Good or bad experiences with Acupuncture?

[Hopeful009]

I am a "thin cyster" (5'8, 120 lbs), non-IR with mild hirsutism. Went off the pill August 2008 and no period since. Did bleed once (light spotting) when doctor put me on progesterone pills to induce a bleed. Doctor's advice was to go back on the birth control pill until I am TTC. Very unsatisfying... I really want to ovulate on my own, and it seems like the ONLY advice I have gotten is just to go on the pill, and then go on fertility drugs when ready to get pregnant. (We are planning on starting to try in the next year).

So, I recently decided to try acupuncture. I went to first session this week and doctor (trained in China, MD in China) was really certain that with acupuncture 2x week, I would have a period within 3 months. She also put me on chinese herbs 2x per day.

I am wondering if anyone else here has had any experiences -- either positive or negative -- with acupuncture? I am interesting in hearing any success stories, OR any non-success stories!

I am very interested in trying to find a natural solution to this problem if possible, without having to go on major hormone treatment or Metformin.

[hilde]

I have done acupunture to help with ttc, but only in combination with clomid. I doubt if it would be strong enough to work by itself, although my acupunturist claims she has had success in PCOS with acu and herbs combined.
On my first cycle of including acupuncture, I got my BFP, but it ended in m/c. I have done 3 cycles of clomid with acupunture since, with no success but then I also have severe weight loss issues, which obviously wouldn't have helped.
I plan to do acupunture when I start with treatment again, which will most likely be injectables.
Acupuncture has been shown to work with IVF if done around embryo transfer, so it's definately not going to hurt.
I find it very relaxing and enjoy the experience.

[keohanel]

i loved my acupuncturist and believe that it (in conjunction with being on metformin for 6 months) was the last push my body needed to regulate.

[yodasmistress]

I have not done acupuncture before but am starting it next month in preparation for IVF later in the spring...

[ccyling]

I have been going to accupuncture since last summer. The woman I go to actually had IF problems as well and got her BFP after IUIs - so she's been a great resource since she's been through a lot of what I am doing. That said, she's also realistic. She doesn't claim that she can get me pregnant with accupuncture alone - she thinks it's good in conjunction with other things that I doing. I personally don't know if it will directly help me but what is does to is force me to relax for 45-60minutes which I believe is very therapuetic in itself. I have been going 3x per cycle.

Good luck!

[bkb2008]

i loved my acupuncturist and believe that it (in conjunction with being on metformin for 6 months) was the last push my body needed to regulate.

Hi keohanel,

That's wonderful news! Could I ask how often you went for acupuncture and how long were you treated before you got your BFP? Am seriously considering it as well. I'm about to start clomid and if the acupuncture kickstarts my body to let us conceive earlier, it may be well worth starting it this month before the clomid and cycling monitoring.

Thanks!

[keohanel]

hey bkb

i think acupuncture helped regulate me but i actually got my BFP after stopping (too expensive), but this is what i did:

November 2007: start TTC naturally, don't O
March 2008: start Metformin
May 2008: start hypnosis
June 2008: 2 acupuncture appointments
July 2008: went away for 3 weeks, 1 appt when I returned
August: 2-3 appts for acupuncture, but needed to stop due to expense. HOWEVER had first REAL AF with red flow in years and within 3 weeks, (first week in september) I O'd!!!!!

Got my BFP in November

so i think the acupuncture really helped, especially because of the red flow.

[Badgergirl27]

Hi all!

I am new to this site, but wanted to chime in b/c I started acupuncture about 6 weeks ago, and I love it. So far, no BFP, but it truly is relaxing and my RE said that has value, fertility-wise, in and of itself. And, I definitely feel better overall.
On recommendation of my acupuncturist, I've been going 1-2 times/wk. She said that number of visits should scale back over time. Will see how things go next cycle, as I will be starting Follistim and IUIs.
Best of luck!

[Hopeful009]

Keohanel: it's really encouraging hearing your story about acupuncture and AF. I'm hoping I will have the same result!

Badgegirl: Have you found that acupuncture helps regulate you and gives you a good AF flow?

Just curious because this is what I am hoping for before starting TTC!

Also, FYI to all those interested, my acupuncturist put me on herb "Xiao Yao Wan" which is supposed to help with kidney (yang??) deficiency, which relates to improving blood flow to the uterus.

[terp_parker]

I am in the same situation as you, but have started fertility treatment. I went off the pill on 5/08, didn't have a period until provera in 10/08. I too had been told for YEARS not to worry about lack of period, until we started TTC. I tried clomid first with no response. During my last clomid cycle I decided to start acupuncture. I figured I had nothing to lose, and at the very least it would give me an hour a week to relax and take my mind off the TTC stuff. So far, I have felt better in general. I don't know if it is working for ovulation, but it makes me feel better which is worht something.

[qwerty]

I have done it to induced period, i did it ones a week for 3 months but nothing happened, I love my acupuncturist she is the sweetest, but I guess for some people it doesnt work but for some it does.

At the end i still had to take progesterone...

[Badgergirl27]

Badgegirl: Have you found that acupuncture helps regulate you and gives you a good AF flow?

Hi Hopeful,

I've only had AF once since I started acu treatments 6 weeks ago, but it seemed as though it did improve flow some - it seems healthier. Hopefully, improvement will continue!

I'd be interested in what you think of the herbs. I am not using herbs now because I was worried about interaction with the Western fertility drugs I have been/will be taking, but some people seem to have a lot of success with them.

[bkb2008]

hey bkb

i think acupuncture helped regulate me but i actually got my BFP after stopping (too expensive), but this is what i did:

November 2007: start TTC naturally, don't O
March 2008: start Metformin
May 2008: start hypnosis
June 2008: 2 acupuncture appointments
July 2008: went away for 3 weeks, 1 appt when I returned
August: 2-3 appts for acupuncture, but needed to stop due to expense. HOWEVER had first REAL AF with red flow in years and within 3 weeks, (first week in september) I O'd!!!!!

Got my BFP in November

so i think the acupuncture really helped, especially because of the red flow.

Thanks!! The prospective is so tantalising! I managed to find two clinics in my area online yesterday where they have experience with PCOS. Will discuss the expenses with DH to see if we can afford it. (The initial consults were like $50-60 but txs would be $80-90) It might be more economical to start it if we get pregnant on it quicker and not spend lots more money on other txs/ meds. Perhaps it can also help with the added side effects and stress of the txs. :-)

[Chandtisse]

What was the general cost for each acupuncture appointment?

[qwerty]

Thanks!! The prospective is so tantalising! I managed to find two clinics in my area online yesterday where they have experience with PCOS. Will discuss the expenses with DH to see if we can afford it. (The initial consults were like $50-60 but txs would be $80-90) It might be more economical to start it if we get pregnant on it quicker and not spend lots more money on other txs/ meds. Perhaps it can also help with the added side effects and stress of the txs. :-)

Hi Bkb,

I went to Acutoronto at Eglinton Ave. The fee is like $75/hour.