Acupuncture timing during IVF? - Fertility Network UK

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Acupuncture timing during IVF?

Hollibob profile image
20 Replies

Hi ladies.

I just wondered if anyone can advise of the best times to go for acupuncture during IVF?

During stims, pre/post collection, pre/post transfer?

If around collection/transfer is it recommended for the day before/day of?

I'm at the stims stage now.....thanks x

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Hollibob
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EmmaT88 profile image
EmmaT88

Hi Hollibob!

I am having acupuncture along with my IVF treatment too. I waiting to start my Down-reg at the moment so I haven't reached the stage your at as yet. However when I spoke to my acupuncturist she advised we would continue to have a session every 2 weeks to get everything ready, then I will have a session the day before they take the eggs out, then the day before or day that they put them back in and then the day after that, and then again a few days later, then revert to once a week until pregnancy test time.

Hope that helps. Are you having acupuncture already? They advise having some sessions before as they are stimulate the right areas to get your body ready for all the treatment. I am loving mine, even if it isn't going to affect the IVF it is keeping me calm and feeling like I am working towards getting pregnant! :-)

Good luck with your cycle!! Hope all goes well.

Emma x

Hollibob profile image
Hollibob in reply to EmmaT88

Hi Emma.

Thanks for your info.

I was having acupunture before to try and balance my body out and to help with migraines, but eased off for a bit as I'd had mixed views from the nurses about when to have it. I didn't have it done during first part of down reg as I had in my head that it might be counteracting the effects they wanted to achieve for the scan.

Good luck when you start yours-it goes quite quickly !

EmmaT88 profile image
EmmaT88 in reply to Hollibob

I had another session this week as I have been given the dates of when we start everything (Exciting!), she spoke in detail about when to have the acupuncture and advised that the most important ones to have are immediately before and immediately after both the Egg Removal and the egg Transfer. The rest is not as important :-)

Thank you! I am excited now, I just have to wait until day one of my cycle then I will be receiving my meds to start taking them on day 21, so I have a few more weeks yet before everything starts - just so keen to get on with it now!

Good luck with everything!! :-)

Hollibob profile image
Hollibob in reply to EmmaT88

Thanks Emma...you too!! X

Hi there,

I spoke to an Acupuncturist and also registered with one and she said that the best times are every week during stims and then twice again on the day of embryo transfer. So once before and once straight after the embryo transfer. And then again once per week after that until pregnancy test. That's what I've been told :-) Hope that helps and that all goes well :-) x

Mrsh123 profile image
Mrsh123 in reply to

Hi. I have been having one per week since I started on the down reg drugs. Which I have been on for 4 weeks now (taken longer to down Reg than expected) . Back at hospital today to hopefully get the go ahead to star stim drugs.

I am checking with them today as I remember them saying acupuncture helps some people but don't have it on the day of .... Unsure if it was egg collection or egg implanting back. I need to check.

However had 4 sessions now. Whether it's helping or not I don't know (and prob never will) but I feel I am doing everything I can to help myself.

Hollibob profile image
Hollibob in reply to Mrsh123

You are right, you just want to do as much as possible to make it work and as some friends have said to me, even if it's 30 minutes of you time it's worth it!

How did you get on with your scan?

Mrsh123 profile image
Mrsh123 in reply to Hollibob

Hi. I've gone backwards. Lining has increased instead of reduced.

They have given me a prescription to use alongside current injections which should strip everything and cause a bleed. I have to take 3 a day for the next 5 days then should have bleed few days later and then after bleed go back for another scan. Hopefully then I will be where I should have been 2 weeks ago.

Frustrated is not the word !!

I was that upset I forgot to ask about when not to have the acupuncture!! It can wait though as I am not ready yet.

I think I might also try a session of reflexology as well.

Hollibob profile image
Hollibob in reply to Mrsh123

Oh how our bodies love to torment us. My period was later then it should have been and arrived 4 days before my scan!

Might be worth checking if acupunture during down reg is almost reversing what you want to happen? I love reflexology...it's amazing what they can tell/do...anything to bring on a period is worth trying :-)

Hollibob profile image
Hollibob in reply to

Thanks...it's finding the time to schedule them all in as well which is fun.

Enjoy yours soon :-)

samrakkar profile image
samrakkar

hiya i've been having it since november weekly - my collection date is on thurs - i'd recommend once a week x

samrakkar profile image
samrakkar

also they recommend you make sure you have one prior and after both collection and transferx

Hollibob profile image
Hollibob in reply to samrakkar

Thank you...good luck with your collection this week x

samrakkar profile image
samrakkar in reply to Hollibob

Xx

Katrina13 profile image
Katrina13

I had acupuncture for my first IVF and to be honest found it stressful as opposed to helpful. I had it once a week for about 4 months leading up to the treatment, then once on egg collection day and once on transfer day. I hate needles so the whole thing freaked me out a bit, but I know some people find it really relaxing.

I unfortunately had BFN that time but BFP from my next FET.. with no acupuncture!

Hollibob profile image
Hollibob in reply to Katrina13

Congrats on your good news :-)

You did well putting yourself through ivf and acupuncture when you don't like needles!!

I don't mind it, as I know it has helped with some aspects and it's time out to do nothing...

I also have had reflexology to see if that helps anything...

Hi Katrina13, I have heard that you should only do Acupuncture if you find it relaxing as stress does not help during IVF. I will give it a go next week and see if I find it relaxing. Because if I find it stressful like you did then I will not go for it again. We need to be as relaxed as possible during treatment not adding on the stress :-) Congratulations on your BFP, hope all goes well with your pregnancy :-)

nellynel profile image
nellynel

hi I had a random session before the short protocol and one pre and post transfer. Im not sure if it helped, as I didn't really find it relaxing and actually a little painful. however like many I wanted to do what I could and I am 23 weeks pregnant now. If you read any of my earlier posts we had very very little odds so something worked... good luck to all

Hollibob profile image
Hollibob in reply to nellynel

That's great news Nellynel :-)

Thanks for sharing!

Hollibob profile image
Hollibob in reply to nellynel

That's great news Nellynel :-)

Thanks for sharing!

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