Acupuncture thoughts... : Hi everyone... - Fertility Network UK

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Acupuncture thoughts...

Rainbowbright1 profile image
24 Replies

Hi everyone,

So the past week, I've relaxed my eating & exercising (more than I had lol) whilst dealing with our BFN. But I'm now ready to get back on track & be in the best health for our next cycle (which after chatting with you lovely lot, might be May!) I've been looking at acupuncture & have booked my first appointment. What are your thoughts on it? Worth the expense or not?? Xx

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Rainbowbright1
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24 Replies
-noodles- profile image
-noodles-

good to hear you’ve been taking it nice & easy after such a difficult time.

i’ve had both traditional chinese acupuncture & reflexology, and if you can find a practitioner who understands fertility, i thoroughly recommend reflexology.

i’ve been having facial reflexology with an amazing therapist who’s worked wonders on my mental health and rebalancing my hormones after 2 failed cycles last year.

i think finding someone you connect with is the most important thing.

wishing you all the best on next round ✨💕✨

Lilli79 profile image
Lilli79 in reply to-noodles-

Hiya I totally agree, I've done both and much prefer reflexology. My lady is a fertility specialist and totally lovely. I liked the first few sessions of acupuncture but then the benefits wore off and my sessions seemed to get shorter every time I went. Looking back acupuncture was quite draining emotionally, but I find reflexology helps me relax but also quite invigorating. As you say it really depends on how you click with the practitioner xx

Rainbowbright1 profile image
Rainbowbright1 in reply toLilli79

Thank you, the lady said 15 min session, which does seem very short for what you pay for!! Xx

Lilli79 profile image
Lilli79 in reply toRainbowbright1

Wow, that is short! Do u mind me asking how much? My acupuncture was £45 per session and started at about 50 mins and as the appointments went on shortened down to 20 mins. Really not worth it. My reflexology is £35 for an hour, although I love having my feet rubbed!! 😄

Rainbowbright1 profile image
Rainbowbright1 in reply toLilli79

£30 a session. First session 30mins then 15mins for the others. Now if you could massage my head to help with IVF I'd be all over that lol! 💆‍♀️ xx

Lizzielizzielizzie profile image
Lizzielizzielizzie in reply toRainbowbright1

I think that’s too short. My acupuncturist says it takes 25mins for the “chi” to circulate all the way round your body. What qualifications does your acupuncturist have?

Mine charges £35 per half hour though the clinic add a surcharge of £5 for appointments after 6pm. If she needs to leave the needles in longer and the clinic has a spare room, she will leave me for longer and work with the next patient in the next room, but still only charge me for one appointment.

Rainbowbright1 profile image
Rainbowbright1 in reply to-noodles-

Did not even think of reflexology. Might look in to that. Although not in to people touching my feet!!! Xx

-noodles- profile image
-noodles- in reply toRainbowbright1

my therapist does reflexology on my face!

Rainbowbright1 profile image
Rainbowbright1 in reply to-noodles-

Ohhhh now that would be more up my street. Will defo be looking into this. Thank you 😙 xx

Jenjen84 profile image
Jenjen84

Sorry to hear about the failed IVF.. I’ve had acupuncture weekly for about 4 months now and it’s helped me relax and has also had a good effect on my periods and menstrual pain.. Id say go for it, it definitely won’t hurt!

We’ve just had our first round of IVF and currently enduring the looooong wait so hopefully I’ll be able to say it worked in just over a week!! Best of luck to you xx

Rainbowbright1 profile image
Rainbowbright1 in reply toJenjen84

Ahhhhh the longest 2 weeks of your life!!!! Good luck & I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you! 🤞💕xx

It definitely helps me relax, makes my periods more normal and less painful and hopefully is good for everything else. Give it a try. Some people love it and others just don't take to it. Good luck xxx

Rainbowbright1 profile image
Rainbowbright1 in reply to

I do like the sounds of less painful periods, that's for sure! Xx

suki84 profile image
suki84

I love Accupuncture! If you find the right practitioner, your sessions should be about 40 mins and like the other ladies said try and use a fertility acupuncturist.

