Can all who have researched this please share some of your info? I am in my 2ww and hopefully not going to jinx myself by doing this but I'd like to look into this in case I have another BFN. I want to spend the next week researching and make a decision b/c my head will be cloudly next week with my beta news.

Thanks Suesy - Congrats on your successful transfer. I've found one who does specialize in IVF/IUI and they think that it is successful for both treatments. I'm excited for positive news.

:)

Hopeful - I have been doing acupuncture for about 1 1/2 months now. I started in the middle of my second IUI cycle. I do treatments for infertility and for my traditional chinese medicine diagnosis which is Liver Qi/spleen deficiency.
I am unexplained IF but I know one of my issues is that AF usually only lasts about a day. Although my RE doesn't seem concerned I always felt that wasn't right. My acupunturist diagnosed that and is treating it. My first AF after acupunture was only about 2.5 weeks after I started and I got AF for 2.5 days instead of one. That alone impressed me! She said after 3 months I should have normal AF. I would only imagine that would help me in my IF journey. I was skeptical about this stuff in the beginning but now I am a true believer.
I hope your 2ww ends with happy news and you don't need to try it but if you do there is a book that is really good - The Infertility Cure by Radine Lewis. It talks all about chinese medicine and acupunture and how it can help IF with or without ART treatments. As for finding an acupunturist I would make sure of the following: 1. They are infertility speciallists (all will say they treat IF because they do but make sure they have a lot of IF patients and a track record for treating it); 2. Some states you only need to take a couple hour course to get a certificate in acu. and others you need to go to a 4-years master programs, make sure you know what your state requires and if it is only the certificate make sure the acu. has more experience than that; 3. The first consult they should really talk to you about your history and IF issues in detail before they treat you. They should be treating the whole you, not just your IF. Some acu. will just do IF points but they should really be doing IF points and any other points you specifically need for your body.

Good luck!

Lori

:wave: I did acupuncture with my 3rd IVF (2nd fresh) and was successful. I started it immediately after my failed frozen cycle. I too went to one that was recommended by my RE and when I went into her office for the first time and saw birth announcements and sonogram pictures on her herbal medicine cabinet, I knew I was in the right place. She also did a full screening of my needs (both IF and all other natural body questions) on my first visit. She told me it sounded as though my liver was really sluggish most likely from all the hormones I had been on from past cycles, so her first plan was to cleanse my body and detoxify my liver. She put me on herbs and I started going for treatments 2x a week. I think it really helped me to relax.
Although I wasn't working at the time (it was summer and I'm a teacher), my mother was very sick and in the hospital. So the stress of that and the IVF cycle was high. My mother passed through that cycle, and I firmly believe that the acupuncture kept me "centered" through it all.
She even came to my clinic and did a session the day I went in to do my transfer. I still go to her now, at 24 weeks pg!! I firmly believe it was my ticket to success. I even gave my acupucnturist a nice plant for her office to thank her for helping our dreams come true. I can't wait to have her add my baby's birth announcement on her cabinet!
Good luck to you!! :angel:
PS I agree whole-heartedly about getting someone who really specializes in IF. At several visits, I inquired about how many women she treated for IF and how many got pg. I also saw a few shelves of books related to chinese medicine and infertility in her office.

Thanks Ladies

I think that this will be a good thing for me to do BFP or not. I have stomach allergies and probably a few other prblems that could be fixed by this. I'll let you know what happens.

:wave:

Long one:

Okay, I went to see a licensed Chinese Acupuncurist who specializes in IF today. She was very knowledgable, asked all of the same questions that RE asks. This actually works in conjunction with whatever treatment you are already using, she suggested that I not take any herbs until I know that the last IUI didn't work, she said that herbs will make the beta look crazy. I did a needle treatment for 30 minutes (they don't hurt) after a long Q&A with her. Today we did "holding the baby" since I'm in 2ww and we don't know if I have a BFP yet (fewer needles and less aggressive. It seems to be very important for them to know your medical stats on day 2, without any meds. FSH level is extremely important in their diagnosis. I listened to many testimonials, mostly about women who have 10 & 13 failed IUIs and IVFs combined. Some go on to conceive naturally after the acupuncture treatment and others still need to do IUI/IVF but they get BFPs on their next rounds. Many of the women said that they were 38 and over which is promising. The dr said that combining the treatment with the IVF will increase your chances by ~50% but dpending on what's causing your problem, you could need 3, 7 or 12 treatments, could get a little pricey since ins won't cover. Your partner is also treated if he is the problem. I asked whether this only increases blood to your ovaries and uterus and she said that the treatment will also increase the quality of your eggs. Funny, at my RE appointment before my IUI, the RE said to me that sometimes nature assists you in not letting an egg fertilize because it's of poor quality/ the chromosomes are right and nature prevents a baby with defects. Acupuncture to help us with the quality and can also help the partner with his morphology, the shape might not be right.

