Acupuncture - brutally honest opinions please!

[secondtimelucky87]

Hello,

Background: TTC second for 2 years. First took 3 years. All tests (mine and other half), normal but I have low AMH. I'm on my second medicated cycle. Had 3 perfect follicles first round, responded well to medication, timed intercourse so definitely did the deed at the right times. Was sad it didn't work but also know it's rare for it to do so first time.

So I'm considering trying acupuncture on this round. I heard it can be helpful before and after ovulation. But truthfully I'm also a little skeptical. What are people's honest opinions on whether it can help during fertility treatment? I do also have therapy and do daily meditation to deal with some of the stress.

Also if anyone can recommend anything at all I can try to maximise chances on this second round please tell me. I'm so desperate for it to work. I'm on 5mg Letrozole, dual trigger shot and adding Cyclogest this cycle.

Thanks!

@secondtimelucky87 I have just had a FET which failed - I’m now thinking the same as you and having acupuncture for my frozen transfer but I’m in two minds if it is worth it.

If it helps, I have had lymphatic drainage massages before I began this process and felt it did wonders for stress and kept me sooo calm plus really good for you too.

im also considering taking baby aspirin as I’ve heard it can help blood flow around uterus and womb lining in and im asking my clinic about embryo glue and ‘the scratch’
its a long complex journey with what feels like so many barriers at times 😮‍💨

I am so sorry to hear about your FET. Wishing you all the luck in the world with your next round. That's interesting about the massage! I've actually always wanted to try lymphatic drainage and tbh it sounds much more relaxing than acupuncture 😄. Hopefully some others will be a long to give their experiences of it and we can see if it helped them.

It really is so hard isn't it. I'm just trying my best to stay positive for this cycle. 🤞

@secondtimelucky87 hey, sorry I’ve never gone through fertility treatments.
But I did try acupuncture after reading so many positives about it and after two back to back losses, naturally conceived.
And it absolutely ruined my cycles! I had very regular cycles, regular ovulation etc before it and it totally totally threw it all off. I’m now 3 cycles later and they’re still not fully back to what my normal is!
Just wanted to give both sides as you do read lots and lots of positives about it!

I did fertility acupuncture alongside IVF and I found it really helpful. It definitely helped me relax more and made the process less stressful. My first transfer was successful and my baby is due next month. The acupuncture might have been just a placebo effect but it kept me relaxed and the feeling that I was doing everything I could made me feel a bit better if you know what I mean. If you find another kind of relaxing therapy works better for you then go with that.

Acupuncture didn't do anything for me; I'm not afraid of needles, just generally restless (no matter how hard I try to relax!) laying there for the duration. I did the before and after transfer treatment and the embryo didn't implant. Subsequent transfers implanted but early loss (all untested embryos - my only euploid did not implant). That said, if you find it relaxing, definitely go for it.

I am however, on traditional Chinese meds - they're supposed to prepare the womb to recieve and maintain and complement the overall system.

Hi @secondtimelucky87 . I did acupuncture for rounds 2/3 of IVF. Like @MsPeony i never felt it did anything for me. I also hated lying still and didn’t love the sensation of the needles. With hindsight I think I should have spent my money on some nice relaxing massages! My most successful IVF round was without acupuncture. I get the feeling it depends on the person, and perhaps I was just never that open to it 🤷🏻‍♀️!
Good luck going forward (I’m also TTC no. 2, have one embryo left then I’ve decided I’m going back to full IVF 😬😬😬) x

Can I ask why it's rare for 1st time working? I've just started looking into monitored cycles and don't know much about it.

Re acupuncture - I've had a few appointments (while ttc naturally) and haven't noticed any difference. I actually cancelled an appt from last Sat and decided to use the £60 that would have cost towards a Daye test.

I like the idea of spending the money on massages instead!

I had acupuncture for a different reason years ago and found it helpful so was quite open to it for fertility but now I’m out the other side I feel it was a waste of money. I went for ages to a fertility acupuncturist and also went during IVF. I didn’t enjoy the treatment at all but just hoped it would help. After a failed cycle I went to a different acupuncturist and had a very relaxing treatment and some normal ones, acupuncture before and after transfer etc. The second one was at least nice to chat to but I didn’t feel it did anything positive for my cycles or how I felt.

Wow thank you so much everyone for the helpful replies. It does seem the vast majority of people didn't find it helpful. I ended up cancelling it in the end and have booked to go to a dance class with a friend instead. I figured that's movement so will get endorphins and blood flowing whilst actually being enjoyable too. I'll keep up the daily meditation as that helps a lot with relieving the stress of it all.

On a different note: I've started experiencing spotting outside my period on Letrozole which is completely abnormal for me. I have my follicle scan on Monday at cd12 and hoping I'll still be ready to trigger around then. Ah the joys.

Just to add to my previous response (not finding it made a difference)...

The acupuncture was at a place that specialised in fertility and I found it a bit like a counselling session and a place that someone would listen to things I suspected to be issues (that were brushed aside by NHS appts). So I found that part really beneficial for me. She gave me some good suggestions for diet and supplements which I've stuck to. I feel like she was fighting my corner and was really helpful when I emailed queries.

Because of that, I don't feel it was a waste of money for me at that point.

