Acupuncture and IVF/FET

[dancola]

Whilst it’s good to have one who knows about IVF, the important thing to is choose someone who believes in IVF and is happy to work with you to improve your cycle/various issues relating to fertility. Some acu practitioners are actively against IVF (there was someone on here who was/is being treated by an acu person who was basically telling them not to go ahead with IVF) – so it’s pointless you seeing someone like that. You also have to be careful that you’re not given any herbs etc that could interact with IVF drugs. Acupuncture treats various conditions – fertility is just one of them – so just make sure who ever you choose knows that you are undergoing treatment and want help with fertility issues.

[Sand]

Hi Daisy - My Acu lady doesn't specialise in IVF, but she knows some about it, and is happy to work with it. I think that's all that matters.

Sandra x

[sleepyfoy]

I am glad to see that a lot of people are doing acupuncture- Is anyone hooked up to a "TENS" unit while they have the needles placed? It is kinda tingly, but you get use to it. It is relaxing, however at the place I go, they play really sad music, I know it is relaxing to others, but it makes me think of sad things. I took a CD player last time and it seemed to work- Did play classical music that was soothing. I get my pulses checked too- only on the wrists. I know that a lot of clinics do a lot of different things and tell their pts different things to help them... I am very interested in I tend to read that a lot of women drink TONS of water... Not one thing has been said to me about that until I started my injections for the FSH. I drink (try to) the rec amount daily, but that is about it. Right now I probably am doing a disservice to myself by drinking a cup of coffee now and then and drinking a diet coke(with splenda) once in a while.

On my "Flushing out of my uterus" on Tuesday, she found a small fibroid. Not big enough to do surgery she said- that worries me. Some women friends of mine had said that an embryo will not implant on the side of where a fibroid is. I haven't asked my DR. about that.. but I guess I will- Have any of you heard that? I am so pleased to hear wonderful success stories on this site... Makes me feel better when I start to feel sorry for myself. I hope that everyone had a nice weekend
Ciao!
Jodi(sleepyfoy)

[Anne2005]

Hi

I thought I would share with you my experience. I have had 4 failed attempts at ICSI. This time around I decided to try acupuncture.

The lady I went to see, after looking at my tonge, in my eyes and feeling my pulse said she thought I had a cold in my uterus and this was stoping the embryos implanting.

I had 2 sessions a week for 6 weeks, so they started before the down reg and carried on till the day of ET.

I had needles in my ankles, around my knees, near my big toe, 3 accross my tummy (near the uterus I think) and lastly in my wrists. They stayed in for around 30 minutes and the ones in my tummy were heated up (she used something that looked like a cigar but smelt lovely!)

She said she didn't want to treat me after ET as not to upset my body.

I can say, I felt more relaxed with this cycle than ever before and have just found out that the treatment was succesful and I am now pregnant!

Hope this helps anyone else thinking about trying, also if you join HSA you get 50% of the costs back!

Take care
Anne

[annieb]

Wow! thats great!

I keep wondering whether I am just clutching at straws by thinking of trying acupuncture but the more I read the more I think it is worth a try. Some people have said that they got details from their clinics, do they recommend it to you or are they sceptical and give out details reluctantly?

It certainly cant hurt! (well maybe a 'sharp scratch' )

[Ellie]

I have also been thinking about this as I read Zita recommends it to reduce FSH levels. Has anyone tried it for this?

[dancola]

Annie, my clinic doesn’t specifically recommend it. I mentioned to a nurse I was considering it and she said that my consultant, being a man of science, didn’t believe in it – but then he would think that, being of a very scientific nature! I view my doing acu as a complementary thing and see it as no different than going for reflexology or a massage.

Ellie – it can certainly used to help bring down FSH levels. The guy I see treats women with higher levels and he works to bring them down.

[sleepyfoy]

Anne2005-
WOW that is wonderful news..I do have some questions....I live in the US and I am unfamiliar with some of your terminology. What does Down Reg mean? and what is HSA?

I go to the acu once a week-my scheduled ET will be determined by my Lupron Period ( I start the Lupron 9 July).... She does my back(that is where she places the Tens unit) and the front. My DOG gets acu for his hip joints so I figured if it helps him.. What the hey.....I am sorry you had to go through 5 times...Here in the US.. Most clinics will only treat you for 3 cycles- then you have to switch clinics.. I only know of 2 in my area. How did you manintain your PMA. Mine is kinda sucky right now. I gotta pick my self up by the bootstraps and March on. Hard.

Yeah for you!! OH....I forgot. on the day of the ET the acu will see you before and after the procedure- Concerns me a little since yours wouldn't treat you(or prefer not to) after the transfer. Why is that again?

Thanks.