I'm sure that it's not for eveyone but I'll be willing to try it if I get a BFN. She said that I might need 2 more cycles, 1 to let the treatment kick in and then it should work on the second one. That would make 4 IUIs for me and my ins will only pay $10k lifetime for IVF so I need to exhaust this first. Post if you are considering it.

Wow, I'm definitely considering it. Everything you learned today does sound really promising. I'm going to need to check with my insurance company and see if there is any type of coverage or not. If it's not covered, I'm still going to see if there's any way we can afford it. Thank you so much for the info :D it is soooo helpful :wave:

Holly

I paid $110 today b/c it was the inital consultation but regular visits would be $70.

Good luck Holly

Suesy - did they treat your DH also?

My insurance doesn't cover either and my initial was $150 and the rest are $75. It does get a bit pricey but I'm willing to try it. My DH just started going a couple of weeks ago too since he has a slight morphology issue. We figured it can't hurt. I'll be curious to see his SA at our next IUI to see if it helped. I'll let you all know. My diagnosis was treatment for 3 months and I'm halfway through it now. I think the number of times depends on how "blocked" you're energies are. Apparently mine were very blocked but I've heard of people going a lot less time than that with positive results. Good luck everyone, baby dust!

Lori

This double posted

I'm thinking of updating this thread each time that I go for acupuncture since others seem to be interested. I went for another treatment today, again "holding the baby" since I'm still in the 2ww, it will end Friday. This time she put the needles in different places, still about 12, they are even thinner than the ones that we use with the injectibles. They are all individually wrapped and disposable. She told me today that 2 patients received BFPs this week. I did IUI with herbal teas and 22 treatments, the other did IVF with no herbs but had 16 treatments, 8 with each IVF. Also, another patient broght her in an article, my dr was voted top 3 acunpuncturist in our area which is a pretty big area. One of her patients, who she helped to conceive naturally, nominated her and others had to also vote.

I will have my beta on Friday and if I am positive then I go back on Saturday and we continue "holding the baby". She said that it's hard to maintain our "artificial pregnancies" and this will help the blood flow. If negative then I do another treatment, more aggressive (more needles) and it will push the rest of the medication out faster and bring a cleaner AF.

If negative, she thinks that I probably need 2 more IUIs. By the time that we do the second one, I will have been on treatment for over one month, going 1 or 2 times a week. I will ask my RE how they feel about this before I start the herbs, I don't want it to change the results of the b/w. I will also find out my FSH on day 2, that will tell her what type of herbs I need, FSH should be under 10 for normal to conceive, if over then you have difficulty if not impossible. This will have to be corrected first, also, she will need to check DH's morphology and motility and possibly treat him. He is not going to be happy about this! I don't know how I'm going to pull this one off.

Also, she said that you never do herbs once you are pregnant. Hope that this is helpful girls, I paid $70 today. I'll see how much the herbs are.

If I see that no one is reading the posts then I'll stop updating.

Hi Hopeful,

Thanks for updating, please always update us I am very interested in acupuncture!!! I responded to your other thread and have my appt this Friday b/c of you!!! I am so excited!!! I hope mine MD is as good a knowledgable as yours :)

So this Friday is the BIG DAY!!! Oh my god it is only two days away!!! I am praying really hard for you that you get the BFP you desearve!!!!! I have a good feeling about this for you!!!! I will keep you and DH in my thoughts and prayers. Hopefully DH won't have to be checked but if he does... I know you'll find a way to convince him! It is our innate gift to get them to do things we need them to do and this may be a need!!! But again hopefully you won't have to :) Sending you lot's of +++++++++++++++VIBES and BABY DUST in the millions!!!!

kathy

Hi Hopeful,

I like your idea and if you don't mind I'll let you know what I'm doing too. I like to compare to see if I'm missing anything.

