Acupunture increases IVF success rates (two studies)

Apparently a Danish study has found that having accupuncture on the same day as you have IVF treatment can almost double your chances of pregnancy, this article says there are two studies now :)

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Pregnancy may be fertile ground for acupuncturists
13 May 2006
Peter Aldhous
Magazine issue

"The practice may boost pregnancy rates after IVF, according to two new studies, though another trial found no significant benefits

WHEN Charlotte in Sex and the City turned to acupuncture to help her get pregnant she might have been onto something. Two studies published last week suggest the practice can boost pregnancy rates after IVF. Another trial, however, found no significant benefit, so it looks as though the debate over whether acupuncture really does improve fertility treatment is set to continue.

Few conventional fertility clinics offer acupuncture, but a growing number of women are turning to acupuncturists in the hope of boosting their chances of motherhood. "A lot of couples who undergo several cycles of IVF become very desperate," says Stefan Dieterle, a reproductive endocrinologist at the Witten/Herdecke University in Dortmund, Germany. "They seek alternative methods."

Dieterle's team gave women two sessions of acupuncture, one straight after embryo transfer and the other three days later. The women had needles inserted either at points supposed to boost the reproductive system or ..."

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... Sorry, you have to pay to subscribe to the magazine for the full article :(

We have 3 great TCM practitioners in the centre and they all do IVF support/acupuncture - so great to hear rave reviews like this!!!!

Yep Kelly. The changes in AF since having acupuncture have been amazing - no pain!!!!! Hoping it will be of some assistance with TTC too. But even if it doesn't, being pain free is definately worth it.

I have some other articles on Accupuncture and IVF on my homepage.

I'll add this article in 6 months time when it becomes free to my library, Kelly.

Kelly, I had acupuncture before during and after my IVF cycle. As most know, we conceived WM on that cycle so I am not sure to what extent the acupuncture assisted us.

Interestingly, my acupuncturist had heard that my FS sometimes suggested acupuncture to some of his patients (she had seen quite a few people he was treating). Perhaps over the years he has noticed some results.

hhhmmmm interesting...

This is so coincidental .. DH mentioned tonight that he thought we should try adding acupuncture in this cycle. When I get a free minute, I'm going to read those articles on your website Kar.

Hi Everyone
I am in Brisbane and i am getting Accupuncture and taking TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) at Newstead Holistic Medicine (link removed please read guidelines) and i see Rebecca Maitland, she is absolutley lovely and she is mindful of all the expenses we already have with IVF so doesnt go overboard with appointments, only the ones you need...The initial Consult is $70 and then $60 each subsequent visit. I attended once per week, but that was my choice... It is also very good for stress relief...I was so relaxed and in la la land the first time i saw her i hit my head getting into the cab to go home!!! I had a very bad experience with at Shen Therapies. It was very expensive and they made you feel guilty if you didnt take all their advice and buy all the products they recommended, even tho my doctor didnt want me to take TCM during my cycle. He said it was ok leading up to the cycle but not during as it threw out some of his readings on the blood tests. Not to mention the receptionist, I found her very rude!!!!

I was offered acupuncture during IVF, as they were doing studies to see if it helps in conception. Apparently there had been good outcomes with acupuncture, and conception. Good luck :)

I had accupuncture done for the last 3 IVF attempts, it does help with your mood swings and sense of well being during the crazy IVF cycle. But I fell pg 3 months after my last IVF cycle

Ok - so based on all of this, I want to start some acpucture happening!! Who is the guru in Melbourne for this sort of thing (ie acupuncture to increase fertility). How much does it cost and how often do you need to go?

Sophie
I rang AACMA - the Australian Association for Chinese Medicine and Accupuncture - or something like that - and asked for names of practioners in my area. Then I just rang them up and asked them whether they specialised in fertility or IVF. I managed to find mine on the first phonecall. I liked the fact that she was an older woman and she just made me feel really confident that she knew what she was doing. I'd also check whether they are registered with health funds or a HEalth department. Just to be sure.

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)

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

Has anyone else had any success stories to share?

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!!

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.

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?

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