To do acupuncture or not.....?

[ChristyMarie]

Starting IVF today. Oh joy. I've done a ton of research and one thing I cannot make up my mind about is acupuncture. Lots of people say that acupuncture helps the IVF process. Lots of people say it makes no difference. So really no clear answers.

Frankly the entire thing is stressing me out.

First, I don't believe in acupuncture. Can it help? Sure. Is it for me? Nope. So any placebo effect would be lost on me. Plus I'll be more tense about the acupuncture than the IVF procedure.

Second, there are no people who do it near me. Which means I drive a long way in tons of traffic while being rushed trying to fit this in while Josh is at preschool. That will cause me major stress. So any stress relief factor would be lost on me.

But I also feel like what if I don't and it doesn't work, will I feel totally guilty?

*sigh*

Any opinions? I just can't decide and my doctor's office doesn't support or not support it. They leave it entirely up to you. They do not have an acupuncturist on staff - you need to bring your own.

[HejazSunKat]

Originally Posted by ChristyMarie

First, I don't believe in acupuncture. Can it help? Sure. Is it for me? Nope. So any placebo effect would be lost on me. Plus I'll be more tense about the acupuncture than the IVF procedure.

Second, there are no people who do it near me. Which means I drive a long way in tons of traffic while being rushed trying to fit this in while Josh is at preschool. That will cause me major stress. So any stress relief factor would be lost on me.

But I also feel like what if I don't and it doesn't work, will I feel totally guilty?

*sigh*

Any opinions? I just can't decide and my doctor's office doesn't support or not support it. They leave it entirely up to you. They do not have an acupuncturist on staff - you need to bring your own.

Well, this is coming from someone whose family member had success with it (my DH quit a heavy smoking habit with accupuncture) so I don't believe it's complete quackery. What is it purported to do for you in relation to the IVF process? Just relax you so that the whole procedure is less stressful or is the lessening of stress supposed to make your body more receptive to the implantation? You've stated a number of compelling 'cons' above and if it's stress relief that is the major 'pro' for doing it I'm sure there are any number of alternatives you could use instead. Why accupuncture over say, yoga or meditation or a couple of good old fashioned cocktails? As for guilt if you don't do it - don't take that one on. If it works and you are doing accupuncture you wouldn't know that was the reason it worked either. The guilt would be a senseless exercise you really don't need. I wish you the very best of luck with your procedure.

[Canice]

I know a lot of people who use acupuncture for pain management, and it's covered by my insurance, so it's something I would definitely be willing to try if it were appropriate to my condition. But there's an acupuncturist on every street where I live, and there's no way I'd drive a long distance and sit in heavy traffic for something I believe to be a placebo. Especially under already stressful circumstances - just doesn't make sense to me.
One thing that was unclear to me, too, was the comment that you have to bring the acupuncturist to your doctor: it sounds like you would drive to some appointments there and s/he would also have to attend your treatments?

[LakeMartinGal]

DD2 is using it for multiple reasons, but it seems to me that maybe you need to try the IVF and see if it works without accupuncture. (Is that feasible?) If it doesn't, then you could try it to alleviate any guilt (guilt is a waste of time...) you may feel, or just to turn the stone you left unturned! For heaven's sake, don't stress yourself out about it, because fertility is a very tricky issue, and full of stresses, without adding another one!

[Missi]

I agree, do not stress out!!!

As someone who had fertility issues, trust me when I say if your IVF doesn't work, you will question EVERYTHING. Enough that you will think of crazy stuff like, if only I had ate bananas for breakfast or maybe because it was a Tuesday.

If acupuncture isn't for you, I would say don't do it. Studies really aren't conclusive enough that it makes a difference either way. Then don't think another thing about it. (yeah, easier said than done, but do your best!)

Good luck!!!!!!! Crossing my fingers for you!!!

[615bride]

I believe in acupuncture. It worked for me and had the bonus effect of being very relaxing. I've also gone through some infertility stuff. What does your RE say? If you don't believe it will work, your doctor isn't pushing/suggesting it and it's not convenient I would vote don't do it. Good luck with the IVF cycle!

edit to say: Oops. I just saw that your doctor doesn't weigh in - I should have read more carefully. Doesn't change my answer though!

[ChristyMarie]

Thanks for all the opinions! I ended up making an appointment. If I hate it I won't go again.

[ssgold]

I want to share my experience with accupuncture and IVF. I did it before a frozen embryo transfer that resulted in my now 5 year old son. I wanted to do anything that might help. I am not a yoga, massage, meditation type person but I did find it pretty relaxing.

Three years later we were going to do another frozen transfer so I started accupuncture affiliated with my clinic. None of our embryos survived the thaw so the cycle was cancelled. Like you I rushed there after dropping off my son. It was less relaxing b/c I had my cell phone in my pocked in case someone from camp needed to get me.

After that I did 2 fresh cycles at a new clinic. They did not have an accupuncturist on staff and I didn't persue it. I couldn't find anyone highly recommended or close to me. I got pregnant both times. The first resulted in a miscarraige, the second in my 4 month old daughter.

For me, the bottom line was weighing the stress of finding a new accupuncturist and trying to fit it in my schedule against the guilt if it didn't work. If I remember correctly, there is only one study that showed a certain type of accupuncture made a difference but given my experience, I don't totally think it is useless. Clear as mud, right!

I see that you decided to try it. Let us know what you thought.

[SusanPC]

Where are you in the IVF process? It was my understanding that it was something you do leading up to...and then through a cycle. I did not do it in my first fresh cycle. But, after it ended in a m/c I did do it before my FET...that resulted in my daughter. I don't know that it helped...but it was relaxing for me.

This cycle (I have my retrieval this week) I didn't do it. I would be too stressed trying to find someone to watch my 14 month old while going to the appts. As it is, having to deal with arranging to have my daughter looked after while I go to the AM monitoring each AM has been extremely stressful for me....so I didn't want one more thing to worry about.

FWIW, my RE said he isn't convinced it helps but it can't hurt....

Let us know how it goes.

[Molli526]

My sister swore by it.

[ChristyMarie]

Oh, definitely clear as mud.


I just started Lupron yesterday. We've been planning this for 3 months but had a bunch of tests and a surgery come up so (strangely) it kind of snuck up on us.

The nice thing is that my son is in pre-school 3 hours a day so I do have time to go then. And I've never had them call me - I don't worry about that anymore.

[ellery]

Just out of curiosity - for those of you who did it before IVF, how many times did you do it? (or how long did you do it for?)

[DebGo]

im an acupuncture advocate... swear by it for so many things tho did not use it 2 conceive... it has stopped my hot flashes and done so much for me. i would highly recommend it to most anyone for many different reasons (i.e. pain management, conceiving, menopause, stress -- just to name a few).

but the bottom line is if you seriously do not believe in it then it will probably NOT work for you.