Acupuncture experiences

[Semele5069]

Hello

Has anyone tried acupuncture for fertility issues? I've become interested in giving it a go after almost a year of TTC and 2 miscarriages.

I don't expect miracles but I think it might help with stress and be part of an overall new strategy of being nice to my body rather than resenting it!

I know some very non-hippy health professionals who are trained in it and find it a useful part of their skillset. I've just emailed a practitioner to see if she's working face to face again yet, but in the meantime I'd love to hear anyone's experiences!

@Semele5069 not sure I can offer much advice other than I'm in a similar situation and started acupuncture around 4 weeks ago now.

Originally I considered it as i also had a MMC at the end of last year and was worrying about fertility etc. I wanted to try acupuncture to hopefully lengthen my luteal phase as it was around 9-10days, but then COVID happened so didn't get round to it.

In April my period mysteriously disappeared for the first time ever. I've never skipped a period before. I track ovulation and it appeared I hadn't ovulated. In desperation to get my body doing something i contacted a local acupuncturist in mid June who had just started back doing face to face appointments. After my second session with her I ovulated (hooray!) 2 days later. Could have been pure coincidence but im convinced it helped and I'm a convert for now 😄

It is very relaxing too. I plan to continue going now and hopefully she is going to work on my lp next. If nothing else it makes me feel like I'm doing something good/useful/proactive to help things along.

I've had acupuncture on my knee, but also considered it and/or osteopathy for fertility. I'd be very cautious of practitioners that do acupuncture as a side line. The UK doesn't have a single regulation or licencing body, you can therefore do a course of a few weeks or one for many years, and class yourself as being trained in acupuncture. Those trained in China (I believe) study for many, many years to be allowed to practice. Other health professionals in the UK are required to be registered with a single body for revalidation etc. Nurses (NMC), Dr's (GMC), Osteos, physios etc etc, but I don't believe acupuncturists have such a thing or requirement- happy to be corrected.

I do believe it certainly has benefits, I'd just check the credentials of anyone you use and also check they are on the British Acupuncture council. If its just for relaxation, a massage, doing yoga/pilates etc might be just as helpful.

Eloura makes some good points there. The lady I use is Zita West trained and specialises in fertility. You can find a list of practitioners on the Zita west site too if you're interested.

Thanks @Fizzl and @Elouera! The practitioner I emailed did mention being Zita West trained on her website so it's good to know that's what I should be looking out for. I haven't heard back from her, but if I don't then I'll do more research.

Hi @Semele5069, I did 5 acupuncture sessions before the virus outbreak. I got pregnant right after my last session. Sadly I miscarried but I really believed it help me get pregnant. It was the only big change I made in the 10 cycles I was trying. My practitioner was so kind and gave loads of good advice re diet. I'm back at it now and find it so relaxing. I'm a convert.

I was sceptical of acupuncture but did it before IVF because I would have tried anything. I'm totally not 'woo' at all and think it is nonsense really... however...

1. It changed the quality of my cycle for the better. Nothing else had changed as was before meds etc.
2. When I had horrific pain from egg collection and OHSS, I had a session in desperation and there was a noticeable difference.
3. I got pregnant.

I am still sceptical and I still struggle to understand it but I also felt I had enough of a good experience to believe it must help in some way. It is the only holistic therapy to have been proven to make an impact on IVF cycles.

The woman I saw had done IVF herself and just the time with her for an hour or so was so helpful. I think in the end we decided that whatever was helping (the acupuncture itself, the chance to relax, the comfort from talking to her, feeling in control of the uncontrollable, or just the placebo effect!) it was worth it.

Cos really, even if it is nonsense, if it is helping then it is worth it!

I've used acupuncture for years for different things
Mainly anxiety
Now I'm using it as part of trying to conceive
I find it very relaxing and great for energy levels
I just had a miscarriage and had stopped acupuncture due to lockdown

Have started back and felt so refreshed after session

I'm giving myself another 6 months ttc so hoping I'll get pregnant again