Acupuncture for embryo transfer

[seeyalater52]

Sorry to start a bunch of threads but hoping by separating them out they can be useful if other folks are scanning the forum for specific topics.  

I know some of you have done acupuncture during embryo transfer cycles. Can you share more about it? How often did you do it, and for what duration of time? Do you think it helped with success? 

I'm considering acupuncture for my next transfer but it's expensive here in my HCOL area and insurance doesn't cover it so I probably could not afford more than 2-3 sessions and I'm not sure it's worth it. 

[thoseareradishes]

I did acupuncture for my first transfer, which was a BFN. I honestly did not like it and didn't do it for my donor egg transfer cycles. I thought it was painful, which I found odd because I have a decent pain tolerance. I felt like I had to lay perfectly still so the needles wouldn't move and feel weird. So it was not relaxing. Plus, I went to a fertility acupuncturist, and he pinned baby pictures of successful clients all along the ceiling so that's all I had to look at while laying on the table.

If you like it and find it relaxing, then go for it. Ways to relieve stress are so important during treatments. But don't feel like you have to do it for success.

[scm1011]

Sept 20, 2018 10:50:04 GMT -5 thoseareradishes said:

I did acupuncture for my first transfer, which was a BFN. I honestly did not like it and didn't do it for my donor egg transfer cycles. I thought it was painful, which I found odd because I have a decent pain tolerance. I felt like I had to lay perfectly still so the needles wouldn't move and feel weird. So it was not relaxing. Plus, I went to a fertility acupuncturist, and he pinned baby pictures of successful clients all along the ceiling so that's all I had to look at while laying on the table.

If you like it and find it relaxing, then go for it. Ways to relieve stress are so important during treatments. But don't feel like you have to do it for success.

....whaaaaa???! 
That would have turned me off big time. 

[thoseareradishes]

Sept 20, 2018 11:01:05 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Sept 20, 2018 10:50:04 GMT -5 thoseareradishes said:

I did acupuncture for my first transfer, which was a BFN. I honestly did not like it and didn't do it for my donor egg transfer cycles. I thought it was painful, which I found odd because I have a decent pain tolerance. I felt like I had to lay perfectly still so the needles wouldn't move and feel weird. So it was not relaxing. Plus, I went to a fertility acupuncturist, and he pinned baby pictures of successful clients all along the ceiling so that's all I had to look at while laying on the table.

If you like it and find it relaxing, then go for it. Ways to relieve stress are so important during treatments. But don't feel like you have to do it for success.

....whaaaaa???! 
That would have turned me off big time. 

Yeah it made me pretty uncomfortable.  Stuff like that doesn't give me hope, it irritates me.  I should have stopped going but I felt like I committed to it and wanted to see it through transfer.

[pinkpeony08]

I’m not doing ivf bc my issues have been rpl rather than difficulty conceiving, but I adore my acupuncturist. She specializes in fertility and has been incredibly supportive. I find it very relaxing and the needles shouldn’t be uncomfortable. Before she walks out of the room, she asks to be sure none of them are bothering me. She plays either music or a fertility or other mediation, whichever I feel like doing. I’m usually almost asleep by the time it finishes. She finished with head, neck and shoulder massage. I’ve been going weekly to prepare my body to conceive again. I’m happy to message you her website bc she has a lot of research information on it, if you are interested. I can submit the claims for my insurance and they do reimburse some, though not a ton.

Sending good wishes everything goes smoothly regardless of what you decide.

[turboteal]

I went for my second transfer. Not covered by insurance, but there was a discount if I used a provider from their preferred list in the wellness portal or something like that (cigna). I picked someone who was on that list, nearby, and his website had some testimonials from fertility clients. I think his usual sessions were like $70ish but when I mentioned the Cigna discount he was like oh, hmm ok how about $55, it was super informal but was only saving me money so that's what I paid each time I went. My first visit was before my cycle started (I was actually late, which is normal for PCOS me on an unmedicated cycle, I was on a treatment break after first failed transfer), I don't know if it helped jump start me but I did get my period a couple days later. Then I went once the next week, then twice a week leading up to transfer. I thought I was supposed to have a session the day of transfer, but he was going to be out of town for lunar new year celebrations, he said if I wanted he could recommend someone else for me to see that day but I didn't have to. I knew I was working the night before and wouldn't want to wake up any earlier than I had to so I skipped any session for day of transfer and didn't do any more after either.

