Hello,
I was just wondering if anyone has used acupuncture and herbs for infertilty? I tried ivf this summer and was not sucessful. I thought I would give acupuncture and some herbs a try. Interested to know if anyone else has.
acupuncture
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Guest
Hi Gsn
Some of the girls have tried these remedies and think they are fab.
I have tried everything, reflexology, acupuncture, herbs, massage, the lot and from my very cynical point of view they are a waste of time for physical benefits ie they won't make you more fertile etc. The only way I think they may help is from an emotional and psychological point of view - which in this business is equally as important.
I have recently got my first ever positive after 6 attempts (still a nervous wreck!) and had given up all alternative medicine long ago.
I think this infertility game is a game of luck. It will either happen on the first or the 7th attempt........its kind of in the lap of the Gods!
Loads of luck for the next one........try to be positive ( I know you have to dig deep sometimes)
Jenfx
Some of the girls have tried these remedies and think they are fab.
I have tried everything, reflexology, acupuncture, herbs, massage, the lot and from my very cynical point of view they are a waste of time for physical benefits ie they won't make you more fertile etc. The only way I think they may help is from an emotional and psychological point of view - which in this business is equally as important.
I have recently got my first ever positive after 6 attempts (still a nervous wreck!) and had given up all alternative medicine long ago.
I think this infertility game is a game of luck. It will either happen on the first or the 7th attempt........its kind of in the lap of the Gods!
Loads of luck for the next one........try to be positive ( I know you have to dig deep sometimes)
Jenfx
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sophiejane
- Regular
- Posts: 331
- Joined: Sun Jul 25, 2004 1:03 pm
- Location: Ringwood, Hants
I have heard that acupuncture increases chances of ivf working by over 50%. I had acupuncture for my last 2 treatments - cost £500.00 extra on the cost of the treatment and I still ended up with negatives.
So I am also trying this one without any acupuncture ... just did a mineral and vitamin test instead and taking supplements.
If you can afford it I'll say go for it. Make sure you go to a acupuncturist who knows what they are doing, especially if they are giving you herbs. I went to a High street one Dr China and I think he messed the cycle up as he didn't have a clue about ivf.
Good Luck
From Soph-J
So I am also trying this one without any acupuncture ... just did a mineral and vitamin test instead and taking supplements.
If you can afford it I'll say go for it. Make sure you go to a acupuncturist who knows what they are doing, especially if they are giving you herbs. I went to a High street one Dr China and I think he messed the cycle up as he didn't have a clue about ivf.
Good Luck
From Soph-J
Me 33 dp 30
me tubal damage
ist ivf Feb04 -ive
fet July04 -ive
ivf Nov04 +ive twins, but sadly one twin died at 10 weeks gestation. Freya born 21st July 2005. She's amazing!
me tubal damage
ist ivf Feb04 -ive
fet July04 -ive
ivf Nov04 +ive twins, but sadly one twin died at 10 weeks gestation. Freya born 21st July 2005. She's amazing!
Hi gsn,
I started Accupunture in October and had my first IVF cycle in November. I originally went to see if he could help me cope with the Endometreosis and he also prescribed some herbs which would help my body to fight this debilitating disease. Just before the IVF I did stop the herbs and continued with the accupunture. I can say that my first attempt at IVF was a partial success. They detected low levels of HCG initially so I was pregnant, but I miscarried on day 23 so very early. I think this may be that my body just isn't quite ready to support a pregnancy just yet. I've had two Laparoscopys with laser treatment for the Endo and two Colposcopies to laser abnormal cells on my Cervix. So my body is a little scared by all the surgery. In a way I wish I'd discovered alternative treatments much earlier, instead of having to endure the IVF stuff. I did find that the accupunture sessions have helped me to deal with the whole trauma of IVF mentally, as well as physically. TTC for 3 years and have never got this far. Prior to the IVF I hadn't ovulated and this time I did had 2 grade 1 embryos placed in my womb.
I've decided that I want to continue with the accupunture and herbs for at least another three month before trying IVF again and only if we have to, as I still believe that I may be able to conceive naturally with the aid of the accupunture and more recently osteopathy. My Osteopath said that my Pituritry Gland was sitting a little awkwardly, and she used a form of Reiki treatment to correct it. I think that any decision to try for alternative treatment is up to the individual. I paid around £30 a session for the Accupunture and had around 6 throughout the 6 week IVF cycle. I do believe that made all the difference
Best of luck for the future!
Lindy
I started Accupunture in October and had my first IVF cycle in November. I originally went to see if he could help me cope with the Endometreosis and he also prescribed some herbs which would help my body to fight this debilitating disease. Just before the IVF I did stop the herbs and continued with the accupunture. I can say that my first attempt at IVF was a partial success. They detected low levels of HCG initially so I was pregnant, but I miscarried on day 23 so very early. I think this may be that my body just isn't quite ready to support a pregnancy just yet. I've had two Laparoscopys with laser treatment for the Endo and two Colposcopies to laser abnormal cells on my Cervix. So my body is a little scared by all the surgery. In a way I wish I'd discovered alternative treatments much earlier, instead of having to endure the IVF stuff. I did find that the accupunture sessions have helped me to deal with the whole trauma of IVF mentally, as well as physically. TTC for 3 years and have never got this far. Prior to the IVF I hadn't ovulated and this time I did had 2 grade 1 embryos placed in my womb.
I've decided that I want to continue with the accupunture and herbs for at least another three month before trying IVF again and only if we have to, as I still believe that I may be able to conceive naturally with the aid of the accupunture and more recently osteopathy. My Osteopath said that my Pituritry Gland was sitting a little awkwardly, and she used a form of Reiki treatment to correct it. I think that any decision to try for alternative treatment is up to the individual. I paid around £30 a session for the Accupunture and had around 6 throughout the 6 week IVF cycle. I do believe that made all the difference
Best of luck for the future!
