Accupuncture during IVF

I was reading an article in today's newspaper about IVF, and it discussed the benefits of accupuncture.

Has anyone had accupuncture when doing IVF treatment? What is it supposed to do??

Thanks :D

Yep, me!!

I had read about a study (that coincidently my best friend was a part of) that was done at Repromed in SA about accupuncture treatment during IVF cycles and its affect on pregnancy outcomes and the findings were enough for me to give it a go.

My best friend had three cycles, she had accupuncture on the third cycle as part of the study and fell prg with twins.

Basically I found someone here in Sydney who was aware of the study and went to see him.

I had a few sessions early on (this was mainly for stress management because our cycle didn't get off to a good start and emotionally and mentally I was about to snap) and then had some intensive sessions around the time we were stimming (to stimulate the ovaries etc) and then had two sessions at the time of transfer - one as close as possible to the transfer time (my transfer was booked at 7am in the morning and had to travel 1.5 hours to get there so a session that morning was impossible. We did ours really late in the afternoon of the day before) and then another one straight after the transfer.

I can't tell you if it worked or not but I'm definately pregnant!

I continued to have weekly then fortnightly sessions for the first trimester and part of the second trimester, but this was to support the pregnancy (we lost our second baby at 12 weeks to m/c) rather than anything to do with the IVF treatment.

Eventually I stopped going all together once the pregnancy was well established because it is expensive after a while.

I know there are lots of other girls on BB who've used acpuncuture with IVF and I'm sure they'll post too.

Good luck!!

Hi MissScarlett, I havent actually tried it yet... but I will be starting my first round of ICSI / IVF in October and I will be having acupuncture treatment when I do that! The lady who I am seeing said that she will do it pretty much the same way that Willow had hers - she will give me acupuncture during drug treatment, a session before extraction, a session before implant and another one after implant (on the same day) and then a few more up until I get my result! Im really looking forward to it, not because I know for sure that it will get me a positive outcome... but more so for the 'relaxing' effect it will have!!

Hi,

I am a newbie but I am doing acupunture whilst going thru my third transfer. I don't know if it has worked yet but it definitely felt nice to have before and after the transfer.

I started it three months ago because my last transfer didn't go as planned and I got obessed with acupunture so decided to give it a go - obviously my body needed it because it has helped with alot of cycles problems I was having.

It can't hurt and if it feels right for you then give it a go!

I had 5 failed cycles and 2 failed frozen, so on this one did acupuncture and yep you guessed it, i'm pregnant!!!!

I've heard so many positive things about it, I think there's definately something to it...

I actually just came back from a session and it really helped to settle my head down.

There is a reason why it has lasted all these years - beleive me!!

I've been having acupuncture to assist fertility treatment for over 12 months now. During that time I have used it to support IVF treatments.

Mostly, I have regular weekly sessions even when not cycling to help my state of mind, to relax and sometimes even to help with an arthritis condition I have.

During cycles, I've had sessions to support what the drugs are doing. I ended up with bad OHSS on my egg collection cycle, so didn't have a transfer then. I've had one FET, with an acupuncture session after transfer on the same day. The transfer worked, but sadly miscarried at 8.5 weeks. We're currently on a break from treatment at the moment, but having lots of tests, acupuncture is continuing as it helps so much with my ability to cope. We'll be back into it soon, and I fully credit the acupuncture for our first transfer working, and I'm confident that it will help our next transfer also, and hopefully we can have more treatments (like Willow) to support and sustain the next pregnancy.

BW

On recommendation from BW, I have been for my first accupuncture session. This is also my 1st cycle.
Have another session next week and have been told to have one the day of EPU and day of Transfer.
Fingers crossed it works. I too read that the chances are higher, so I am willing to try anything that will increase my chances :)
Good luck to you too

Thanks for the info, everyone!

My first EPU should be this week, and I'm going to try it without accupuncture, but will definitely consider it if I'm unsuccessful this time.

Willow- I am about to have my first consult with repromed and would love to know the details of the accupuncture person that repromed sent your friend too. I have the details of a lady near by who helped a friend to sort out her hormones after a miscarriage but would love to know who repromed recommend so I can make an appt. asap! Gotta give this whole thing our best shot and all!