I had Accupuncture for 6 months prior to my 1st IVF which resulted in a bfp (that bfp is now a cheeky 18 month old)!

I have been doing it again ahead of my next FET and it de-stresses me if nothing else. I have 2 sessions a month which is just about affordable.

X

Rainbowbright1 profile image
Rainbowbright1 in reply tosuki84

I was advised a weekly session but at £30 a go, that might be just too much. But I'll give the first appointment a go & see if I like it. Yoga is something that always destresses me so I think ill be picking that back up. It's also free & I do it in my living room lol!! Xx

Choctastic profile image
Choctastic

I had accupunture weekly prior to my last ET and recently got my BFP. I think I had about 4 or 5 sessions of 50 minutes at £35 each. I found it really helped to relax me xx

Rainbowbright1 profile image
Rainbowbright1 in reply toChoctastic

Congratulations on your bfp💕. Seems like everyone is getting more time for a similar amount of money. I'll need to dig deeper, thank you! Xx

As I’ve just posted on a different site, you can claim back the cost of some acupuncture (and other medical treatments such as dental costs) on a cashback health care plan. It was someone on here who first alerted me to it. Hubbie and I joined a scheme in January, it’s going to cost us £130 between us over the year and we have already claimed back over £100 between my acupuncture and his dental/glasses claims. We are on a special deal through my teaching union but before I found that I found some that cost £10 per month per person and I still would have ended up in profit by the end of the year.

Do an online search and see if they would make it cheaper for you too x

Oh and, I love acupuncture but no bfp yet so can’t promise it works!

Rainbowbright1 profile image
Rainbowbright1 in reply toLizzielizzielizzie

Very interesting indeed. Never even crossed my mind. Might get hubby to check that out (he is much better at that sort of thing) thank you 😙 xx

Kempton profile image
Kempton

I would always recommend acupuncture. I found it relaxed me during ivf and the person I saw was also just lovely so seeing her was a great way to unwind and have a chat about non ivf stuff.

Once you get going with ivf I suggest you see your acupuncturist once before egg collection and once after the transfer. But in the mean time, you could start seeing them once or twice a month now so they get to know you and can restore your balance now, in the build up.

Good luck.

Rainbowbright1 profile image
Rainbowbright1 in reply toKempton

Thanks for the advice 😊💕 xx

VTier profile image
VTier

I do weekly accupuncture for 3 months now.. Its money out the pocket but I feel relaxed when i have it.. First few sessions were a but uncomfortable as I just become stiff and not move for 30 min.. But i realise i can breath and move my body a bit (to find good position).. lol

I would recommend it for you.. Might help you relax aswell.. And the accupuncturist gives me energy and hope that all will be good come IVF time..

Rainbowbright1 profile image
Rainbowbright1 in reply toVTier

Thank you 💕xx

I did Acupuncture, and got our BFP after only 1 round of IVF, and with the odds against us - I've just turned 40. I like to think the acupuncture had a hand in it (though I did other stuff too - feel free to ask if you're interested in the other stuff I did).

I did tons of research and Acupuncture has been clinically proven to help (I can't speak for reflexology as I didn't have it). Definitely look for a practitioner who is an expert in fertility - mine was. My partner and I both had it - it helps with sperm quality if that's an issue.

I watched a talk by A fertility acupuncture specialist, a chap in Edinburgh, who strongly recommended having (on top of regular sessions throughout the IVF) a session immediately before ET, and one just after - I had one a couple of days before, and the day after as that was what my lady could fit in (so don't stress if they can't fit you in on the day of your ET). I didn't find acupuncture remotely relaxing, and it was pricey but if it helps, it's infinitely worth it xx

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