Acupuncture - Heat Lamp during Stims

[Bluebell1141]

Hello all,

I've just started my second round of ICSI and have am trying acupuncture this time. At my last session, the acupuncturist aimed a heat lamp at my abdomen - I think it's to increase the blood flow to the area. However, I have now started injections, and am starting to worry that it's not safe to have the heat lamp during stimulation.

Has anyone else used a heat lamp during IVF / ICSI and had success?

Thanks in advance!

Hi @Bluebell1141 - didn’t want to read and run.

I had acupuncture for our round of IVF/ICSI, and my acupuncturist didn’t use a heat lamp. You can always ask for them not to. What I would say - I’m sure I read somewhere once that embryos don’t cope well with excess heat on the area (such as a water bottle) - I’m not sure where I read this so you may want to check!!! So I’d definitely avoid after transfer. But I’m sure if you ask, the acupuncturist will let you know what it’s for and when they usually stop xx

I'm very sceptical about these heat lamps, and also whether an acupuncturist really knows enough about the science/ medical side of fertility to be doing it.

I had an acupuncturist use one on me when I was actually in the two week wait, as well as infrared light on my ovaries.

I read afterwards that heat is very bad for the developing embryo - and that was definitely quite a lot of heat. The infrared light is meant to stimulate the ovaries/ help with egg growth, but I was in the TWW so obviously had passed that stage.

An acupuncturist purporting to 'specialise' in fertility should know all of this.

The fact is they have no scientific qualifications in fertility for the most part don't really know what they are doing.

The cycle didn't work (of course, no idea whether this was the cause). Just tread carefully, I would say.