I really don't know if it helped, but it was my only successful pregnancy other than one brief chemical after an IUI. I'm really not one for woo kind of stuff, and the evidence seems not very strong, but you know how you'll try anything with IF. It seemed like he didn't always do the same spots, and sometimes they definitely fell out while I was laying there. Occasionally they were a little painful or zinged a nerve when he inserted them, but overall it was ok, and the relaxing music/dim lights and heated table and heaters aimed at my feet and abdomen were nice. Basically I felt like for $55 a pop, and only 5 sessions total (just looked back at my calendar), it was worth a shot, if only so I could feel like I tried everything. Of course now I will feel like I have to do it again for any future transfers, ha!

[pooh8402]

I did it for my last FET. I went like 2 or 3 times a week, and on day of transfer, I went before and after. I did it for like 4 weeks. I liked it in that it was relaxing, but I don't know how much it helped. The research shows really good things and is quite compelling. I did have shitty embryos though. I didn't attempt acupuncture with my last cycle, though I would have if it hadn't worked and I needed more FETs.

[pooh8402]

Sept 20, 2018 11:01:05 GMT -5 scm1011 said:

Sept 20, 2018 10:50:04 GMT -5 thoseareradishes said:

I did acupuncture for my first transfer, which was a BFN. I honestly did not like it and didn't do it for my donor egg transfer cycles. I thought it was painful, which I found odd because I have a decent pain tolerance. I felt like I had to lay perfectly still so the needles wouldn't move and feel weird. So it was not relaxing. Plus, I went to a fertility acupuncturist, and he pinned baby pictures of successful clients all along the ceiling so that's all I had to look at while laying on the table.

If you like it and find it relaxing, then go for it. Ways to relieve stress are so important during treatments. But don't feel like you have to do it for success.

....whaaaaa???! 
That would have turned me off big time. 

Same. No thank you.

[seeyalater52]

Sept 20, 2018 12:37:53 GMT -5 pooh8402 said:

I did it for my last FET. I went like 2 or 3 times a week, and on day of transfer, I went before and after. I did it for like 4 weeks. I liked it in that it was relaxing, but I don't know how much it helped. The research shows really good things and is quite compelling. I did have shitty embryos though. I didn't attempt acupuncture with my last cycle, though I would have if it hadn't worked and I needed more FETs.

Are there particular studies you're thinking of? I was just reviewing the literature this morning and every time I've looked at it it's made me less and less inclined to pay extra for acupuncture. In my view the evidence is so mixed and it really seems like the most concrete correlations from the larger and more recent studies are with stress reduction and associated benefits on attrition from treatment (acupuncture seems to contribute to reduced stress, which in turn seems to keep people pursuing treatment longer which gives them a better chance of eventual success.)

In my case I'm not convinced that it's worth it for stress reduction, both because we won't drop out of treatment due to stress, and because spending the money and the hassle with my schedule to make room for acupuncture seems to add stress - I have an hour long commute, live near one major city and work in another, and my clinic's embryo transfers happen in a 3rd location not convenient to either of those places. I'd kind of rather spend the money on a massage or on a therapist, or on some other form of stress relief. It's really the anecdotal evidence that makes me anxious I'm missing out on something not trying it, since I know many swear by it or have had success during cycles with acupuncture. 

[shoeless]

I did it for my first DE transfer. I started 6ish weeks before the transfer and continued religiously through the two week wait per acupuncturist recommendation. That transfer failed. I never went back.

On transfer number 2, I started doing yoga once a week. That transfer was successful. I've had two other successfully implanted but ultimately miscarried transfers on the yoga once a week plan. (I normally start the yoga 4 weeks before transfer). So I do think the relaxation/meditative piece may be important for IVF but for me acupuncture was not the right vehicle to achieve that goal.

