Talk To Me About Acupuncture

[MissMusic]

I've never considered doing acupuncture for TTC, but I'm kind of looking for other options I may not have tried to help with the process.
I'm wary because most of the data seems anecdotal and not fact-based.  Also, it can be another case of correlation =/= causation.

However, I might try it with an open mind if there is good data out there. 

How and why does it "work"?  Is it just stress reduction?  Dr. Google was unhelpful here.

Edit: changed wording

[joy]

What do you mean by you're "running out of options?"

How long have you been trying to conceive? Have you seen an RE? Sorry if this info is in your siggy - I'm mobile.

Some women have done acupuncture over on TTTC. You can look for threads there, too.

[wannabmama]

I only have anecdotal info and am generally pretty skeptical. I have a good friend who did it and she has no idea if it helped (they finally got KU on a second IVF) but she said it did help her with stress and she felt better in general. She's a scientist and very analytical, but for her, at least, even if the benefits were psychosomatic, she is glad she did it, even if it had nothing to do with GKU.

[mosdub]

Nothing scientific to offer, only anecdotal. My cousin had IVF issues and was having some hormone imbalances (now it's been so long I can't recall what was going on with her levels) and after a round of acupuncture it improved dramatically. Again, no science there but she continued with the acupuncture and had a successful round of IVF and swears it made a difference.

Though, I'm certainly not saying you NEED it to have a successful pregnancy.

ETA:  I have never done it myself. 

[MissMusic]

Jul 25, 2015 5:46:37 GMT -5 joy said:

What do you mean by you're "running out of options?"

How long have you been trying to conceive? Have you seen an RE? Sorry if this info is in your siggy - I'm mobile.

Some women have done acupuncture over on TTTC. You can look for threads there, too.

7 months TTC #2, 35 yrs old, history of IF and previous diagnosis. No IF insurance so we will be out of pocket for tests and medicine. I was just looking for something I may have not tried previously without forking over 2600 dollars per cycle Iui or almost 10k for IVF.

I only recently headed over to 3T but yes I should do a board search for the topic. Thanks.

I might change my original post to say I'm looking for alternative options, so it doesn't come across the way it did!

[joy]

Jul 25, 2015 7:53:43 GMT -5 MissMusic said:

Jul 25, 2015 5:46:37 GMT -5 joy said:

What do you mean by you're "running out of options?"

How long have you been trying to conceive? Have you seen an RE? Sorry if this info is in your siggy - I'm mobile.

Some women have done acupuncture over on TTTC. You can look for threads there, too.

7 months TTC #2, 35 yrs old, history of IF and previous diagnosis. No IF insurance so we will be out of pocket for tests and medicine. I was just looking for something I may have not tried previously without forking over 2600 dollars per cycle Iui or almost 10k for IVF.

I only recently headed over to 3T but yes I should do a board search for the topic. Thanks.

I might change my original post to say I'm looking for alternative options, so it doesn't come across the way it did!

Ah, I see.  Thanks!  I was worried that you were six months in to trying and completely freaking out.  My first line of advice was to not do that.  But, I see where you are coming from.

Read up on the some of the threads over on TTTC.  I will be honest, however - I think that many threads over there tip towards grasping at straws (for logical reasons) and I tend to read the more off mainstream threads with a grain of salt.  Acupuncture is one of the topics that I've routinely heard has some level of success, though. 

[goldenlove3]

I have been doing acupuncture weekly since March. While I haven't gotten pregnant yet, I've noticed changes in my cycle. I was never irregular but my ovulation day would vary from day 12 to 21. Now it's been day 14 consistently. I get almost zero PMS symptoms where before I'd get them a week before my period started. It definitely makes me feel better overall. I feel more relaxed.

I think there has been a study that it increases pregnancy rates when done with IVF but I don't think there is one for natural cycles. It doesn't hurt to try it for a couple months. I'm going to keep going as we get back to treatment cycles because I'm hoping it'll boost our chances, even if it's just a little.

[bibliothecary]

There's anecdotal evidence and some small scale studies about acupuncture. Acupuncture is about optimizing your body and helping it to work to its best ability. I started acupuncture when I started seeing a RE. I can't say that it singlehandedly got me pregnant, but I did notice a different in my temps and in how my body cycled. I think that acupuncture, combined with the efforts of my RE, did increase my chances.

[MissMusic]

Jul 25, 2015 8:03:10 GMT -5 joy said:

Ah, I see.  Thanks!  I was worried that you were six months in to trying and completely freaking out.  My first line of advice was to not do that.  But, I see where you are coming from.

Read up on the some of the threads over on TTTC.  I will be honest, however - I think that many threads over there tip towards grasping at straws (for logical reasons) and I tend to read the more off mainstream threads with a grain of salt.  Acupuncture is one of the topics that I've routinely heard has some level of success, though. 

No problem, no harm done.
Color text: thats the kind of opinion I'm looking for.  I feel like lots of people say it "works" but I'm a skeptic.  Its cheaper than medicated cycles but I don't want to throw good $$ away.  Like Fox Mulder, I want to believe! 

I'd feel better if there was hard medical/scientific data on acupuncture that I could hang my hat on.  I might as well look into it; can't hurt just to inquire.

[shadesofgold]

On the general effectiveness of acupuncture: I used to manage the office at a health clinic that offered acupuncture among other things. It was highly effective (in that small sample of regular clients) helping people manage pain, chronic conditions, gastrointestinal issues and anxiety. I don't think we treated anyone for infertility, but we had mostly male patients being in the Castro neighborhood of SF. Anyway, I came into that job with no predisposition to believe or disbelieve it as a medical modality, and I saw how much it could help patients.

On fertility benefits, I know heartbot has tried before and recommended it to me for short LP issues. Maybe she can speak to her experience.

[ghostmonkey]

Jul 25, 2015 10:31:07 GMT -5 danib said:

Anecdote:
I tried it. It definitely didn't get me pregnant. It did, however, help to reduce my stress, and I did notice a decrease in PMS and clots.

Huh. Now that I think about it the cycles I had the worst clots and bleeding were the ones where I was going to my chiro frequently for an injury and getting acupuncture 1-2/week. 

Anecdote and all, but if it is linked, leave it to my uterus to be weird about shit.

[MissMusic]

Iiiinteresting, heartbot! Thank you

[babycowbell]

I started acupuncture 9 months ago since my insurance would cover that but not an RE. I like going, it's relaxing, I have fewer PMS symptoms, and a very predictable cycle with less spotting....but I'm still not pregnant. I think it can help but if it wasn't covered by my insurance and I was paying full price, I probably wouldn't have kept it up this long.