acupuncture and infertility

[Anonymous]

Bumping this old thread to ask HOW acupuncture was relaxing. I'm just starting and I find it kind of uncomfortable and weird!

[Anonymous]

Agreed. Not for me. And I am skeptical if it really works.

[Anonymous]

I tried it with high hopes and a recommendation from someone it worked for (or could have been a coincidence and her second Ivf cycle would have worked anyways)
Didn't work for me, I went twice a week for about two months, about half the sessions were relaxing, the rest I was counting down the minutes...

[Anonymous]

I will say though that I had a lot of nausea while stimming and he did certain points for that which I really do think helped me.

[Anonymous]

For me it really helped with the hormone side effects. I have real problems with BCP. I get insomnia and anxiety. Before I tried acupuncture I went weeks without sleeping. It was horrible. Acupuncture actually helps with the insomnia and anxiety. Does it help with fertility. I got pg with my last FET transfer but it was an early mc. I am hoping our next cycle sticks.

[Anonymous]

I found it relaxing enough, but maybe that was because after the acupuncturist placed the needles I was required to lie still in a quiet room. That's naturally relaxing.

If it makes you feel uncomfortable or you're skeptical, though, skip it. Acupuncture's efficacy for pain relief and nausea relief is pretty well documented. Its effectiveness for issues related to fertility, less so. (The "German study" that is cited the most often was small, and dealt with women getting acupuncture right after embryo transfer, not all through the cycle.)

[Anonymous]

Kerri Westhauser is highly recommended on this board. I would have to agree. She is in Dupont Circle and I had success with her as well.

[Anonymous]

I second the rec for Kerri Westhauser. She is great! She will answer all of your questions about this process. She will also tell you if you don't need acupuncture. (which I think is very cool too)

[Anonymous]

I went twice a week for 2 months and only recently stopped. It didn't help me get pregnant during those cycles, but I did find it relaxing (laying still in a dimly lit room with soothing music). Many sessions I actually fell asleep.

I did notice, however, that it took away the horrible cramps that I would experience before and during my period. My last 2 cycles were much less painful but that was about all I noticed.

[Anonymous]

I went years ago for 3 months before an IVF cycle and found it to be very helpful. I found the treatments to be very relaxing and I hardly had any side effects from the stim drugs. I have recently been seeing Kerri Westhauser (for the past 4 months) and just finished with another fresh IVF cycle. Kerri has been wonderful and I highly recommend her. The treatments helped me to relax and deal with the effects of the stim drugs. I just got my positive beta test yesterday (yay!) so hopefully this cycle will work!

[Anonymous]

I also went to Kerri Westhauser when I was doing medicated IUIs--I saw her throughout five cycles and none were successful.

She was lovely and the sessions were relaxing, but I can't say that they helped acheive their purpose in any way. Now, after a signficant break, we're considering IVF. I'd probably do accupuntcure again if we go this route, but I'll be less optimistic about how much of a difference it will make.

And, if it matters, I'm in my early 30's with no known fertility problems--I started with IUIs because I'm in a same-sex relationship.

[Anonymous]

I saw Kerri too. I had success however. I did not do acupuncture though. After meeting with her and talking, she recommended herbs to me. I was hesitant but did four months and now am pregnant. (20 weeks)

[Anonymous]

If relaxation is the primary benefit wouldn't regular massage sessions be just as effective?

[Anonymous]

Relaxation is not the primary benefit of acupuncture. I realize I am biased because I did acupuncture and so did my husband and we now have a 14 month old son. However, I was not stressed out and neither was he. He had some motility issues and I had slightly elevated FSH. We did a few IUI's with acupuncture.
If you want to just relax then I think massage is right for you.
Also, another fan of Kerri Westhauser's work.