Acupuncture for fertility

[A1b2c3d4e5f6g7]

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?

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 thanks so much for sharing

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

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

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 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

@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

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

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

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 👌

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

@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 ☺️

@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

@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!

@Intrigued2020 yes my consult too she spent a lot longer looking at my cycles, charts, periods, my general health, my diet, etc - in contrast to my under two minute phone call with the gp

To update, I had my third session, and this is the one I managed to relax in and almost enjoy. I asked her what the points were for - 1st session they were all over my back and neck for hormone balancing. 2nd and 3rd session were similar - over my stomach, and in my feet and legs. She said this was for blood and energy flow to the uterus, as I was ovulating last week, and in the 2ww this week.

@choccrumpet although your one didn't have the best manner, sounds like he was doing something similar given where you are in your cycle also. So hopefully not a wasted session, even if you switch to a new therapist

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 that does sound similar!

Mine was on my stomach, ankles, knees and wrists to stimulate blood flow to the uterus area and he also attached an electrical stimulation I think it might be called machine to my stomach. That felt almost sore and uncomfortable but I did get used to it.

Wasn't a great appointment overall, long story short, I'm a vegetarian and it seemed like he was anti vegetarianism and pushing me to think about eating meat throughout the whole appointment. Didn't have a connection with him so won't be going back there again. But have now booked with someone else who was recommended by a friend, not Zita West trained but she has training in fertility treatments, in over a weeks time 🤗

Also probably a pure coincidence but I've been waiting to ovulate / get a peak on OPK and this cycle is the latest I've gotten my peak that I know of and I got my peak this morning.

@choccrumpet yay on the peak!!!

To sum up for this thread (I know I told you Choc on another), I'm vegetarian also and my therapist had no issue with it. She was interested in seeing how many portions of veg and legumes (7-10 a day) and that I ate wholegrains, less sugar etc.

Interesting on the electrical machine, I certainly didn't get that!

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I think I got really really unlucky with how this guy approached my appointment. Maybe I could have reacted to his information a different way and I also think I'm in a vulnerable place right now mentally so maybe what he said had a negative effect on me. He's made me feel like being vegetarian is a bad/wrong thing, like I'm starving my body of nutrients and that's why I'm feeling tired, making me doubt myself & my ability to take care of myself nutrient and food wise.. I need to forget what he's said and focus on the things that I can do. Make sure I'm eating well, which I think I am, book a blood tests to check things that could effect my energy levels and take it from there.

Would love to hear if anyone else has had experiences of talking about their diets or if you're also a veggie?

@choccrumpet I'm pescatarian, but I don't really eat that much fish and prefer to buy vegan mayo and other vegan substitutes when I can. There was a bit of disappointment in my acupuncturist's voice when I first told her I didn't eat meat, but after that she's not mentioned it again, I think she's satisfied with the amount of vitamins and supplements I'm taking. Anyway, I don't believe being vegetarian hinders your chances of getting pregnant, a friend of mine had her first baby at 40 a couple of months ago and she's been vegan for years.

I have my third appointment tomorrow and it'll be interesting to see where the needles go because my last 2 sessions she was treating me as if I was pregnant (I was in the TWW) but tomorrow it'll be CD 9 so I believe the treatment will be a little different. The ones that go on the ears are bit uncomfortable! But apparently if the needles give you a dull ache it's "working" but they shouldn't sting.

This info is relaxing me 😊 thanks all!

Whats a dull ache like though? Like when you know youre getting neck ache becuase you know you've been slumped over your desk all day?

Im quite excited to give it a go, anything to give me a sense of control 🤣 x

@beckyCarlos kinda hard to describe, I suppose a dull ache like someone's putting pressure on that particular part of your body. As long as it's not a sharp stingy pain I guess.

I had it, one session. To be honest I hated everything about it. Not relaxing for me at all, plus the therapist had left the notes of other patients lying around which I could see. I complained about it and asked her to destroy my notes and she basically told en to F off.

When we finally got a diagnosis after years, we had male factor infertility so me putting myself through every possible treatment and therapy had been pointless anyway.

Just my own experience - not one of recommend. Appreciate it is different for everyone. I am much more into non-invasive relaxing therapies such as massage or reflexology.

Sorry for typos. This phone hates me

@UpAt5amAgain that's a really valid point, if its male factor, anything we do to ourselves won't help at all. I will get a semen check soon