Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Success?

[Cupcake]

Being around my 16th failed cycle with BTs & US done to clear me of any major issues, all clear. I know my luteal phase is too short (9 days) and am trying to find more natural ways to lengthen it. Ive tried Vit B6 (didnt really stick to it ) but i was wanting to try Acupuncture & Chinese Medicines. Ive found a place near home & work and called them to find out cost and wait times, i can get in on Friday for $75 for the first consult & $60 for everyone thereafter but am wondering...

has anyone had success? Has Acupuncture lengthened your LP? Or helped you fall pg?

[LionsandBears]

I haven't, but would love to hear people's responses

[Manhattan]

Hey Amaki, this is something I posted in another thread, but relates to your questions also:

"Just want to share my success story with you. After going 10 months with no AF and no ovulation, I decided to give Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine a go. Within 1 month of starting, I ovulated and got AF, and on the very next cycle, I got my BFP.

I without a doubt, owe my pregnancy to acupuncture, and highly recommnend it to anyone who is open to new things.

Tayahs Mummy - I was going weekly to fornightly, and I had pins in heaps of different places. How many, and where they put them depends on the symptoms you present. I had them in my face, ears, stomach, arms, wrists, legs, ankles, toes and back. I hate needles, but was fine with the pins, I hardly felt any of them. I also took my herbs religiously, and did exactly what my Dr said (ie - dont eat this or that, drink only filtered water, limit sugar intake etc)

One piece of advice which i quickly learnt was to find someone who specialises in womens health and fertility issues.

I wish you all luck with you continuing journeys, and hope you find success with acupuncture if you decide to try it."

HTH

[Cupcake]

Thanks Manhatten, i ovulate every cycle (so FF tells me ) and AF is like clockwork coming in at 10DPO i guess i just need to try and lengthen my LP! Thank you so much for your help & congrats on your pg x

[Manhattan]

Thanks Manhatten, i ovulate every cycle (so FF tells me ) and AF is like clockwork coming in at 10DPO i guess i just need to try and lengthen my LP! Thank you so much for your help & congrats on your pg x

No probs hun, and thanks! I think that if you are ovulating each cycle, then seeing a TCM Dr could definitely help you. They know exactly what herbs and in what dose to prescribe to get things working properly. I think their herbs and vitamins are much more effective than stuff you buy over the counter too.

Wishing you all the in the world, and hope your is just around the corner!

[Cupcake]

Thank you for the luck here's hoping thats the tiny bit of luck i needed to tip me over the edge and make this next cycle my successful one haha

I might bite the bullet and make an appointment ... eek im scared haha

[Doodlebug]

Don't be scared! It was the best thing I ever did!!!

My dh and I had been ttc for 2 yrs, 18mts natural, 2mts off for an op, 3 lots of OI and 1 x IUI. I FINALLY started acupuncture for the IUI treatment and got a BFP!!!!

Mind you, this cycle I also quit smoking socially, cut out all caffine, made sure I ate veges every day, drank 1.5L of water a day and exercised about 3 times a week. With all the hormone drugs I didn't lose any weight but I felt better for it. My acupuncture guy told me that even 1 cup of coffee a day can cut your egg quality in half!

Give it a go, it can't hurt to try!!!

[Cupcake]

I dont drink coffee, dont smoke, rarely drink alcohol, excercise regularly, have started eating better haha, can you see my frustration? I'll give it a try, the worst that can happen is it doesnt work and im in the same spot as i am now...right? Lol.

Congrats on your pg too!

[Muppity]

I can't speak highly enough of my Acupuncturist. I love her. And I give her (almost) full credit for my teeny tiny bub.

She lengthened my cycle and changed my mucous and is just amazing. I would absolutely recommend her to anyone and say that everyone should be doing it.

I was just speaking to someone who sees the same one and they went from 1 follie at the first u/s to 22 at the second after some intensive accu. But equally - don't expect instant results - I think it probably took me three visits to start to believe that it was helping.

I say - go for it. And good luck.