[pooh8402]

Sept 20, 2018 12:53:27 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Sept 20, 2018 12:37:53 GMT -5 pooh8402 said:

I did it for my last FET. I went like 2 or 3 times a week, and on day of transfer, I went before and after. I did it for like 4 weeks. I liked it in that it was relaxing, but I don't know how much it helped. The research shows really good things and is quite compelling. I did have shitty embryos though. I didn't attempt acupuncture with my last cycle, though I would have if it hadn't worked and I needed more FETs.

Are there particular studies you're thinking of? I was just reviewing the literature this morning and every time I've looked at it it's made me less and less inclined to pay extra for acupuncture. In my view the evidence is so mixed and it really seems like the most concrete correlations from the larger and more recent studies are with stress reduction and associated benefits on attrition from treatment (acupuncture seems to contribute to reduced stress, which in turn seems to keep people pursuing treatment longer which gives them a better chance of eventual success.)

In my case I'm not convinced that it's worth it for stress reduction, both because we won't drop out of treatment due to stress, and because spending the money and the hassle with my schedule to make room for acupuncture seems to add stress - I have an hour long commute, live near one major city and work in another, and my clinic's embryo transfers happen in a 3rd location not convenient to either of those places. I'd kind of rather spend the money on a massage or on a therapist, or on some other form of stress relief. It's really the anecdotal evidence that makes me anxious I'm missing out on something not trying it, since I know many swear by it or have had success during cycles with acupuncture. 

Not off the top of my head, but the British Medical Journal had a few. I would have to do some research myself to find the articles I found last spring.

The research I found showed that it increased blood flow to the uterus, actually. So that is a benefit aside from stress relief (which I agree, a massage is much nicer for that purpose).

[seeyalater52]

Sept 20, 2018 10:50:04 GMT -5 thoseareradishes said:

I did acupuncture for my first transfer, which was a BFN. I honestly did not like it and didn't do it for my donor egg transfer cycles. I thought it was painful, which I found odd because I have a decent pain tolerance. I felt like I had to lay perfectly still so the needles wouldn't move and feel weird. So it was not relaxing. Plus, I went to a fertility acupuncturist, and he pinned baby pictures of successful clients all along the ceiling so that's all I had to look at while laying on the table.

If you like it and find it relaxing, then go for it. Ways to relieve stress are so important during treatments. But don't feel like you have to do it for success.

So this is almost EXACTLY how I'm pretty sure I will feel about it. I don't find the concept relaxing, and spending the money and organizing the appointments which will be wildly inconvenient for me and probably add stress (or at the very least additional hours of driving to my week/on day of transfer) which really makes me not want to do it. But I'm also sick of having regrets or feeling like there's something else I should be doing that I'm not doing already that is keeping me from getting pregnant.

[seeyalater52]

Sept 20, 2018 13:00:21 GMT -5 shoeless said:

I did it for my first DE transfer. I started 6ish weeks before the transfer and continued religiously through the two week wait per acupuncturist recommendation. That transfer failed. I never went back.

On transfer number 2, I started doing yoga once a week. That transfer was successful. I've had two other successfully implanted but ultimately miscarried transfers on the yoga once a week plan. (I normally start the yoga 4 weeks before transfer). So I do think the relaxation/meditative piece may be important for IVF but for me acupuncture was not the right vehicle to achieve that goal.

Maybe I will try yoga instead. I'm pretty sure it would be more relaxing and definitely much less expensive. 

[womet]

Sept 20, 2018 13:14:32 GMT -5 pooh8402 said:

Not off the top of my head, but the British Medical Journal had a few. I would have to do some research myself to find the articles I found last spring.

The research I found showed that it increased blood flow to the uterus, actually. So that is a benefit aside from stress relief (which I agree, a massage is much nicer for that purpose).

I did it for my FET, and the acupuncturist said it helped with blood flow to the uterus. I only did it right before and right after my transfer. For my clinic, they have an accupuncture practice on the same floor where your transfer occurs, so it was really easy to do. I paid $200 for both sessions that day (OOP). 

[seeyalater52]

Sept 20, 2018 13:21:55 GMT -5 womet said:

Sept 20, 2018 13:14:32 GMT -5 pooh8402 said:

Not off the top of my head, but the British Medical Journal had a few. I would have to do some research myself to find the articles I found last spring.

