mumsnet to urge anyone having fertility issues to go and see her. I'm 30 and have been trying for a year - after being sent from pillar to post and having what felt like every test under the sun I was just told 'just relax and it will happen'. This wasn't enough for me as in my heart of hearts I knew something wasn't right. After talking everything through with her and discussing each of my cycles in depth (there aren't that many people that you can go into such detail with!) she suggested having my thyroid checked. Emma was spot on and the results prove I have raised thyroid antibodies and following more blood tests I have a very high TH Alpha. Emma referred me to a fertility immunology specialist and finally I'm on the right journey for me. I've been seeing her since August and without her acupuncture I truly believe that I wouldn't have the clockwork 28 day cycle I have now. The immunology route is undoubtedly a scary one and not knowing anyone who's been down this road before (all my friends seem to be popping babies out left right and centre!) Emma has been incredibly reassuring and nurturing. With a regular cycle and Emma's support I now feel I'm on the right route for me and would definitely recommend a visit.

I had high expectation before my appointment with Emma Cannon, but was bitterly disappointed and feel like I have simply wasted £200 (on a nice cup of tea), which is the price of the first consultation (45 minutes in my case). Although I am sure she is passionate and knowledgeable about her field, the main problem for me was that she was clearly not actively listening to my story. She repeated 2 or 3 very simple questions several times during the session, and each time I had to repeat the same answer. I really don't think it was a technique to try to ensure I was sure about my answers - these were questions like "what day of the cycle are you?". She seemed distracted by the large amounts of patient she had on at the same time (3). I expect more from a health professional charging these prices and profile. She also suggested a potential area to look at which may to some extent explain my fertility problems - I had to tell her this was not possible and the only reason she got it wrong is because, again, her mind was elsewhere and she'd missed a key piece of medical evidence I had given her as part of my history. She also barely explains the benefits of acupuncture, almost as if it is expected that everyone to know this. If she wants new patients to book a series of 6 or 10 sessions following this initial consultation, she should then make patients feel listened to. A waste of time and money from my personal point of view, but I completely respect that others may find her wonderful and have an entirely different experience.

Emma worked for me, and I'm now 8.5months pregnant! Am hence offering 4 remaining sessions with her if anyone is interested:
www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/fertility-accupuncture-discounted-voucher-for-leading-london-specialist-emma-cannon/1071315877

Sarah Moon is a specialist in gynae acupuncture and is lovely. Google her

Hi, I feel that I must add to this thread. I saw Emma Cannon for quite a few sessions after I suffered my first miscarriage. I, too, felt that she was distracted and lacked compassion. There was a credit card machine in the consulting room which she used to take my money immediately after the session, which I didn't feel was appropriate. After a second miscarriage, she suggested that I see Mr Shehata and when I expressed my reservations and said I was already under the care of a very respectable miscarriage specialist, she responded in quite a sneery way, which upset me a lot. Separately, I know that no one is forcing us to pay her prices but I feel that what she charges is quite unacceptable - much more than anyone else I know.

www.geradkite.com/

Saw him for around 6 sessions last year. He is called the baby maker. His fees are very high BUT you get an hours catch up/therapy before the actaul treatment, very calming. If any has been TTC for ages and will resort to any measure/go overdrawn or get a loan as his record his insane...!

I can't recommend Steve Brown in Amersham Bucks highly enough. He's amazing and such a lovely chap.

Hi, I am really shocked too with the lack of compassion reported. My fertility Acupuncturist is Charlotte Steed and she is so lovely. She is a specialist in fertility with over ten years experience and I do know that she used to work for the Zita West clinic. In my opinion she is the best. I see her in canary wharf. She has supported me through a miscarriage and happily my current pregnancy. I have shed many tears and found her approach to be warm, kind and extremely professional. I would highly recommend her and she has helped many of my friends too. Her website is www.londonacupuncturespace.com

Hi Maxine

Apologies for the direct email but I was reading an old thread that came up on my search for Emma Cannon and wanted to ask you in the end whether you got to the much desired result of a successful pregnancy through the miscarriage/fertility specialist you were seeing?
I took have suffered 3 miscarriages (one at 20 weeks) and have been under Shehata's care, but after a series of over priced and rushed consultations, plus a vast amount of strong drugs, I decided to give it a rest and see what happens on its own. I haven't conceived in 2 years now despite all the meds (have recently turned 41 which hasn't helped) but equally I have not suffered another mc.

How was your experience with the reproductive immunologist specialist you saw? Would you recommend them? Did you end up doing any further acupuncture with Emma or someone else?
Many thanks in advance and apologies for the direct approach.
x Anna

TBH anyone who is heartless and greedy enough to charge ridiculous amounts of money for something that doesn't work is hardly going to bother faking empathy.