Accupuncture during 2ww!!

[JackieG]

Hi ladies,

Does anyone know if you can do accupuncture during the 2ww?? I am buying a package and I want to know how many I should buy.

I know you do it up to the transfer and before and after, but do you continue during the 2ww?

Thanks,
Jackie

[JayfromQld]

I was told not to have any acuputure during the 2ww wait. Once before and after transfer and then nothing.

My cycle resulted in twins.

Jay

[CarolynB]

Hi Jackie

I had before and after ET. But was told not during 2ww. My guy helps a lot of ladies with ivf so trust him to know what he is doing. I did also at Day 6 of stimmies.

Did not give me a good result but it helped me with the side effect of the drugs, my stress levels and also the thickness of my lining.

Good Luck with your tmt hun.
Carolyn xxx

[suzhan]

I had opposite advice here in the states....I did acu before and after ET like everyone else, but then had a treatment 9 days after transfer to (in my acu's words) encourage implantation or support implantation that's already occured. She actually wanted me back 1 week after transfer, but my schedule didn't allow getting in until 9 days after transfer.

I agree w/ carolyn that acu helped with stim symptoms and also with lining (although maybe too much w/ me on the lining - my lining was considered borderline too thick!)

Luckily, I got bfp and am now on acu about every 10 days to just support the pregnancy (acu says it helps prevent m/c). It also helps with symptoms.

Good luck to you!

[Sophia flamenca]

Hello guys!

The discussion you had really made me curious. I had heard about using acupuncture during pregnancy and labor, and even watched a labor and delivery assisted with acupuncture on Baby Story, but this was the first time I heard it used for IVF.

Have any of you talked to your doctors about this? What was their reaction, comments?

I've checked studies on Medline. I found two controlled studies (e.g., with a comparison group that did not use acupuncture... even a placebo in one study, which is even better!) and the pregnancy rates were higher in the acupuncture group!

For your information, the first study used acupuncture during the luteal phase specifically for an IVF-ICSI... so during the 2ww. Their sample was big (n = 225 patients). Their success rates were 33.6% for the acupuncture group compared to 15.6% for the placebo.

The second study mentioned acupuncture usually once a week during the whole IVF-only cycle and immediately before and after the transfer. They did not specify if acupuncture was given during the 2ww. Their sample was small (22 patients) but their age average was relatively high, too (36.5 years old) and the success rate of the acupuncture group was 57.7% compared to 42.3% for the control group.

There you go! I hope that helped!

Sophie

[CarolynB]

Hi Sophie

Yes I mentioned to my ivf consultant. He was pretty positive. He said that results of improvement in rates were as yet unsubstantiated. Have seen studies as you have - where success rates are lifted by 15%. He said ' could not do any harm'. He also said that he believed that it did help with stress levels throughout the cycle. If it helped with medical issues that that was a bonus.

I had every week for 4 weeks at the start after 1st -ve to get me on an even keel. Certainly regulated my AF and made less painful and more red (sorry). Then when trying naturally, I would go just before ovulation and just before AF. Then we did on Day 6 of stimmies and twice around ET - before and after. Then not in 2ww. But if I had got a +ve then he would support me during pregnancy to stop miscarriage.

It calmed me down. Helped with AF. And also helped me with tmt. I certainly plan to continue even though it did not get me a +ve last time.

Good Luck

Love
Carolyn xx

[JackieG]

Thanks Ladies for the responses!!

I did talk to my accu DR and he also said they DO during the 2ww. So I believe there is a difference here.

Sophie, to answer your question about "does your RE know"? Mine recommended it to me because I was having a tough time with implantation. Of course it was the nurse that recommended and she was kinda quiet about it. But she said that she has seen and heard it work great.

Well I have decided to go with the accu package because it makes me feel great and relaxes me and I will know if there are improvements when AF comes and during stimming.

Thanks and Hugs,
Jackie

[AMck]

Hi Jackie
Sorry can't join the debate on acupuncture but will wave the flag for reflexology! I had it in between cycles and it really did help to relax me.

Anyway just wanted to say happy xmas and to let you know I have everything crossed for your next cycle. Not long now!!

Take care
Anna x

[KBinParis]

Hi Jackie,

Don't know if this helps but I had both reflexology and acupuncture and have conceived on my first IVF attempt. Its still early days but my beta readings have been strong. Acupuncture was a couple of days before E/R and again two days after E/T (at 2 days after retrieval) when the eggs would have been just about ready to implant. I also had acupuncture a few days ago, right after I learned that I was BFP as I am planning to travel and my flight is rather long. The acupuncturist stayed away from my womb. Instead, she targeted areas that should be relaxed and working, such as kidneys, liver, lungs, etc. However, they say that its usually better to stay away from acupuncture for a month after you get your first BFP reading.

All the very best! KB

[JackieG]

Hi Ladies,

AF came early and so I went in for BW today.

They will check to make sure FSH is low and they didnt see any cysts.

I will get a call from DR tomorrow and I shoudl start stimms on Thursday.

AF was much less clotty and more red like Carolyn said. (TMI)

Thanks for all the replies. I will let you know how stimming goes.

Baby dust and PMA!!!

Jackie