The research I found showed that it increased blood flow to the uterus, actually. So that is a benefit aside from stress relief (which I agree, a massage is much nicer for that purpose).

I did it for my FET, and the acupuncturist said it helped with blood flow to the uterus. I only did it right before and right after my transfer. For my clinic, they have an accupuncture practice on the same floor where your transfer occurs, so it was really easy to do. I paid $200 for both sessions that day (OOP). 

If my clinic had it on site I’d definitely do it. It’s the inconvenience of driving 45 mins to transfer and then another half hour out of the way to acupuncture and then back home that stresses me out a little. Plus my RE is super skeptical and doesn’t really believe in it from a clinic perspective so they don’t even have a clinic they refer to. I just don’t want to sabatoge myself.

[seeyalater52]

I think what I mostly want is to feel like I'm not sabotaging myself if I don't do acupuncture. That it's ok and possible to get pregnant without it. I really don't want to do it and my clinic doesn't care and yet I'm so emotionally invested in worrying that it's somehow the ONE missing piece that I can't relax about not doing it.

[pooh8402]

seeyalater52, I don't think you're sabotaging yourself to not do it. The two cycles I've conceived on, I didn't do it. Save yourself the stress and money, or spend the money on another form of stress relief.

[seeyalater52]

Sept 20, 2018 15:49:35 GMT -5 pooh8402 said:

seeyalater52, I don't think you're sabotaging yourself to not do it. The two cycles I've conceived on, I didn't do it. Save yourself the stress and money, or spend the money on another form of stress relief.

❤️
You have no idea how much I need to hear this right now. Thank you. I have like pre-mom guilt that I don't deserve a baby because I dont want to do this specific thing and it’s starting to stress me out.

[EllieT]

So I did acupuncture during my retrieval cycle and then again during the FET cycle that resulted in DS. I went 2-3 times per week with the last appointment same day as transfer. I found it very relaxing.

I didn’t end up doing it for our first FET now trying for #2 and that transfer was a bust. I’m guessing not doing acupuncture probably was not the reason for failure but I still think I will try to go again before we try FET#2

[kellikans]

I did acupuncture for 3 FET's, all of which I got BFP's (I miscarried one, had a cp with another, then had my son with the third). The 3 FET's I did not do acupuncture were BFN's. So I'm a big proponent for it. I really do think it helps.

For my successful cycle with my son, I only went once a week for a few weeks before transfer to help build up my lining and get good blood flow to my uterus, and then the morning of transfer right beforehand. That was it.

Make sure you find an acupuncturist who specializes in fertility acupuncture too. Not all of them are well versed in that area.

[thoseareradishes]

Sept 20, 2018 15:49:35 GMT -5 pooh8402 said:

seeyalater52 , I don't think you're sabotaging yourself to not do it. The two cycles I've conceived on, I didn't do it. Save yourself the stress and money, or spend the money on another form of stress relief.

I totally agree.  For my second and third transfers I just wanted to relax and joke around with H after the procedure, I didn't want some stranger poking me with needles.  If it stresses you out, don't do it, it's not worth it.

[janegold]

I didn't do it, but I think you are somewhere in my general area, although I'm not sure how close. In case it is feasible and you are still interested, this place in Boston (Copley Square) is an affordable community acupuncture clinic - Acupuncture for Everyone. They have a sliding scale of $25 to $45 per visit, and they have practitioners that specialize in fertility acupuncture. I haven't been, but my friend went regularly for non-fertility treatment and was a big fan.

(ETA: I just saw your post above saying that you don't actually want to do acupuncture. Definitely don't do it then!  It's so awesome that it seems to have helped some people, but you don't have to try everything under the sun, especially something you actually do not want to do.)

[seeyalater52]

Sept 21, 2018 13:42:57 GMT -5 janegold said:

I didn't do it, but I think you are somewhere in my general area, although I'm not sure how close. In case it is feasible and you are still interested, this place in Boston (Copley Square) is an affordable community acupuncture clinic - Acupuncture for Everyone. They have a sliding scale of $25 to $45 per visit, and they have practitioners that specialize in fertility acupuncture. I haven't been, but my friend went regularly for non-fertility treatment and was a big fan.

