We are due to start our 5th IVF cycle with ICSI in the next few months. I have a low ovarian reserve and poor egg quality and have been doing a lot of research on fertility acupuncture. Just wondering if anyone has tried it and what their thoughts are on whether it helped or not, especially in terms of egg quality?
Appreciate any feedback. Xx
Hey! I'm having acupuncture but for relaxation & blood flow rather than egg quality although that is still an issue for me.
I saw a nutritionist a few months ago and she gave me a variety of different recipes & supplements specifically for egg quality as well as combating my endometriosis. If you PM your email address I'll happily send you her advice. Xx
Thank you for your kind offer. I have PM'd you x
Hi there,
I’ve had two fresh ivf cycles and used acupuncture on the second go. First time we got two poor quality three day embryos and second time we got two good quality blastocysts and I’m convinced the acupuncture helped improve the quality on the second round.
Neither round resulted in pregnancy but I also had undiagnosed hydrosalpix and endo. Just had FET from the second round so fingers crossed for some good news this time.
That's great to hear, thank you. Best of luck with your treatment x
Hello, I had accupunture in the run up, during and after my first round of IVF and I'm sure it helped. I would sometimes be so worked up and stressed with things and then I'd have accupunture and I'd come home and have a sleep 😊 I can't say it wouldn't have worked without it but I've recommended to a friend, it can't hurt xxx
Inositol, dhea, high dose ubiquinol (300-600mg per day) and pqq are all things you can look into, I believe they helped me a bit. I did acupuncture too but don’t believe it did much other than relax me. I found fertility reflexology maybe better. I swear I could feel thing going on in my uterus when she was stimulating those points so helping blood flow xx
Hi Orla.
Thank you so much for the feedback. We are 2 cycles into a 3 cycle natural modified treatment package and so far have had no embryos that were suitable for transfer or freezing so we are getting desperate! Spoke to my clinic about dhea but they were quite negative about it, naming all of the horrible side effects which I am not sure I could handle. Did also look into reflexology but I couldn't find one locally to me who had experience with fertility issues. Really hoping acupuncture will do something. Xx
Hey, Ive just been reading your thread and I personally think DHEA helped my with egg quality. I didnt get a BFP but my embryos definitely did better in the cycles I used it for and I didnt really get too many side effects....maybe a little hair loss and a few extra spots but that's it! I would say acupuncture helps blood flow to the uterus but doesnt help egg quality.xx
I genuinely had no side effects from it, other than my hair is a little oilier, and maybe I’m slightly hairier (nothing scary though only marginally!) and i was on it for a year and a half! My amh is only 2.7 and after i was on dhea for 9 months I conceived naturally twice, once I was taking the inositol and ubiquinol etc consistently.
I would echo use of DHEA and also Ubiquinol. I got hairier with DHEA but a small price to pay and all goes back to normal when you stop taking it. Would recommend the micronised version as it is easier on the body. I also preferred reflexology to acupuncture.xx
Thanks ladies. I have been doing more research into dhea and am going to give it a try!
Looking back at previous posts/replies on dhea 3 x 25mg seems to be the normal dose, does that sound correct? If so i will order some now and keep my fingers and toes crossed. Thanks xx
Hi Blue_penguin, unfortunately there is no proof that acupuncture helps with fertility although I believe it may help with blood flow in the uterus area. I have done a lot of acupuncture when trying naturally and during IVF but I’m still not pregnant. It did help me relax when I was lying for 1h but then running to appointments and trying to fit them in around work and IVF appointments made me more rushed and stressed. Next time round, I won’t be doing the acupuncture as it takes too much time, it’s expensive and I got quite fed up with the needles as those on my feet were always painful for me. I guess I had a go and tried it so I have no regrets so maybe do the same and see how it works for you?
Thank you for the feedback x
Hi, I started acupuncture after our first failed cycle of IVF. During our first round they retrieved 16 eggs and only 1 was suitable for a day 2 transfer.
In the middle of our second round at present. This time they retrieved 21 eggs and 4 have made it to top quality blastocysts.
If you can fit in the acupuncture then I would recommend it. I’m currently on the 2WW and still continuing with acupuncture. Good luck hun 😘 xxxx
Thank you for the feedback Jade! Good luck with your treatment xx
I have the same issues as you and had 4 cycles of ICSI. I didn't do acupuncture but before my 4th cycle I took DHEA and also did some yoga and cut back work hours and was far less stressed. I believe that anything you can do to de-stress and relax is good, whatever works for you, whether it is acupuncture, reflexology, yoga or just some massage from your OH x
Hi Sarah I’m been looking into trying to make my eggs healthier. I’ve started taking ubiquinol zinc & other vits. Can anyone take DHEA? Or do u need some kind of test? I’ve had 2 mc and I’m 38.
My consultant recommended it to me, but I know some don't. She gave me a fact sheet about it. Pm me with your email address if you would like me to send it? x
Hi all, I've also tried Ubiquinol and DHEA. Noticed a lot os spots in my arms after DHEA and I stopped. It wasn't recommended by doctors, I just decided to take it because of what I read here.
My AMH was 1.1 two months ago and at the NHS they said that I could only do donor eggs but I see a lot of women here trying IVF with their own. Are you doing your own? What are your values?
I wish you the best with your treatment. x
Hi. I have ordered dhea and will give it a try. Already take ubiquinol. Want to try all possibilities as this will most likely be our last cycle of treatment.
My AMH has been as low as 0.87. Had two cycles of IVF on NHS attempting to use my own eggs. Unfortunately no eggs collected in first cycle but got a few in the second cycle. Had transfer but failed. I was on highest possible doses of stimulating drugs for 15 days both times.
We are now on a 3 cycle package of natural modified IVF privately. Decided to go down this route as it is kinder and safer and meant to be better for low AMH. Drug doses are much lower and I have had eggs collected in both the first two cycles. Unfortunately they have either not fertilised or not made it to blastocyst stage so we have one more round to go. Trying to improve egg quality and keeping everything crossed.
After two failed NHS rounds the clinic said I would only be able to continue treatment privately with them by going for donor eggs but my husband and I do not feel ready for that. I hope the NHS offer you a chance with your own eggs. Best of luck xx
My modified natural ivf went a lot better than the max dose nhs rounds, it really does help and is a lot better for your eggs and body xxx
I am not sure If acupuncture helps with egg quality but it definitely does with blood flow to the uterus and getting your body through ivf. I would echo the replies of others and recommend a good quality ubiquinol daily
Wishing you all the best x
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