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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Acupuncture for fertility

264 replies

A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 26/04/2021 13:09

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?

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Original poster
A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 15/05/2021 08:09

@choccrumpet any change? Glad the pains gone!

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choccrumpet · 15/05/2021 08:48

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 it's still fairly light, medium flow at the most! It might increase later on throughout the day 🤷🏼‍♀️ she didn't say anything about my period changing so maybe I need to have more sessions for it to be any different? Going by my last few, I expect to have no pain at all now, let's see if that changes

Ethelfromnumber73 · 15/05/2021 09:12

[quote A1b2c3d4e5f6g7]@Ethelfromnumber73 Congratulations! Lovely the ivf worked. This is the thing, acupuncture seems to be helping some, not others[/quote]
It's tricky to know what to do isn't it? For me, I didn't particularly enjoy it anyway and I also think women having fertility treatment are easy prey for people out to make money so I was a bit cynical about the whole thing. If you enjoy it and it relaxes you though, just go for it. Good luck Thanks

Original poster
A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 15/05/2021 12:49

@Ethelfromnumber73 I do agree on the expense. I have bought £190 worth of supplements also for this month 🤦‍♀️ but its hard to know what you need and what you don't, and I do wonder how much it will even help!

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Ethelfromnumber73 · 15/05/2021 12:54

[quote A1b2c3d4e5f6g7]@Ethelfromnumber73 I do agree on the expense. I have bought £190 worth of supplements also for this month 🤦‍♀️ but its hard to know what you need and what you don't, and I do wonder how much it will even help![/quote]
In the end my successful cycle was on pregnacare throughout and high strength vitamin D used until a few days before embryo transfer. I'd done the Zita West supplements and for me it made no difference. It's impossible to know what helps and it's really hard because once you are doing something it's difficult to stop 'just in case'. Uggh.

choccrumpet · 16/05/2021 12:50

Congratulations @Ethelfromnumber73 ! The part you said about difficult to stop taking supplements "just in case" really resonated with me, that's exactly how I feel!

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 cd3 today and period is light. This is the lightest period I've had since being off the pill!! Not sure why but I'm not complaining

Original poster
A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 17/05/2021 08:06

@choccrumpet that’s very strange. Something is obviously changing! @Ethelfromnumber73 haha I am this month on the Zita West full supplement and booster pack plus the ubiquinol 😂 it’s extremely expensive!

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beckyCarlos · 20/05/2021 22:44

I went for my first session today, just a short 20 minute 'taster' almost, and wow. I dont know what I was expecting really but I've never felt more peaceful or relaxed. I have no idea how 20 mins went past, and I was sad when it was time to go!

It didnt hurt at all, a tiny sting when the needles went in but then I just felt comfy and cozy and...yeah peaceful. I may or may not have cried from feeling an overwhelmibg sense of everything 'being ok'...really hard to describe but I'm (currently) definitely keen and would recommend if you need to relax! Will keep updated with whether it "helps" my fertility journey! X

Original poster
A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 20/05/2021 23:51

@beckyCarlos oh wow that’s brilliant! I def don't feel like that, but I find it hard to relax and do nothing. However I was having some issues ovulating this month, had had a few peak tests in a row. Went to my acupuncture yesterday, and finally got a low opk today so think I’ve ovulated today. Could be coincidence, and I’ll have to confirm with temps tomorrow, but feeling positive so far

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Original poster
A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 20/05/2021 23:52

Yes keep us posted please! I’ll do the same and we can see what effects it might be having

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beckyCarlos · 21/05/2021 00:03

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I am genuinely surprised by how I feel, I was all ready for it to be naff and something I just did becuase I thought it might help (kinda like the glass of beetroot juice I had earlier, but that made me want to vomit so I'll not be having that again 🤣) but I right now I definitely see it being something I'd look foward to.

It'll be interesting to see if it has any effect on my cycle, pms, or pregnancy tests 🤣 definitely keep sharing from your pov too 😊 x

choccrumpet · 21/05/2021 11:44

@beckyCarlos that sounds amazing! I feel the same after having mine today ☺️ so relaxed and content.

She also said my pulse improved during the session which is positive. I had needles in my wrists, ankles, stomach and upper back as well as moxa on my stomach. Really enjoyed it! Paid for 3 more sessions, next one is next week.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 how are your temps looking?

Original poster
A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 21/05/2021 13:43

@choccrumpet how was the moxa? Glad you're enjoying it and good your pulse is up! So you can see something tangible straight away.

Temps are a bit weird, they're up a bit but not as high as I'd normally see them the day after ovulation. I have sore boobs and had them yesterday, so hopefully I did ovulate.

