Acupuncture - Confused...

Hey Parki,

For our first round of IVF DH went for acupuncture first as we have MFI. He did about 8-9 weekly sessions (that's all the time we had before the EC) and then stopped (hoping that all the work was done, from DH anyway! and we'd get a BFP, but we didn't ). I started doing acu a couple of weeks after Dh started, so I had about 6 sessions before the EC and then two sessions on the day of transfer.

We were seeing Vitalis in Auck, he wasn't pushy but did recommend that we both do it - DH obviouslly because of MFI (apparently acupuncture was actually used for MFI long before they started using it for IVF!), they can never tell how many sessions you'll need.... it's an alternative therapy, it depends on the person, how good their overall health is, whether they have any energy blockages... Vitalis did say that ideallly you'd do it for 3 months but I think everyone says that as a minimum because thats the sperm naturation cycle and the egg maturation takes about 90 days too, so 3 months is good for both.
Vitalis follows some program that was tested and researched in Germany specifically for IVF. In the end I found that he was just following that program every time I came, same needles, same places, he wasn't asking any questions, the only time he would alternate where needles go is before and after ovulation (nothing in the tummy after Ov!).

Then after our BFN we switched to another acupuncturist who is TOTALLY different.

she is not treating us for IVF. She is concentrating on our overall wellbeing, evening out the energy flows, treating the symptoms we have on a weekly basis (each time we come in she asks me how my emotions are, whether I get irritated easily, asks me how I sleep, # of bowel movements, whether I feel tired, yawning etc since we last saw her) and then che changes where she puts the needles based on that. I feel sooo much better seeing her, as I feel each session is customised to where I am at right that moment, rather than the same programme again and again... she explains things quite well, what the symptoms mean, what she is focusing on each session etc...
Again, she can't say how many sessions we will need (both DH and I arer seeing her). Dh has done about 10 sessions - he goes twice!!! a week. Ouch, gets so expensive I started twice a week to, then went to weekly (more due to the fact that i find it hard getting to her on a weeknight having to travel over the bridge etc), but I'm going to make an effort and go twice a week again now, as I have noticed a difference from when I reduced it to weekly appts.
She said she'll let us know when we can cut back to once a week or once a fortnight, and it's all based on our symptoms, whether we manage to hold the energy, keep calm, able to have good nights' sleep, not feel tired during the day etc etc in between the sessions. When that happens we'll know it's working and we can cut back on the number of times we see her.

Are you in Auck? Who did you go see?

I don't think you can look at acupuncture and try to work out whether just you or Dh or both should go....it would benefit you both, but the practitioner should be able to explain to you what they'll be working on, what they'll be focusing on. I would also try to go twice a week if you only have a few weeks (as you've already started your IVF haven't you?).

Good luck! Hope you enjoy it :)

Hey Parki,

I know what you mean. I get sooo overloaded with all the data I find about TTC (I think I'm my own worst enemy!), I get books fromt he library, subscribe to 100s of TTC podcasts, get about 5 newsletters in my inbox DAILY, constantly google things and read stuff on forums... We're doing acupuncture AND seeing a naturopath and taking some self-prescribed supplements too.... and sometimes it just becomes impossible to combine all these things because every specialist tries to say that THEIR way is better and the 'other' herbs/appts doing have any significant research/proof that they work etc etc etc etc....then I also read all these things that seem to make sense and in my heart I feel I SHOULD be doing (like getting rid of all the chemicals at home, getting a water filter, not eating dairy & gluten etc...) I then find myself with a massive headache and a very tense face/neck/jaw because I'm ALWAYS thinking about it all, how to do all these things, and berating myself for NOT having followed ALL this advice! And don't even start on the money side of it... we're on a VERY tight budget for everything apart from fertility stuff!

Sorry for the rant, have to run off but will reply more on the 'acupucnture' topic a bit later =)

I haven't had IVF, so can't comment on acupuncture in relation to IVF treatment.


But sunshine wife has summed it up in how acupuncture (when done in an Eastern way) works. They work with your body, and what it's telling the acupuncturist at each session.


I'd imagine that with the deadline of an IVF cycle coming up, you'd want to maximise your acu sessions to make sure that you're doing as much as possible. I'd be skeptical about an acu that didn't want to see both of you, as it takes two to "tango" and make a baby. Even if it's just to check you over and say you don't need anything done.


There is a very good acupuncturist in Auckland, called David Craddock, he's very experienced, based in Ponsonby I think. Might be worth phoning him also. Though he can be hard to get appts at (depends how flexible you are with times) because he's very highly respected, and in demand.