Jodi

[k]

Hi

Anne congratulations on your BFP!!
It was also mentioned to us by my DH's acupuncturist (I used a different one) that the problem with the uterus was that it was sometimes too cold and acupuncture would increase blood flow and make it more receptive to an embryo. My DH is completely convinced that our treatment worked because I had acupuncture! I surpose we will never know for sure, but when you look at the trials done in Germany and USA it certainly seems to point towards acupuncture having a hand in helping women having IVF get pregnant.
Good luck to all of you having treatment.
Love Kim

[Anne2005]

Hi Jodi

I meant by Down Reg (The down regulating drugs that I took each morning to stop the eggs being produced)

HSA is a medical company here in the UK that once you become a member and pay an amount each month, you get money towards things like Denist visits, Glasses/contact lens etc. I don't know if you have that sort of thing in the US.

I think each person is different, my lady said she didn't want to upset the balance of my body after ET as she felt it was perfect for accepting the embryos and I didn't need any further treatment.

I know what you mean with the PMA - we took a year out and looked at adoption, then went to work overseas for 9 months before coming back last October. I really thought I couldn't do anymore, it was so emotionaly and physicaly draining. ( I also had a boss that had no sympathy/empathy at all, which stressed me out totally) It really helped being away and having that time off. It almost gave me another lease of life. We had a FET in October last year and ICSI in Jan 05 and then the last ICSI in June. SO you can see I really went for it and broke the bank in the meantime!! But Hey - it was worth it.

Hi Kim
I know what you mean - there is never a 'Do this it works' is there, but i think it helped me, I also got a puppy!! Daisy is a Bichon Frise and is now 5 months old, so I am her mummy and she definately is a mummy's girl!

Take care
Anne

[sleepyfoy]

Anne2005
Down reg I am still a little confuesed. I guess protocols in US might be a little different than in UK.... Or I might could be real dumb on this issue... Like I tell everybody... From the neck up, I am a WIZ!!!!!! Neck down....Well.... you are on your own!!!! We don't have HSA's in US.... We have insurance and each insurance is a policy that the employer bought for the employee... DH's insurance is kinda nifty... His company was bought out by Organon sometime last year and one of the wonderful drugs they make is Follistum. So we get a break on that. As for the acu... NOPE all out of pocket- which is US dollars 76 per visit. I don't know how to convert that to pounds or Euros... I have a SILLY question... Where did you work overseas and what did you do... I SO consider overseas going to Europe for holiday!!!! I am sorry that you have (had) a boss that was less than empathetic to your needs......Was it a man?

DH went on a Biotech conference 2 weeks ago and brought me back a little trinket- You know that Lance Armstrong's cause is a Yellow Plastic Bracelet that says "LIVE STRONG" . DH brought me back a Neon Green bracelet that says BIOTECHNOLOGY=HOPE. That baby has not left my arm since. Wish I could get more.

Hope you have a nice day..... Thanks for the response!!
Jodi

[Anne2005]

Hi
DH and I both work in the Travel Business and went to live and work in Corfu, a Greek Island this year. I left my compancy in October and have not worked since. (I had FET in October & ICSI in Jan/Feb, then ICSI agian in June) We decided I would take a year off and 'go for it' without the hastle of working. DH now works for a different company and is based in Turkey, we have both worked there before, but he does come home frequently.

The clinic that we have used doesn't have any ACU attatched to it, so I called a few and met them and went with the one I felt most comfortable with.

Wishing you all lots of luck.

Anne

[sleepyfoy]

Hi Anne!

I hope that you are doing well and that you do get to see DH alot. Where in Turkery? when I was 7 we moved to Ankara and lived for 3 years.... I enjoyed it a lot!!!

Would you mind if I asked you how your FET protocol was? I started yesterday taking Lupron in the am- just waiting for my period. Not excited about the progesterone shots and not excited that DH is going to be in the Netherlands 2 weeks after the tenative ET. Not too happy about that. I know everything hinges on my period, but we figured it out by using last times data. I have to find someone to give me the shots( we live 1 hour away fromt he clinic)

Take Care,
Jodi

[Tracii]

Sandra - sorry for not answering your question regarding my teas....my acu doc is also a chinese medicine doctor. she has prescribed me teas which are basically different roots, flowers, bark...stuff you have never seen before. I suffer from incredible monthly cramps and the teas are to help with this.

Anne2005 - I am also not working - left my position in April. I think this will help me with round 2 - much less stress and I don't have to sneak off from work all the time (I worked for a very male dominate company and am sure explaining IVF would be a waste of time). Thank you also for a great success story!

[Sand]

Hi Traci - No worries .... I hope the curry tea proves beneficial ! Got to say it sounds pretty yummy in a strange kind of way !

Sandra x