Acupuncture and IVF

[FallingLeaves]

Has anyone done acupuncture during an IVF cycle? We are planning to do an IVF cycle in May. This will be my second. I got my dd with the first cycle. Over the past 2 1/2 years my fsh has gone from 5 to 12 and estrogen has gone from 30 to 52. So I am planning on adding acupuncture to my IVF cycle and was wondering if anyone can share their experiences.

[Dena]

I have! I highly recommend it. I think it really made a difference, particularly in my cycle with dd. I was a nervous wreck, and I think it helped me stay calm.

When we were ready this fall for another babe, I went back to my acupuncturist. I did Chinese herbs as well for a couple of months before the cycle, and did energy healing through the cycle. Finally, I worked on my diet to eliminate what are considered toxins, especially for fertility, in Chinese medicine terms. I cut out white flour, most sugar, caffeine, and alcohol. I got a lot of great advice both from my acupuncturist and from a book called The Infertility Cure. It is written by an acupuncturist and gives a lot of great advice on dietary changes that help fertility. Oh, and I also found a great yoga practice called Yoga4Fertility.

All in all, it must have helped, because the cycle worked, and we are now expecting twins!

Good luck to you. I think acupuncture can be a great adjunct to IF treatments. If nothing else it is helpful with the stress of the treatments, and, imo, that is reason enough to go!

[FallingLeaves]

Dena, Congratulations on your twins! Thanks for the information. How many times per week did you do acupuncture? Did you do acupuncture the day of the retrieval and/or the day of the transfer?

[Dena]

Well, the cycle with dd, I did acu twice/month while I was on herbs, then once/week once I started stims.

This cycle, I think because I had done so much other work on myself and was in better shape spiritually, emotionally, and physically, my acupuncturist only thought I needed to see him twice/month throughout the cycle. I had an appointment a couple of days prior to the transfer, and then one about four days after, both at his recommendation. I also did an energy healing session a few days after the transfer, and my healer swears that was when she first felt the twins.

I think the frequency of the sessions and whether or not you do herbs depends on your acupuncturist's diagnosis and treatment plan, your preference, and your doctor's preference (actually, my docs would just as soon I hadn't done any herbs at all, but they were well out of my system by the time that I started stims).

[f&p'smama]

I did acupuncture with my IVF. I did it for a while -- maybe about a year. I love my acupuncturist. I went weekly. I took herbs, too. She also made dietary recommendations that I, for the most part, followed. I did IVF on the day of the transfer, but not the day of the retrieval. Haven't heard that it helps in anyway to do IVF on the day of the retrieval, but it is supposed to help with the transfer.

I think acupuncture helped me. If in no other way, it certainly helped mentally. I miss it sometimes. Not TTC right now so no real reason to do it.

I had normal range FSH, but high estradiol. I had a diagnosis of Diminished Ovarian Reserve from Western medicine -- don't remember my Chinese Medicine Diagnosis.

I 'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

[felicia24]

acupuncture helped me

We used acupuncture for our 4th IVF and conceived. I had also lost 15lbs by not eating carbs/sugar which may have helped. I just posted under the PCOS question on this board if you want to check that out. I offered the regimine that my acupuncturist recommended for me...

If anything, I find it to be very relaxing. Many RE's incorporate acupuncture with IVF now b/c of the research showing that it is significantly helpful. There are acupuncturists out there that specialist in infertility now, and a good one can offer holistic approaches that complement what your RE is doing.

They do generally want you to have weekly treatments for least 3 months before the day of the transfer, so keep that in mind.....

Also, the research is showing that acupuncture is most helpful when you have a session just before and just after the transfer of the embryo. We had an acupuncturist accompany us the day of the transfer.

Hope that helps...

[CorbinsMama]

I had acupuncture and chiropractic care 2x/month throughout two IVF cycles. I also have continued both through this pregnancy. I feel that it made a huge difference in my body and my fertility.