[Taurean78]

Like Muppity, I love my acupuncturist! She has helped me remain calm and positive whilst TTC naturally and then through my IVF journey which resulted in a BFP.
From my conversations with her, it seems that acupuncture can increase the blood flow to the uterus which I believe aids implantation. They are also able to work a lot with the kidneys which are really important when TTC.

Following is a link fromn the ABC show Catalyst which documents how acupuncture can help. You can watch the program - it goes for about 10 mins - and judge for yourself.

Catalyst: Improving The Odds Of IVF - ABC TV Science

IMO, acupuncture played a crucial role in my achieving a BFP.

Hope this helps.

xxTaurean78

[Cupcake]

Thanks ladies

I shall be making an appointment

xo

[LionsandBears]

Sorry to hijack

Can anyone recommend an acupuncturist in Melbourne? I'd also like to lengthen my cycle, improve CM. I've been seeing an osteo, which has helped, but might need the big guns . TIA

[Cupcake]

hijack away hehe im sure someone will be able to recommend someone

[jackrose]

I am another Acupuncture/TCM success story .

I have a very regular cycle, like clockwork and was getting very depressed and frustrated at ttc for 9 months with no luck.

I decided to give TCM a go and we managed to get a BFP in the first cycle. I couldn't believe my luck. My Chinese Doctor did tell me that it can work first cycle but I was not holding my breath! I am very impressed with her and with the treatment in general.

Even without the BFP, I was loving the effects and changes to my body that the herbs were bringing about, I just felt like my body was working so much better.

And Tashybabe, I'm in Melbourne too and depending on what area you are in, the Belly Belly center have great TCM practitioners (in Canterbury) or I can highly recommend my Chinese Doctor, Stella Pericleous. She is in Kensington, you can find her online at metro chinese medicine clinic.

Best of Luck to you both!

[ZigZag]

Glad I read this thread. We have been trying for #2 for 21mths without any luck. Stopped at 16mths for an op to remove a little endo and fibroids and took a 2 mth break. we're still trying naturally but have started to think about acupuncture and Chinese medicine. I also have a short LP...between 9-11 days so am trying v.b6 the next couple of cycles to try and lengthen it and see if thats the issue.

At the moment i'm so sick to death of people telling me to "stop stressing about it and then you'll get pregnant!!!" or "as soon as you stop trying, that's when you'll get pregnant!!". Does anyone else get that? Like they think there couldn't possibly be any medical reason, and because someone is TTC that they are automatically highly stressed about it and that's the reason for it. Its frustrating but I don't have time to make it my every thought of the day or even week!

Anyway...sorry for the hijack. Will definitely look into acupuncture and CM....maybe it will remove my 'stress'.... LOL. What are the things people look for in an acupuncturist?

[Cupcake]

Yes Zig i think many women that are long term TTCrs ge extremely sick of hearing, it will happen when it happens or just relax lol

Thanks Jack!! Definately going to do this one! Will have to let you all know how i go hehe

[believer]

Hi Ammaki,

I had a short LP too, after I had my ds.
After 2 treatments of acupuncture, my LP was back to the usual 14 days!
So I would say, go for it! BTW, i had a/c to help me fall pregnant and within 3 months I had my bfp and I now have a very happy and healthy ds!

Good luck!

[KimInMellie]

Can anyone recommend an acupuncturist in Melbourne? I'd also like to lengthen my cycle, improve CM.

Tashy, I've been seeing Peter (and now Amy, as Peter's currently on holiday) at Fertile Ground in East Melbourne since July. I think they're both great, as is the clinic in general. I'm not preggers yet (been working up to my first IVF cycle, which is starting tomorrow!), but I've been really pleased with my treatments for other reasons. Examples: When I first started acupuncture, I was waking regularly during the night with sweats. After about three weeks of treatments, the sweats were gone! And just today, I went in with a funky complaint about a crampy feeling in one ovary, and when the treatment was over it had dissipated. I think acupuncture is amazing. I'm seeing a naturopath at Fertile Ground as well. I can't recommend them more highly.