Comments on: Acupuncture for Fertility

By: Bionic Baby Mama

Bionic Baby Mama — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 20:28:49 +0000

I recommend googling “community acupuncture” plus your area name as a way to find low-cost practitioners. (Shout out to Brooklyn Acupuncture Project!)

By: Rachael

Rachael — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:57:50 +0000

I found acupuncture to be extremely relaxing. I did it for about a year total. It started when I got serious about conceiving naturally. It took me a full 3 years to get pregnant. When I finally did, using natural methods, I continued using acupuncture during my pregnancy.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 04:05:06 +0000

We're doing our first round of Clomid, Ovidril and IUI this month. A close friend who went through three rounds of unsuccessful IUI before doing acupuncture with their fourth successful cycle told me to make sure it was okay with my RE and then to call the Chinese doctor she went to who does acupuncture. This physician was a gynecologist in China before moving to the states and starting her practice. I went for my first session this afternoon and ended up so relaxed that I felt like I'd melted into the table. I was surprised when she came back in the room and I felt like I had been mindful the whole time I was laying there, but when she entered the room it was as if I had been asleep the whole time. I hope that it works. She said that she would recommend two cycles of just acupuncture to compliment the IUI and then if we're still not successful to add herbal treatment. Many other couples who have used my RE have also seen this acupuncturist, which also put me a little more at ease.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:53:07 +0000

I am also 37 and live in Atlanta. Have been ttc for 4 years. After reading Randine Lewis' book, I began going weekly to Tigerheart Acupunture (excellent) 9 months ago and now go to Absolute Holistic Medicine (AHM) in Dunwoody. I took herbs for about three months with AHM. My RE did not want to mix treatments, so I stopped the herbs in order to start Letrozole again for my third IUI. Over the past two years I have been on Clomid for 6 cycles, had 4 IUIs with Letrozole, and am about to begin my IVF estrogen-suppression protocol. Like so many on this blog, my husband and I have "passed" all of our tests at the RE, but my TCM doc says I have a form of endometriosis and LPD. The herbs helped both of those issues. I recommend TCM. It makes sense. I am so glad that infertility led me to acup. Some new research came out this past spring about risks to mother and baby due to ICSI and IVF, so my husband and I are doing a lot of research first. My clinic is ACRM in Dunwoody. They have been great, but I may seek a second opinion at Emory before I do my IVF. On top of all this, I have started having night sweats which is freaking me out.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:37:43 +0000

I'm also following the acupuncture route in Atlanta. I'm 37 w/family hx of early menopause (Mom & sis by 39). Cancelled IVF in April – my body didn't respond; family history of early menopause and so far my cycles are looking better, longer luteal phase and more regular temps. I'm hopeful this will work. She wants us to wait a few more months before trying – said that if I get pregnant before things are balanced I will be more likely to miscarry. I also endorse the Randine Lewis book. The Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor I see has me taking prenatals and high dose of fish oil. 4 per day.

-ERW

By: ursa

ursa — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:46:00 +0000

To anonymous: Were you also taking pre-natal vitamins (I take Pre-nate) while you were taking the Chinese herbs (Fertile Garden)? I’m always worried about taking someting in addition to Pre-nate and getting “too much” of something. But the accupuncture certainly sounds intriguing — I am also over 40 and ttc!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:59:00 +0000

I am a firm believer in acupuncture and specifically taking Chinese herbs for conception. We received the biggest surprise of our lives when at age 40 I became pregnant…had no morning sickness whatsoever, and a great pregnancy! It took me nearly a year to go for acupuncture after a friend recommended it because I had depression about not concieving after 4 months of Clomid and a failed IUI, plus a high FSH level of 24. The first 3 months my Chinese doctor did acupuncture twice a month (cost about $90 a session) and gave me herbs to reverse the effects of Clomid (which had caused 21 day cycles).Then, she said “Do you really want to get pregnant?” and I said “Well sure if you can help, but my RE said I had a 0 chance of ever conceiving.” Yeah, yeah, we’ll see” was her answer (BTW, my Chinese doctor was an RN for 12 years before studying Chinese medicine). She gave me Fertile Garden an herb pill from a compnay called Heath Concerns of Oakland, CA (its also availalbe at a hoilistic herb site on the internet). I took it 2X per day, and in 2 months was worried because my period didn’t start by day 35 of my cycle. I checked my basal temp that morning to see that it was still elevated, before buying a pg test kit (because I spent tons of money on them and always disappointed). I was so nervous to take the pg test, and shocked to see 2 lines !!!
I recommend CHinese herbs and acupuncture to friends, and have several friends here in Dallas who have had babies because of it! Also, it bugs me that the media only reports that acupuncture is advantageous when doing IVF, because my RE actually told me I had no good eggs, and my FSH was so high that even IVF was a waste of my money..so if acupuncture can work for me, it can work for lots of women!

By: coppertop

coppertop — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:31:00 +0000

With regards to "emilie's" comment, the author of The Infertility Cure has trained at least two of the acupuncturists at Well Women Acupuncture in Los Angeles. They specialize in acupuncture for fertility at their clinic.

By: tn

tn — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 14:24:00 +0000

Hi, all! Randine Lewis’ book is helpful, but make sure you find a practitioner to work with in person, instead of treating yourself based on Lewis’ suggestions. S/he should be someone you feel very comfortable with, who is worthy of your trust and who listens and responds carefully to your concerns, both physical and emotional. Not all acupuncturists are created equal, and not all are skilled at treating reproductive issues. Also, though many folks respond within three months or so, in my personal experience, it can take much longer to get back in balance. I had intensely disturbing luteal phase spotting for several years and (surprise!) have had trouble getting pregnant. However, after about 4-5 months of herbs and weekly acupuncture sessions, my symptoms are history. Still not expecting, but my hormone levels show amazing improvement, my fertile mucus is back, and so on and so forth. I found that after progesterone supplements and all sorts of other medical treatment that had little effect and led to no clear diagnosis, I finally found something that at the very least has relieved my symptoms and anxiety. I’m fairly young, though, so I understand that some gals would feel less able to wait and see and give the TCM approach time. You really have to be in it for the long haul and willing to make major lifestyle changes, things that don’t work for everyone. Best of luck to all of you!

By: Emilie

Emilie — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 17:49:00 +0000

Just want to add a plug for the book “The Infertility Cure: The Ancient Chinese Wellness Program for Getting Pregnant and Having Healthy Babies” by Randine Lewis. If anyone is interested in learning more about acupuncture for infertility, this is the book to read.