Hellobee

After six months of trying to get pregnant, I got annoyed that nothing was happening yet. It was too soon to call my doctor (every book I read said it could take up to a year under “normal” conditions), but I wanted to feel like I was making proactive decisions aimed at achieving my goal (geez, talk about Type A) beyond the basics like watching my diet and exercising.

I had read a little bit about acupuncture and its applications for treating infertility, and a friend at work swore that it was the key to her successful pregnancy, so after some serious research (yup, that’s the librarian gene coming through) I decided to give it a try.

Acupuncture is often classified under the category of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It involves inserting very thin metallic needles through the top layers of skin in specific points on the body.

An acupuncture needle, about 2.5″ long

In TCM, practitioners use the needles to stimulate pathways, known as “meridians,” to regulate chi – the flow of energy or life force in the body. In western medicine, acupuncture is seen as a way to stimulate specific nerves, muscles, and tissues, thereby increasing blood flow and encouraging the body to release natural painkillers.

There are relativity few side effects associated with acupuncture, but sometimes soreness does occur. An experienced, licensed practitioner knows how to protect against other potential problems like organ puncture and infection.

When acupuncture is specifically used to address fertility, some clinical studies suggest that it is beneficial in improving IVF outcomes when administered following a transfer. I didn’t have IVF, but chose to do acupuncture because of the benefits of increased blood flow to reproductive organs. Although double blind studies (the most respected type of research) have yet to pinpoint the specific fertility benefits of acupuncture, almost all clinicians agree that acupuncture reduces stress and anxiety – a definite benefit when you’re trying to conceive.

Here’s a peek at my experiences:

Finding a Practitioner: My acupuncturist came recommended by a friend, and she also has an office located within my OBGYN’s practice. She has a Master’s degree in Oriental Medicine and is licensed by both a national board and New York State.

Cost: My first session was $85.00 and every follow-up session was $65.00. It was not covered by my health insurance, though it may be in some cases.

Frequency: I went once a month, timing it around ovulation, while trying to conceive, and then three times during my first trimester.

First Visit: We spent my first visit talking about my health history and fertility. If you’ve been temping or charting, bring that information with you, as it can help inform treatment. We also talked A TON about diet – this appointment was probably equal parts nutritional counseling and acupuncture. I was advised to limit “cold” and “damp” foods – like ice water, some raw vegetables and fruit, bean curd, dairy and wheat. She thought I had a yang deficiency (chi is a balance between yin and yang), and to right  the balance, I was supposed to focus on warming foods, like ginger, shrimp, rice and cinnamon.

Treatment: Acupuncture is all about relaxation, so the treatment room has a spa-like feel – the lights were dim, there was a soundtrack of crashing ocean waves playing, and the room was cozy warm. I laid on a heated message style table during treatment.

Depending on what you’re trying to accomplish, a number of needles are inserted in different parts of your body after the area is swabbed with alcohol. The length of the needles depends on the layer of fat above each acupuncture point – the longer needles pictured below are used in your stomach area.

I always had needles in my feet, wrists, forehead, earlobes and stomach.

The needles may sting a tiny little bit (MUCH less than from a shot or bee sting), but I’d describe it as virtually painless. If a needle hurt after it had been in for a few seconds, the acupuncturist would spin it a little, and the pain would go away. She also usually set up a heat lamp over my stomach, but on some days when my feet were especially cold, I had a heat lamp there, too.

And then the hard part: I had to lie there and relax for what felt like hours, though it was probably closer to 45 minutes. I’m just not good at relaxing – I always got a little restless, but usually ended up dozing for five or ten minutes.

After the allotted time, the acupuncturist came back, pulled my needless, and I paid her and went home. Easy-peasy!

My take: Do I know for sure that acupuncture helped improve my fertility? Nope, but I did feel more relaxed after each treatment. When I met with her during my initial visit in December, she said, “I think you’re going to have some positive news in March or April” – and wouldn’t you know it, I found out I was pregnant in March. Was this a coincidence? Maybe. Either way, I enjoyed the experience, and I’d totally recommend it to a friend.

Would you try acupuncture?