Hey ladies, just wondering if any of you have tried acupuncture in your TTC journey, and what your experience was. I'm having my first acupuncture session tonight and am a little nervous but also excited. Hoping this is the ticket in helping me get that BFP!! TIA!
DH (32), Me (30), Married 01/15/11
05/15/2011 @ 6 w1d
Diagnosed Unexplained Infertility.
Clomid 50mg March '12: O CD 20, progesterone 33nmol/L, BFN.
Clomid 100mg: O CD 18, progesterone 63nmol/L, BFN
My chart
I would love to know the same thing - very interested in alternative medicines - specifically acupuncture. I have read that it is beneficial for women going thru IVF, but that there isn't enough research to prove that it can help you conceive. But I am really curious what the ladies will have to say!
I love my acupuncturist and the acupuncture treatments, I got a BFP the cycle of my first treatment, it didn't stick because of my whacky thyroid at that time.
I definitely think it is something worth trying, and like every other TTC treatment some people find it to be worthwhile like me and others don't like it.
superjan001 - how did it go?
Me 39 DH 37 TTC #1 since July 2009
Chemical Pregnancy 10/21/2010
Last year of TTC, letting go and moving on without regret in 2013
Click on my bio to see a detailed timeline
I have been going to acupuncture for about 2 cycles, and love it. We don't have a BFP yet, but I am pretty sure that it's helping. For one thing, I feel relaxed almost as soon as the acuptncturist puts the needles in. Also, my acupunctuist is very knowledgable about infertility issues, and I find it's helpful to discuss the western approach my RE is using with him, to get a second perspective. The only thing is you should be prepared for a number of months of treatment (at least 3, maybe longer) before you see any improvement from a Chinese medicine perspective.
I started Acupuncture 2 months ago and just got a BFP last week (after 2 years of trying with male fertility issues and poor ovarian reserve). I will recommend acupuncture for anyone who is TTC.
I can't recommend it enough! I used to have my stats in my siggie but they got lost when the admins erased it for being too long.
ANYWAYfirst pregnancy my fsh was almost 17 and I got pregnant first month of acupuncture after 5 months of trying with no success.second pregnancy my fsh was 21 and again, got pregnant first month of acu after 3 months of trying with no success.(I was 35 and 37 with each pregnancy as well)
SOOOO, I truely believe I would never had gotten pregnant without it.I could also tell it was working from my temps.... they became nice and steady with acupunture.good luck!
Awesome, thanks for the feedback ladies! Now you've got me excited and hopeful that acupuncture will really help me! I've had two visits with my acupuncturist so far. I find it quite fascinating. I can't say I really new anything about Eastern medicine and the whole Qi and meridian stuff is a little hard to wrap my western medicine mind around. In my assessment, my acupuncturist found quite a few meridian imbalances and deficiencies with me, but she is confident that she can help. She has a pretty good reputation which is good. I know I may have to wait a few months to see any big changes but at least I feel like I'm moving in a positive direction!
another thing that helped me was reading 'the infertility cure' by Randine Lewis... it explained WHY acupuncture works, and I think believing in it is half the battle...
Yes. I tried it. And it completely screwed up my cycles and was a total disaster. It took months to get me back on track. Never again.
June 13, 2011: BFP on 12dpo! 40 months in the making. chart: http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/16c283
3 amazing sons, Natalie Grace arrived 2/12/2012 at 2:18 AM. 6 lb 13 oz!
I am also interested in this but can anyone tell me how to go about finding an acupuncturist? I don't really know where to start and I'm new to the area I moved to which makes it hard to ask people for recommendations.