I just got back from my acu. appt. I've been going almost 2 months now and was told it will take about 3 months to balance me out. So only one month to go! She said my pulses were getting much stronger so I am improving. Since I am on a med/IUI break I took herbs this cycle too. Just for 2 weeks and my last one is tonight. I was told this will help speed things along.

I should get AF early next week and although I'm holding out a tiny bit of hope for a miracle BFP I know it's not likely. The funny thing is I'm almost excited to see AF because last time after about 4 weeks acu. it had improved slightly, so I'm hoping I get a much more normal AF this time. I'll keep you all posted.

kathy- good luck on Friday!

Lori

I am so excited about this, I feel proactive in trying to make a pregnancy happen. Before I just felt like I was going through the days, taking another shot, waiting for b/w, blah, blah, blah. Nothing was in my control, I sort of look forward to this now.I'm actually considering taking a cycle off of the meds if I get a BFN, but I've been praying really hard for everyone so I hope that karma brings me some luck this time.

Lori - I really hope that this works for you and it's great to have others post so that we can compare like the IUI and IVF treatments. Are you using any of the herbs?

Good luck Kathy

Thanks for the well wishes and we are still in this together. :) :)

Hi Hopeful,

I just stop taking herbs yesterday. I did it for 2 weeks. It was a powder mixture that I put in a shotglass size of water and they tasted horrible. I took them 3 times a day. My acupunturist doesn't like to prescribe them when taking fertility meds so we only planned to do the 2 weeks of herbs since I was on a break. I don't remember the name of them though and I already threwthe package out. Are you going to take any?

Looks like I might miss my next IUI too because I ovulated way early this month and now will be on a cruise when AF arrives. So I probably won't make it back for CD3 b/w and u/s. If that happens I may see if my acupunturist wants me to take any other herbs. At least I feel like I'll be doing something.

Lori

Hi Lori

I will check into the timing of when I would take the herbs, it will depend on whatever my FSH level was on day 2 or 3 last cycle. I'm sorry that you'll miss your cycle but have a great time on your cruise.

Hi Guys,

I just wanted to tell you about my 1st acupucture visit. If you read my other thread you know I had a bad night and blah morning but I think I feel better already....is that possible???? Anyway, when I got there the MD told me he has 5 women pregnant right now with twins and one w/ triplets!!! I was ecstatic (wish I saw baby pics though :) he's chinese and it is a family business who has been doing acupuncture for 3 generations and he's and MD too!

Ok so here is waht they did.....he put needles on my ankles, wrists, head, ears back and tummy. It only hurt a bit on the tummy and the ear a tiny bit. He then had this thing I don't know how to describe it but it's used to heat the needles once their in...oh and they have herbs in them...... He wants to see me after me 2nd try and HSG and then determine whether to put me on herbs after those results. I told him I ovulate too early in my cycle used to at day 5 with RE asst. now day 10 or 11. He said he can assist with that and to grow more follies per cycle. So I am hopeful that this may help!! Oh I almost forgot as I was laying there with the needles all over I all of a sudden get a feeling of euphoria, a started to giggle :) it was kind of weird and funny at that same time. Not sure if I was just laughing at myself for doing this or if it was the needles LOL

Holly I hope you get a BFP this month but if you don't you HAVE to try this! I will be paying $60 a session. Sorry I always write too much but I had to share every detail :)

kathy

You're so sweet to think of me :D .

If we don't get a BFP this month, I will DEFINITELY try this out. I'm going to start looking into everything next week :D

I'm really glad to hear you are feeling happier. I sooooo hope it works for you!

Holly

Hi Everyone

3rd treatment, she thinks that I need 15 or 17 treatments so I think that that's fair. I'm really liking the treatments. I forgot to mention that I did the heat lamp also on the first treatment. Today was ~12 needles, toes, left ear (she seems to alternate ears), abdomen with some low vibrating electrodes and heat lamp, just tingling, lower back and something that had a flame, a hot round glass and made a cupping noise when she popped it on my back. Total was 1 hour.

Physically I feel good, still no herbs for me b/c FSH looks good, I'm at 4.83 in Dec. I'm taking this month off from injectibles, DH wants to try naturally so I can't argue.

