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?

Interesting subject.

I spent time in Ibiza with a woman who knew an acupuncturist on the next island who was renowned for treating infertile women who subsequently became pregnant.

Well to update, I've so far had three sessions, my period arrived today, on time. Weirdly its very painful - my periods haven't been painful at all for the last six months or so!

I don't know if this is a positive thing or not, but it wasn't necessarily what I set out to achieve 😂 However my temps stayed nice and high (higher than last month), and only dropped significantly today. So that could be a good thing.

I have just started general accupuncture for stress. I mentioned fertility but she said that I hadn't been trying long enough but we could do fertility after the 3 session for stress/migraines. I spoke with her about my cycle and she found it odd that I'm 9 months without pregnancy of any sort but have a completely regular cycle with no known issues or pms and that husband has got a great SA result. She thinks that my tubes may be blocked or its stress related. I will be going for fertility in a month or so to see. She offers a course of 6 which is roughly over 2 months. Not sure how it would work or help but I think if it helps reduce pms or cycle issues or general stress then may be worth a try. We try everything else ttc so why not haha. Good to hear about the positive results it's had although I'm so sad to hear about others who have had losses. Never easy.

@Loops01 why did she say you haven't been trying long enough at 9 months for the acupuncture? Has she said what she thinks it could do for you?

Mine only really said that she would expect that I could be pregnant within three months (six weekly sessions then once or twice a month) as that tends to be the timeframe for most people she sees, and given I have been pregnant before and we fell quickly that time (so no hugely apparent semen issues). I think I'll be so bummed out if not though now after hearing that

Sorry to hear @A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 although at least it's on time and you're not waiting around. And the high temps sound positive! It sounds like your cycle is getting more regular!

After how many acupuncture sessions should we see a change? I think the guy that I went to that I didn't get on with said something like 2 or 3 months before there is a clear impact. I wonder if that's the case.

@Loops01 we have been trying for 9 months (multiple chemicals) and 2 acupuncturists that I spoke to have said nothing about us not trying long enough for fertility acupuncture. I wonder why she said that? It sounds like she's open to it though which is good. It's hard to know what to do that might help! I know it doesn't help me when other say this but perfectly healthy couples could take up to a year or more to conceive, I don't think it's that odd, I wonder why she mentioned that? It's crap and frustrating alright!

I'm starting to think that no matter what I try or do differently it won't happen for us until we stop trying everything and sort of give up. That all my trying is having the opposite effect.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 it must be sooo encouraging to hear! It makes me feel optimistic if I was to stick to a similar acupuncture routine. I'll be asking mine what she has seen from her experience. I wouldn't blame you, it's tough being optimistic the whole time, especially after they share this hopefully nugget of information

She said that because she said it could take up to 2 years. Then she followed it with because it can take up to 2 years for the pill to come out. I never mentioned I was in the pill before she said that but my reply was I have been off it for 2 years. She just kinda went huh and then said that I'm stressing too much and that every month I'm thinking 'I wonder if I'm pregnant, why am I not pregnant' etc and tbf that is true. She said (like everyone else) it'll happen when I stop thinking about it. I'm just not that person though. If I want anything to happen I make it happen. I always compare it to a job interview. If you prepare you feel better if you get it but I guess it's no guarantee. I see ttc very scientific - sperm meets egg, fertilises and them implants. I don't get how difficult it is if there are no known major issues? I have had 8 people announce in a week and a bit. All took the max of 6 months to get pregnant. One has pcos, two have high bmis, most have poor diet and one has heavy periods. Here's me with a consistent cycle, diet, weight etc and nothing. I'm not moaning as I've given up but I do wonder why it works easy for some more than others. Can't be an age thing either as 3 of them are older than me. All first pregnancies too. So odd but heyho, nothing we can do more sometimes than just keep up the 'good work'. It is nice to read that there are others in similar positions. I've heard of some persons getting pregnant in the same circumstances on here and it's nice to hear of good news from those who are on similar level. Hopefully as time goes on, things get easier and there's bfp's for everyone!