Nov 2010 - Nov 2011 - started charting, irregular cycles, no ovulation
Sept - Nov 2011 - diagnosed with hyperplasia, began progesterone
Dec 2011 - biopsy showed no more hyperplasia, back on progesterone, HSG was normal
Feb 2012 - 50 mg clomid - finaly ovulated!
http://tcoyf.com/members/akind062/charts/11.aspx
Re: finding an acupuncturist, if you can't get a referral from someone you trust, I'd ask your RE. If you're not seeing one, maybe phone an RE clinic near you and ask who they send their patients to. Also, I'm not sure how large a city you live in, but if it's available for you I would strongly recommend an acupuncture clinic that specializes in fertility. My acupuncturist is very knowledgable about the western approach as well, and I don't know if I'd get someone with such specialized knowledge at at generalist TCM clinic.
I went to one recommended by the RE and my Maya Abdominal Massage therapist. She (acupuncturist) works in conjunction with several RE's in the area during IVF cycles and just for general infertility. So, I agree with PP that a good way to find one is to ask your RE. Do find one specializing in infertility. I hope you have better luck than I did.
Oh thanks ladies. I live in a small town so I'm not sure I will be able to come across a specialist in infertility. There is a health spa near me I've been too that has acupuncture that maybe I will give them a call and ask.
I just started last month and am loving it.....I already see a huge difference in my cycle.
TTC since Sept 2010, using FAM with paper charting and started computer charting in Feb 2011. Then active TTA for professional reasons but charting off and on to get a good sense of my cycle. Late August 2011 started TTC again and hope to start charting properly again! Started acupuncture in October 2011.
So thrilled to find such a great, knowledgeable, supportive community!
I'm 35, DH is 33.
Wishing everyone success and happiness!
my charts:
http://tcoyf.com/members/skifan21/charts/default.aspx
I am thinking about giving it a try after christmas. Do any of you take any other supplements alongside it? Or do you think it is better to have a month off everything so the accupuncturist works with things as they actually are?
I have fluctuating temps after I O and sometimes annov cycles so it is good to hear that it might steady things up a bit.
me 34 dh 42
ttc 1st since may 2009
http://www.tcoyf.com/members/hbrown359/charts/default.aspx
Hbrown- I'm still taking my vitamins & supplements (Vit D, Pre-natal vitamin, Maca Root) and my acupuncturist is aware, but she didn't say anything about stopping them. She did ask if I would be willing to try herbs from TCM if she thought they were appropriate (but so far she hasn't recommended any to me). I guess the only reason it would matter is if your acupuncturist wanted to recommend some herbs that may interact poorly with any supplements you were already taking.
Akind- I just googled the acupuncture clinics that were in my area. Most of them had websites to look at. I chose mine based on several customer testimonials of people who had success at the clinic with TTC, as well as the experience and credentials of my acupuncturist. I would probably phone around and ask what experience the acupuncturist has in treating infertility issues.
ThreePrinces-So sorry you had a bad experience. I guess it goes to show what works for one may not work for all. So far I haven't noticed any negative effects on my cycle and it's looking like I will O right on schedule. I have noticed more EWCM than I typically get but not sure if that's the acupuncture. Time will tell!
HBrown - The acupuncturist will probably recommend diet changes and supplements based on your case. I would just tell him/her what you are taking at your first appointment and ask them what they think.
I am looking into acupuncture as well but I'm not sure I can afford to do it indefinitely. I was hoping to get 2 - 3 sessions. Do you think I could see some benefit from so few sessions? How many sessions has it taken for some of you who have tried it to see some benefit?
Thanks!
Me: 31 DH: 32
TTC #1 since February 2011, off BCP since September 2008.
BFP 3/11/12!! - @ 9w4d
My chart: http://tcoyf.com/members/DramaMama12/charts/default.aspx
DramaMama12: I am looking into acupuncture as well but I'm not sure I can afford to do it indefinitely. I was hoping to get 2 - 3 sessions. Do you think I could see some benefit from so few sessions? How many sessions has it taken for some of you who have tried it to see some benefit? Thanks!
I saw results after 3 sessions---total change in my cycle! I would still go and tell them what you can afford so they can plan accordingly...some also have SSF. GL!
Thanks, skifan. I think I'm going to try it. What does SSF mean?