Lindy
Me (37) DH (36)
TTC 6 Years - Severe Endo (2 laser treatments)
IVF Nov 04 - BFP Early m/c (Blighted Ovum?)
IVF Jul 06 - BFN
TTC 6 Years - Severe Endo (2 laser treatments)
IVF Nov 04 - BFP Early m/c (Blighted Ovum?)
IVF Jul 06 - BFN
For what it is worth, I just wanted to addin my tuppence.
I'm one of the lucky ones that had a little boy on my third IVF attempt. I don't know if I could go through it all again, so I decided to give acupuncture a go.
I have emdo - although not severe, it's placed where it gives maximum pain - my periods were always heavy and horrendously painful. Between old blood and new blood, I would sometimes be bleeding for two and a half weeks out of four...I got nowhere with the hospital as the IVF clinic wanted to concentrate on fertility so I just dealt with it every month.
After Sam was born, I hoped he would have 'cured' that side of things, but after 3 periods, the same old started to happen - if fact, I was getting a period about every 23 days. I decided I couldn't face that for another 20 years (!), hence the acupuncture.
So, after 10 sessions and two periods, I'm back to about a 29 day cycle. Touch wood, I have had no brown, old blood, my periods have been less heavy, less clots and MUCH less pain - in fact, I've taken paracetamol only once or twice. I'm coping with the stress at work much better and my head is clearer.
My 'doctor' made me stop trying to get pregnant for those 10 sessions as he thought it was ridiculous with my cycle. We're now focusing on fertility for the next ten.
Whatever happens, I'm now dreading less each month - that's got to be worth something.
Take care, and you decide what's best for you!
Zoe
I'm one of the lucky ones that had a little boy on my third IVF attempt. I don't know if I could go through it all again, so I decided to give acupuncture a go.
I have emdo - although not severe, it's placed where it gives maximum pain - my periods were always heavy and horrendously painful. Between old blood and new blood, I would sometimes be bleeding for two and a half weeks out of four...I got nowhere with the hospital as the IVF clinic wanted to concentrate on fertility so I just dealt with it every month.
After Sam was born, I hoped he would have 'cured' that side of things, but after 3 periods, the same old started to happen - if fact, I was getting a period about every 23 days. I decided I couldn't face that for another 20 years (!), hence the acupuncture.
So, after 10 sessions and two periods, I'm back to about a 29 day cycle. Touch wood, I have had no brown, old blood, my periods have been less heavy, less clots and MUCH less pain - in fact, I've taken paracetamol only once or twice. I'm coping with the stress at work much better and my head is clearer.
My 'doctor' made me stop trying to get pregnant for those 10 sessions as he thought it was ridiculous with my cycle. We're now focusing on fertility for the next ten.
Whatever happens, I'm now dreading less each month - that's got to be worth something.
Take care, and you decide what's best for you!
Zoe
Hi GSN,
I started acupuncture back in November when I was in between cycles. My prior IUI (with Folistim) left me with a cyst on one ovary, so I thought it might be a good time to try something new. I was hoping to, at the very least, reduce stress. To my surprise I found that I really enjoyed it. I am more relaxed after acupuncture treatments than I've been after massages, and I just generally feel good for days later. After my first treatment in early November I started making it a weekly routine. My acupuncturist loaned me a copy of a book on Chinese Medicine (called The Infertility Cure by Randine Lewis) and I found it all very intriguing. I started my second IUI cycle at the begining of December. I continued going for acupuncture treatments, and paid more attention to what I was eating (I didn't get too into the Chinese Medicine thing ... but I did apply some of their suggestions). I stayed away from the herbs, since I didn't want to interfere in any way with the injections. In the end I had my first ever positive just after Christmas! I'm not saying that it was because of the acupuncture, but I do feel that it helped tremendously with my stress. It was a small investment ($55 US p/treatment) that in the end helped put me in a better state of mind. And who knows ... maybe it did have more to do with my positive. Either way, I plan to continue going through out my pregnancy.
I started acupuncture back in November when I was in between cycles. My prior IUI (with Folistim) left me with a cyst on one ovary, so I thought it might be a good time to try something new. I was hoping to, at the very least, reduce stress. To my surprise I found that I really enjoyed it. I am more relaxed after acupuncture treatments than I've been after massages, and I just generally feel good for days later. After my first treatment in early November I started making it a weekly routine. My acupuncturist loaned me a copy of a book on Chinese Medicine (called The Infertility Cure by Randine Lewis) and I found it all very intriguing. I started my second IUI cycle at the begining of December. I continued going for acupuncture treatments, and paid more attention to what I was eating (I didn't get too into the Chinese Medicine thing ... but I did apply some of their suggestions). I stayed away from the herbs, since I didn't want to interfere in any way with the injections. In the end I had my first ever positive just after Christmas! I'm not saying that it was because of the acupuncture, but I do feel that it helped tremendously with my stress. It was a small investment ($55 US p/treatment) that in the end helped put me in a better state of mind. And who knows ... maybe it did have more to do with my positive. Either way, I plan to continue going through out my pregnancy.
Kelly
Me (35) Premature Ovarian Failure DH (33) OK
IVF Aug 04 -ive, IUI Oct 04 -ive, IUI Dec 04 +ive!!! Hannah Bryce is 18 months!
Me (35) Premature Ovarian Failure DH (33) OK
IVF Aug 04 -ive, IUI Oct 04 -ive, IUI Dec 04 +ive!!! Hannah Bryce is 18 months!