@Loops01 I could have written your comment, you've literally taken the words out of my mouth. The acupuncturist I tried last week said the same thing, doctors I've spoken to said the same, stop thinking about it, it'll happen. But if I want something I work for it. I don't understand it either and that's why I keep thinking it's bound to happen if I was to give up. But it's hard to give up what little control I do have. And I want this so much.

That's a lot of announcements, I hope you're okay. It's also helped me hearing about people in similar situations but again I wished more talked about it, people I know etc.

My friend gave me some bath salts over Christmas and asked me the other day if I've used them. I haven't because I'm wary of taking a bath at specific times of my cycles in case I'm pregnant and it does something to the pregnancy so I've ended up avoiding baths and other things like alcohol, pregnancy unsafe skincare etc. It's ridiculous.

Maybe I should stop trying. Take my vitamins but give up everything else because doing everything right isn't getting me nowhere.

Okay rant over 😅😂

@choccrumpet she asked me after the first two sessions if I'd noticed any changed in cycle, cm, mood, chart etc. I said yes, but I was drinking grapefruit juice for cm, and wouldn't it be too soon to see any changes? And she said no, not necessarily, and I should see some changes within the first 2-3 weeks. So I had a lot of EWCM (five days worth) last month, and higher temps in the luteal phase. They stayed high rather than stepping down in the run up to the period, and now bad period pains. But I was feeling like my periods were oddly pain free after the MC. So I don't know, could be coincidences, hard to tell.

@Loops01 that seems very strange, is she a fertility specialist? I spoke to a couple and neither suggested I needed to try for longer. In fact both said get in straight away and they'll work to rebalance hormones and promote blood flow to the uterus.

Loops do you temp? You mentioned you like the science of ttc, which sounds similar to me, and I've found temping really helps me see more what's going on. You can definitely confirm ovulation etc

@choccrumpet I'm the same, I love a bath but only really have them in the first two weeks of the cycle because I like them really hot! And I stopped using tretinoin also, so now I'm not pregnant and going to get wrinkly 😂 I am going to keep up temping and using opk's but they don't stress me out. Did say to my partner that we're going to cut back on the sex. I've been trying to throw everything I can at it, so we have been having sex every day from period end to two days after ovulation, and that's a lot and we're both knackered at the end. So think going to follow SMEP properly instead

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 that's really positive and refreshing to actually see a change so quickly 😅 I hope my lady is able to set up my appointments as often as we need them, I hope she's not too busy for me! It also sounds like temping is key to see definitive changes, maybe I should try it again. Re period pain, mine used to be extremely painful and since coming off the pill they have been getting less painful every cycle, apart from last one where it was a bad one again. I don't know why the fluctuate for me, there must be a reason for you as well.

I don't love baths that much but it makes me sad that I've been putting it off just in case and that just in case has turned into 9 months at this point. I don't want to not be doing things "just in case" and then ending up not enjoying that time when I could have. It makes me wonder more and more whether I should stop being so careful about certain things and just do what I want (in moderation, I don't even drink that much) and that might help me feel more relaxed and maybe more likely to fall pregnant.

Contradicting myself in one comment 😂 I have no idea what to do lol or what is best to do I should say.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I don't temp mainly because I work a 10 week shift pattern of days, lates and nights and often the cat wakes me up to let her out and I sometimes fall asleep after and sometimes I don't. My partner also works a somewhat opposite 5 week shift pattern. Sometimes timing opks is difficult enough that I thought I don't think the temping would be right. Although if you know anyone in a similar position that did temping and it worked then I'm happy to try it but just thought it may be a lot of effort for something that might not actually work out to be accurate because of my work life. Just now I do about 2 or 3 opks a day from cd10 until a few days after ovulation (max cd20). I also track my cm which has been pretty consistent during ovulation. To be honest I don't really have much other symptoms. About 3 months ago I was certain I was pregnant as have really sore boobs and cramping around 7/8 DPO but nope!

