I have just begun the nasal spray on my first round of IVF so everything is still a little confusing. I have read a few of the other threads and I see alot of people have been talking about acupuncture, does anyone recommend this? And if so at what time in the process is best? Last question i promise does it hurt?!
I had acupuncture at the beginning of my treatment, once and sometimes twice a week. It is also advised to have a treatment before and after embryo transfer.
The best time to have it is a atleast three months before your treatment begins but I left it abit late and it has been known to help whilst supporting IVF.
Unfortunately I just had a BFN this month, but i do have a friend who is now 6 weeks and she had acupuncture and my clinic recommends it.
It doesn't hurt so much, you just have to relax and think positive thoughts.
Take care and good luck
Kerry x
ME 33 anovulatory/ endometriosis
DH 43 poor motility
TTC 5 years
*Clomid for 6 months, good ovulation, no pregnancies
*IVF/ICSI (1) -02/07, 2 embryos, BFN
* FET 24th -05/07: 2 embryos, BFN
*IVF/ICSI (2)- 07/08 = BFN
2 frosties waiting to be used.
This is my 1st IVF try and I am doing acupuncture. Personally I find it pretty relaxing (but I think if I just layed down for 30min while they played relaxation music I might have the same effect). And I have the peace of mind knowing I am trying everything to make this a succesful pregnancy. The needles dont really hurt, more like a pinch or bug bite for a second. Once they are in you dont really notice them after a while.
I did look up some studies prior. There isnt that many good studies out there and those that are out there dont have tons of data to make you super confident, but here are a couple:
Effects of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilisation: systematic review and meta-analysis: Manheimer E, et.al. British Medical Journal 2008 Feb 7. This was a meta-analysis looking at all the available, high quality acupuncture research. When taking all factors into account the investigators found that "acupuncture increased the odds of clinical pregnancy by 65% compared with the control groups."
Acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer significantly improves the reproductive outcome in infertile women: a prospective, randomized trial: Westergaard LG, et.al. Fertility and Sterility 2006 Apr 4; This study once again demonstrates that properly applied acupuncture results in IVF ongoing pregnancy increases of over 60%.
Starting IVF/ICSI #1 and acupuncture.
ER Day ~ 8/6/08
ET Day ~ 8/11/08
1st HCG~ (9dp5dt) - 118 :)
2nd HCG ~ (11dp5dt) - 194
3rd HCG ~ (14dp5dt) - 408
4th HCG ~ (16dp5dt) - 666
5th HCG ~ (17dp5dt) - 919
does it hurt?!