This is helpful. It’s just so wildly inconvenient to be triangulating between Providence, Dedham, and Boston for these things, especially on transfer day. But unless we only do acupuncture on transfer day we can’t do it in Dedham (is there even anyplace there? I’m guessing no) and both Boston and Providence are not consistently convenient.

[janegold]

Sept 21, 2018 13:50:58 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Sept 21, 2018 13:42:57 GMT -5 janegold said:

I didn't do it, but I think you are somewhere in my general area, although I'm not sure how close. In case it is feasible and you are still interested, this place in Boston (Copley Square) is an affordable community acupuncture clinic - Acupuncture for Everyone. They have a sliding scale of $25 to $45 per visit, and they have practitioners that specialize in fertility acupuncture. I haven't been, but my friend went regularly for non-fertility treatment and was a big fan.

This is helpful. It’s just so wildly inconvenient to be triangulating between Providence, Dedham, and Boston for these things, especially on transfer day. But unless we only do acupuncture on transfer day we can’t do it in Dedham (is there even anyplace there? I’m guessing no) and both Boston and Providence are not consistently convenient.

Yeah, I hear you.  I hate going beyond the one-mile radius of my house, honestly. All of that driving sounds way too stressful to be worth it.  I don't think Acupuncture for Everyone has a location outside of Copley, but you might search for other "community acupuncture" clinics near your house or work to see if there are any others similar to it.

[pinkpeony08]

Sept 21, 2018 13:59:52 GMT -5 janegold said:

Sept 21, 2018 13:50:58 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

This is helpful. It’s just so wildly inconvenient to be triangulating between Providence, Dedham, and Boston for these things, especially on transfer day. But unless we only do acupuncture on transfer day we can’t do it in Dedham (is there even anyplace there? I’m guessing no) and both Boston and Providence are not consistently convenient.

Yeah, I hear you.  I hate going beyond the one-mile radius of my house, honestly. All of that driving sounds way too stressful to be worth it.  I don't think Acupuncture for Everyone has a location outside of Copley, but you might search for other "community acupuncture" clinics near your house or work to see if there are any others similar to it.

Yes if the drive is the biggest deterrent, you may be able to find a community acupuncture place. I went to one to induce labor with my first. It just means multiple people being treated at the same time. Everyone was in a recliner org music going. That is how they keep the cost low.

[seeyalater52]

Sept 21, 2018 15:19:42 GMT -5 pinkpeony08 said:

Sept 21, 2018 13:59:52 GMT -5 janegold said:

Yeah, I hear you.  I hate going beyond the one-mile radius of my house, honestly. All of that driving sounds way too stressful to be worth it.  I don't think Acupuncture for Everyone has a location outside of Copley, but you might search for other "community acupuncture" clinics near your house or work to see if there are any others similar to it.

Yes if the drive is the biggest deterrent, you may be able to find a community acupuncture place. I went to one to induce labor with my first. It just means multiple people being treated at the same time. Everyone was in a recliner org music going. That is how they keep the cost low.

The problem is the clinic hours and my schedule. I live in one city and work in another city an hour away and take the train every day between the two so I’m somewhat limited in my ability to get to apppointments in either city at a reasonable time. The places I’ve talked to also really push day of transfer acupuncture which is hard because my transfers happen at a clinic that is about 30-45 mins away from either of the two locations where I’d typically be able to find a clinic that is feasible to get to on most normal weekdays. It’s not that there aren’t clinics it’s just tough to find one that is affordable and convenient and there isn’t really a sweet spot between the two. The community acupuncture clinic that is close to my house both closes early and doesn’t have anyone on staff who specializes in infertility. While they claim it can still help I’m not really interested in seeing someone that doesn’t have experience supporting IVF.

If it were remotely less complicated I’d probably just do it for the heck of it but even trying to figure out something that is logistically possible at all (while still being inconvenient) has been incredibly stressful which kind of signals to me that it isn’t a good fit.

[pinkpeony08]

seeyalater52 I see what you mean! That’s a lot of commuting/driving time. I hope all goes well!