@choccrumpet I am glad I'm not the only one! I am the same, its impossible to stop thinking. Everything reminds me of something. It doesn't help that I googled a lot as I get lots of ads on fb and Instagram! I used to be a scientist before my current job so it's all natural for me to really study things like this. Sometimes I think I should follow the seed cycle type things and other times I'm like I tried it, didn't work so what's the point! I am starting to think that my body has had too much of folic acid as in pretty sure I get enough in diet so I think I'll stop that when the tub finishes or maybe take 1 every 2 days. I see so many folk take drugs and excess alcohol and get pregnant and i feel we are being punished for trying to better our embryo/child and ourselves!! Haha.

@choccrumpet yes you're right maybe don't deny yourself things you enjoy. I'm guilty of it also, just in case it messes things up. But I do drink for the first three weeks of the cycle, and just abstain for the last week. I have cut out plastic containers, plastic cooking spoons, tinned food etc 🙈

@Loops01 yeah in your case I think it will a lot of hassle for not much gain, as temps do increase or decrease by a measurable margin if you even take them an hour out.

@Loops01 you're definitely not the only one. I think I'm almost googled out, I've googled every symptom you could think of so don't get the need to do it as often anymore 😅 but I go between trying things one way and trying them the opposite way all the time, it's hard to make up my mind as I'm always thinking what if the other way works! It's mentally tiring to think about something so much.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 oh wow you've gone the whole way, I haven't changed anything about how or what I eat as I think I eat pretty well and can't cope with being more particular with anything to do with food. Like I said I flip and flop different ways, I'll change my mind several times 😂I'll try acupuncture and see how I get on with it. If I don't like it I think I'm going to stop completely and see how it goes. But who knows, I'm sure to change my mind about it again

Its so reassuring to read about other people in the same boat 😊 I blame the pandemic taking away all my fun things and leaving me with just work or 'am I pregnant yet' to focus on!

I should have my first acupuncture appointment by the end of May latest so looking forward to that, nice to feel like I'm doing something positive!

For those that have had acupuncture, can I ask what your first period was like on it? This is very tmi, huge apologies, mine is heavy, thick, brown totally different to normal red blood and minimal pain, and I had really bad cramping yesterday to the point it made me feel sick.

A little update from me. I had my first acupuncture appointment with the other lady and she had no issues with me being vegetarian 😅 it went much better and I'm going to continue seeing her. She did say similar things to the other guy so at least he wasn't too far off in what he was saying, even though the delivery was awful.

I'm expecting my period this week so I'll let you know if mine is any different after acupuncture @A1b2c3d4e5f6g7

I did acupuncture during my long infertility journey.

Waste of money for me. No difference to my spotting, my cycle or me getting pregnant.

Thanks @Twizbe are there any things which you felt did help?

@choccrumpet glad it went okay, and sounds like this lady is a better match!

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7

Thanks *@Twizbe* are there any things which you felt did help?

It made me feel like I was doing something positive I suppose.

For me though I wouldn't recommend it. Or at least only give it a few months.

@Twizbe sorry I meant are there other things you found more useful you could recommend?

I had one session of acupuncture and fell pregnant (currently 7 weeks). It could have been a huge coincidence but we had been trying for 9 months and it felt like it was never going to happen. My acupuncturist said that some women just need a little bit of realignment. I’m choosing to believe it helped!

Sorry to jump on, as I'm not ttc, but I had acupuncture and I swear by it!

We had been ttc for nearly 2 years. I was mid-30s, hubby was late 40s. I had a mc in the autumn. About 3 months later I started acupuncture and had 4 weeks of a weekly session, then twice weekly. I was pregnant again on my fifth cycle after my mc. As she was registered, she continued to treat me throughout my pregnancy, once a month, and I had a successful birth.

I firmly believe it helped us! My DH apparently had a good sperm count but low motility too. If anything, it gave me an hour a week to think of myself, talk to someone (she was a great listener!) and forget all my sadness at my situation.

Good luck, ladies. I know how hard it can be. I hope acupuncture works for you x

@soozc @asthenia you are giving me hope 🥰