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choccrumpet · 21/05/2021 14:40

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I really liked the moxa, it looked like a big cigar and it was smoking/burning over my stomach so felt nice and warm. She said some people get a headache from too much moxa which I didn't, so next time she'll do more of it. It just felt nice and warm, I felt nothing else! And yeah she seemed happy about my pulse so that made me feel better!

Fingers crossed that you did! Might be a con of temping when you do have that much knowledge and it's frustrating or stressful if you don't notice a big spike. Although knowledge is power so probably works both ways. Sore boobs are interesting, sound like a positive, I've never had any symptoms around ovulation really.

Seriously79 · 21/05/2021 16:43

Keep going. It worked for me both times x

Original poster
A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 21/05/2021 17:10

Thanks @choccrumpet and @Seriously79

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Original poster
A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 21/05/2021 17:17

@Seriously79 actually a question sorry! Did you just have standard acupuncture or did you have moxi and massage etc also? Did it take you very long to get some noticeable results?

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Seriously79 · 21/05/2021 19:14

[quote A1b2c3d4e5f6g7]@Seriously79 actually a question sorry! Did you just have standard acupuncture or did you have moxi and massage etc also? Did it take you very long to get some noticeable results?[/quote]
I can't actually remember to be honest, not the first time at least it was over 12 years ago. I do know that we'd been trying for 18 months and nothing happened until I went to acupuncture.

The 2nd time was really quick (which was a relief as I was 10'years older aged 39). It was just 'normal' acupuncture. We were actively trying for 3 months and luckily it happened really quickly.

Where are you based? I'd happily recommend my acupuncturist x

Good luck x

Original poster
A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 22/05/2021 08:17

@Seriously79 thanks! I’m based in London, but I’ve had to pick one very close to work so I can nip at lunch to visit

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choccrumpet · 25/05/2021 20:53

I had another session today and she thinks I don't get good blood flow to my uterus and the blood flowing isn't of good quality hence my deep/weak pulse. So she's been using needles and moxa to try encourage more blood flow to my uterus and warm it up using moxa. She thinks my pulse has improved slightly but still not where she wants it to be. This is why my period can be a bit lighter, why ovulation is a bit later, and maybe could be something to do with the chemicals I've had. I've felt twinges/mild cramps around my stomach / ovaries this cycle (still waiting for ovulation) which i don't normally so wonder if that's a good thing.

So progress being made it seems!

beckyCarlos · 25/05/2021 22:51

@choccrumpet

I had another session today and she thinks I don't get good blood flow to my uterus and the blood flowing isn't of good quality hence my deep/weak pulse. So she's been using needles and moxa to try encourage more blood flow to my uterus and warm it up using moxa. She thinks my pulse has improved slightly but still not where she wants it to be. This is why my period can be a bit lighter, why ovulation is a bit later, and maybe could be something to do with the chemicals I've had. I've felt twinges/mild cramps around my stomach / ovaries this cycle (still waiting for ovulation) which i don't normally so wonder if that's a good thing.

So progress being made it seems!

Oooh this sounds interesting! And promising. Do keep letting us know how it goes! Im back a week today and I cant wait! Im so looking forward to the super relaxed feeling again!
Original poster
A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 26/05/2021 07:05

@choccrumpet that is interesting. Has she given you any things to do at home like hot water bottles etc?

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choccrumpet · 26/05/2021 08:49

@beckyCarlos my next appointment is in about 2 weeks and when she mentioned she was away next week inside I was screaming nooooo, I've been looking forward to them so much, I don't know why 😂

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 she said to make sure my lower back and stomach are never cold, after exercising to take off wet clothes as soon as possible, eat dark green and colourful veg and to try nettle tea as that's meant to help with all this, I can't remember exactly what she said about it but it's a good tea to help with various things / has health benefits which I've not heard about before. And other normal things like making sure I'm sleeping well, eating enough nutrients, keeping hydrated. The cramp twinges aren't bad so I don't need anything for them, I'm guessing it's my ovaries doing what they need to do.

Original poster
A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 · 26/05/2021 09:53

@choccrumpet interesting! I'm using a hot water bottle on my feet or lower back in the evenings to 'warm my womb and strengthen kidneys' but tbf my acupuncturist never said to do that! I read about it for Chinese medicine and its quite relaxing so thought why not.

Might try and get some nettle tea also!

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beckyCarlos · 26/05/2021 11:07

Since reading up a bit more on all of this I've been tending to keep a blanket on my legs/belly, layering up slippers and socks (my feet are always cold!) Etc. It cant hurt to be more snug can it?

I also tried beetroot juice again today, still rough cold, but I was making a cuppa at the same time and figured people have hot ribena so maybe hot beetroot juice, and honestly it was a lot more palatable!