Acupunture increases IVF success rates (two studies)

[sophabulous]

Thanks Kar.

For the Melbourne girls, if you google Chinese Medicine Registration Board - there is a registered practitioner list you can search through (acupuncture is classed as Chinese medicine and therefore all practitioners need to be registered through the CMRB)

[butterfly_warrior]

For those in Sydney, there is an acupuncture and traditional chinese medicine centre in Rozelle the specialises in IVF support, infertility (male and female factor), miscarriage prevention and PCOS, among other things.

I've had three treatments there over the course of the last month - other health problems have responded instantly while on the bed with the needles in, and I ovulated for the first time in my life three days two days after a treatment specially geared towards stimulating my ovaries. That alone is enough to convince me!

BW

[BellyBelly]

Has anyone else had any success stories to share?

[Willow]

Yep, me!!

I had acupuncture throughout my IVF cycle (which was successful first attempt) and continued throughout the first 20 weeks of prg.

My IVF stim cycle got off to a shaky start - poor response to FSH but after one acupuncture treatment to stimulate my ovaries (and I remember lying on the bed and I could actually feel my ovaries throbbing, I swear!) and an increased dose I started to respond really well and ended up with 14 eggs at epu and of those 14, we had 11 embryos. So a great result from a poor start. And not bad with only one ovary

Not only did it help with the success of the cycle, but for me, it really, really helped to dramatically reduce my stress levels.

I can't recommend it highly enough. I decided to do it after reading the study out of UniSA/Repromed, my best friend was part of the test group in that study (and yes, it worked for her too after 2 failed cycles she fell prg with twins).

I'm happy to recommend my acupuncturist in the Sydney CBD. If anyone wants his details, pls feel free to PM me.

***ETA: I've had lots of PMs about contact details for my acupuncturist so figured it was easier to post them here (hope that's OK mods)

Nabih Moussa
City Acupuncture Clinic (located in the Dymocks Building on George St)
Ph: 02 9221 8379

Tell him Belinda referred you!

Good luck guys!!

[Lucina]

I believe it helped me too, but with IUI not IVF. I had had one ov induction and two IUI cycles which failed. I started acupuncture on my last cycle, had one initial treatment at the start of my cycle, then a treatment the day before IUI, then a follow up a few days later - and I got my BFP.

It was a really good cycle - excellent levels, and I surged all by myself which I hadn't done on any other treatment cycle.

I decided to try acupuncture after seeing the Catalyst story on the South Australian research.

I'm open to it being coincidental in my case, perhaps it was always going to be a good cycle, but certainly the acupuncture didn't hurt.

It's most definitely worth a shot in my opinion.

[*Paula*]

Thats it i have been talked into it.. Will be trying it this coming cycle.

Just a quick question though, do i need to have an initial appointment at the start of my cycle? I am looking at doing the accupuncture on transfer day so not sure if i need appointments prior to that?

[butterfly_warrior]

Paula, when you pick an acpuncture practitioner, make sure they are specialised in IVF support and infertility - and then let them guide you as to what appointments they think are necessary.

I consider myself an acupuncture success story in waiting - From 5 embryo transfers, we've had 4 pregnancies, and 3 miscarriages so far. Everything is looking much more promising this time around, so we're very hopeful.

Ironically, I've had acupuncture on the day of transfer with each transfer except this last one. We were expecting to transfer on day 5, and my appointment was booked... However, on Sunday we had to make the decision to transfer on Monday instead due to a lack of embryos... I stuck with the day 5 appointment (impossible to move it forward to day 3) and everything worked out. I kept myself sane through those few days by telling myself that the acupuncture was happening when the embryo was ready to implant anyway...

I would have to say that after what can only be described as an unusually traumatic IVF experience (two bouts of OHSS so it wasn't until my 3rd stim cycle that we got a fresh transfer), the acupuncture was worthwhile even if it did nothing more than keep me balanced emotionally.

BW