Blue & Holly- I hope that you like it; Lori- I hope that it works and Kathy-isn't it relaxing? Good luck everybody.

Renee :p

Does anyone know of any good accupuncturists in the Bay Area of California? I have been referred to two so far, so I know I'm off to a good start. Thanks!

Carisa

Hi Carisa

I don't know but I can ask a friend on Monday, I think that she has a list that covers all areas, with the good ones. I'm in Long Island. I'll update tomorrow either way.:p

OOh, thank you. Please do!!

Carisa

Sorry but her list wsa of REs, not acus. I don't remember if you're seeing an RE but maybe they can refer one. Good luck. :)

I will ask my doctor, I am seeing her on Friday. Thanks for looking into it though!!

Does anyone know of any good accupuncturists in the Bay Area of California? I have been referred to two so far, so I know I'm off to a good start. Thanks!

Carisa
Hi Carisa!

Where are you located, I see an accupuncturists in Lafayette (East Bay). I don't know if that is close to you or not. Just let me know and I'll give you the info. Also, there are tons of accupuncturists in SF.

I went for another treatment today and I'm starting herbs tonight, let's see how I feel on this. s supposed to help regulate my cycle.
Blue - have you found someone yet? Kathy- I saw that you went again this morning.

Hi Hopeful,

Yes I did have a session yesterday am!!! I feel so relaxed since I started this!!! It is really incredible!! I hope it helps get my ovulation in order!!! Thanks again for everything, I am so greatful you shared your story with us!!!!

kathy

Hi Blue!!

I am so excited for you!!! I don't won't to say it doesn't hurt at all...I have had 3 treatments so far and ususally one or two of the needles hurt but just a little bit, I PROMISE!!!! Once there in they don't hurt at all. Please tell us how it goes. I hope this works for you and all of us!!!!!

kathy

Good thinking!!! It's defintely a lot less painful!!

Hi Kathy - I'm doing 2 per week, how often are you going. The other say I started herbs and I'll see how I feel by the end of thweek. If it looks like something is building up I may get scared and stop. I spoke to my RE about acu and they are all for it, they also do it but they are not so happy with the herbs. There's no FDA control over how they are grown, selected, cared for or how they are used. I'm taking a chnce with this. I'm also trying something different with vitamins and DH but I;ll et you know if it works after.

Good luck Blue.

Hi Hopeful,

Well this week I will go 3x but just for this week. He wanted to do some stimulation to my belly area he said to help with my ovulation. He puts these like electro things on me, one on my belly and ther other on my shin. Does your ACU do this??? He has not put me on herbs yet but I will discuss with RE if and when that may come up.

Blue that's terrible!!!! What kind of an person what say such of things!! I sware it blows my mind how people that are supposed to help you can actually let such stupidity come out of their mouth!!! Did you ask her if she was psychic?? How the heck does she know that your IUI won't work!!! I read on one of the post that this women had something like 5 IUI's 3 or 6 IVF's (can't remember exactly) and had BFN then she did IUI again and she got a BFP and now is a proud mom!!! I am so sorry for what happened to you and that you lost $65 bucks.

I am glad your are looking on the bright side. If I listened to every person who gave me there uneducated and unexperienced advised about IF including the emotional impact it has on us who knows where I'd be.

Good luck on Monday!!! I hope to catch up to you soon!!! Let our 4th IUI's be the one's that allows us to be mommies!!!! Praying for you!!!!

kathy

OMG Blue, aboslutely not, do not cancel the IUI. RUN quickly to another dr. I was also told to lose some weight but the fact that you only 33 is no reason to drag this out, she is not the right one for you or anybody. My RE has an office in Hackensack, where are you in NJ, my RE supports acu and has one in the office? I can help you search if you want, tell me where you are. There must be a ton of acus out there. I'm sorry for you.

These things can't hurt:
Change your diet, watch the amount of junk, carbs and sugar
Lower your caffeine and alcohol
Increase the antioxidants - tomatoes, blueberries, pomegranets, greentea
Exercise, even if you start walking
Do the acu, it's worked for everyone else, why wouldn't it work for us
Take your prenatals and have DH do the Vitamin C, E, Zinc thing if he has a problem.

Blue - I think that you have more options if you go into Philly. To avoid traffic, maybe you could schedule your appointments for Saturdays and if you need another, one more late week night?