That makes sense. I'm having therapy with a psychoanalyst which is helping to process the emotions. I can definitely see the appeal of slowing down and having the acupuncture even if it's just the lying down and chatting bit. That makes total sense. I think this week I just need a bit of joy so the dancing will fill that gap.

Would love to hear of any other things people have tried in the TWW? I'm open to giving anything a go after this long. It's really hard to know what kind of exercise to do for example. I currently do a 20-30 min low impact workout at home about 3-4 times a week. No jumping around and light weights but what do others think. Should I tone that down too in the TWW after treatment? I want to keep moving my body in the right way that won't affect any potential implantation. X

@secondtimelucky87 I have no idea if any of these things helped but this is what I did for my frozen embryo transfer. As well as the acupuncture I did an online yoga videos based around balancing the vagus nerve, I did a daily meditation. The clinic said not to do anything strenuous for a week so I didn't lift anything heavy and I watched my heart rate on my Fitbit and if it got too high I would immediately slow down or stop what I was doing. I continued to eat an anti inflammatory diet, drink lots of water and take Proceive Max. I refused to Google anything or symptom spot because I had previously done IUI which failed and I got so stressed about it working that I felt it must have affected implantation.

The treatment might have worked anyway without doing any of that but it kept me calm throughout a stressful process and I will probably do it all again for another frozen embryo.

Hi, first time posting here! I've been TTC over two years, and getting the ball rolling to start IVF this summer. We're unexplained so still trying in the meantime.

I recently started seeing a fertility accupuncturist. I'd echo what others have said in that I don't know for sure what practical good it's doing (though probably too soon to tell yet!), but like @HM2024 I've found it really helpful seeing someone who I feel actually takes the time to look through all my test results, ask questions and seem like they're listening! She did say she prefers to work with people for a good 3 months before IVF treatment to get the most benefit from it.

I'm not sure on the medical side, but if you're looking for something to help general wellbeing, and to get advice on supplements, diet etc, then it could help (depending on whether you find the treatment itself relaxing!) My acupuncturist has also been helpful in recommending further investigations for me and my husband to try and explain our 'unexplained', and recommending questions to ask at clinic consultations.

On the TWW, I've been advised to avoid high intensity exercise. She said things like yoga and pilates are good, and that walking, gentle jogging and swimming are also ok.

I'm so sorry this happened to you. Gosh how stressful!! I really hope they are back to normal soon for you!

Please don't quote me on that at all and I really hope you have first time success with it. I could be wrong. I'd just read about many people needing a few cycles but it's not based on any statistics. It's a pretty straightforward and non invasive treatment so I'd definitely recommend giving it a go. I've been really curious about the Daye test but hard to know if it's money well spent or not. How did you find it? X

This is incredibly helpful thank you. I'm on Proceive Max too amongst several other things! I'm definitely a stress head and don't think it's a coincidence that I finally conceived my first in lockdown after trying for 3 years. I meditate daily too but am guilty of the googling and symptom spotting. I don't know much about anti inflammatory diet but I'm pescatarian and eat lots of fruit and veg, fish, eggs and pulses etc plus I'm seed cycling. I had continued with light weight lifting after my last trigger shot and who knows: I think it's unlikely to have been the reason but it's worth avoiding this time just in case. I will stick to things like yoga while I'm doing treatment. Really appreciate your advice and so glad you had success with your first transfer x

Thanks so much. Second person to have said about avoiding the strenuous exercise so I think I'm going to park the dumbbell workouts for now. I was only doing light ones but it was something I'd started in the last few months so in hindsight it was silly to have changed up my exercise while on medicated cycles x

I done acupuncture for my 2nd cycle, and it was my worse cycle! 2 eggs collected that deteriorated day 4, complete waste of time and money. Treat yourself to some relaxing massages instead! I found nothing relaxing about laying in a dark room with needles stuck in you everywhere too!

My experience with acupuncture has been really positive but more from a therapeutic standpoint than it actually doing anything - my Accupuncturist is an angel and has really supported me on the journey - I think it really depends on who you have tbh.

@secondtimelucky87 Hi OP, like u I am on Latrozole but This month for different reasons I had to abandon the cycle. Started acupuncture this month but I don’t know yet if it is making any difference. Have u abandoned the idea of doing it? I am still not sure as it is quite expensive especially added to the fertility treatments!!
I am TTC 2 as well after nearly 2 years after 3 miscarriages. Hope u are
going to have great news soon! X

Hi there! I never did do the acupuncture as I just didn't believe in it enough tbh and it's all money! Wishing you lots of luck with your treatment 😊

I did acupuncture and reflexology. My round did work but can't say if they had anything to do with it or not or just luck . Im leaning towards luck as thats what ivf is. Pot luck. It didn't help my egg quality and only one embryo made it. It was shocking quality but has resulted in my 10month old. I didn't find the acupuncture relaxing at all. I'm about to start ivf again and don't think I'll bother this time around.

I had the acupuncture for about 1,5 years and with 3 different therapists and didn’t not enjoy at all, no relaxation whatsoever and I’m not scared of needles. I think it messed my cycles up, too.
it gave me more stress than relaxation. Was happy when I stoped it phew..