Acupuncture May Improve Pregnancy Success -- But the 65% Claim is Misleading
Friday February 15, 2008
You’ve probably heard this before – acupuncture may improve the chances of pregnancy when used with IVF treatment. There have been many studies done in the past, with contradictory results. Some studies said acupuncture did make a difference, while others didn’t show any increased success rate.
But a new study sought to look at several studies together. (This is called a meta-analysis.) The pooled results looked at seven smaller studies, and combined their data.
In studies like these however, drawing a conclusion is tricky. Some media outlets reported in the headlines that use of acupuncture was shown to improve the chances of pregnancy by 65%. That sounds amazing, but it’s really not an accurate way of explaining the research.
What the study actually said was that for every ten women treated with acupuncture and IVF, one additional pregnancy may be achieved.
Given the cost of IVF, adding in some acupuncture treatments might not be a bad idea. The studies have piqued my curiosity, though I’m not sure if I could personally handle the idea of having tiny needles inserted into my body voluntarily. Call me squeamish.
Have you tried acupuncture? What was it like? I’m curious to hear about your experiences with this alternative medicine treatment, and I’m sure others are interested, too. Please share with us your experience in the comment area here, or leave a post in the forums.
But a new study sought to look at several studies together. (This is called a meta-analysis.) The pooled results looked at seven smaller studies, and combined their data.
In studies like these however, drawing a conclusion is tricky. Some media outlets reported in the headlines that use of acupuncture was shown to improve the chances of pregnancy by 65%. That sounds amazing, but it’s really not an accurate way of explaining the research.
What the study actually said was that for every ten women treated with acupuncture and IVF, one additional pregnancy may be achieved.
Given the cost of IVF, adding in some acupuncture treatments might not be a bad idea. The studies have piqued my curiosity, though I’m not sure if I could personally handle the idea of having tiny needles inserted into my body voluntarily. Call me squeamish.
Have you tried acupuncture? What was it like? I’m curious to hear about your experiences with this alternative medicine treatment, and I’m sure others are interested, too. Please share with us your experience in the comment area here, or leave a post in the forums.
I gave acupunture a try and i am not at all squeamish and have a fairly high pain threshhold. I went once just prior to my IVF treatment as i figured i should get in the routine prior and continue in hopes that it would help some. I can not speak for everyone but personally i did not feel improved wheni left. I also did not feel like the reason for treatment was even treated and i found it uncomfortable and painful. now it was not the worst pain and i did not need to scream but i would not do it again. the needles in my head hurt during treatment and the spot hurt the next day too. And some bogus arthritis i would have well…. one of my wrist has been causing me pain since the event 2 weeks ago and i plan to see my doctor about it. The needles were midly painful going in, little to no pain going out and 2 places have increased pain since treatment in places that never had pain prior. oh and i am a healthy late twenties female that was only seeking the possible added benefit for IVF. But i will now do IVF by itself because the injections i give myself are a peach compared to accuputure. And lastly… i did research the person i saw. they had great reviews, were appropriately liscensed and there training well documented. so maybe it just isn’t for me. with that said , i will be refraining from accupunture and might consider accupressure… oh just a massage.
I’m 39 and we’re undergoing treatment for infertility. Right now, it’s IUI. We had one failed IVF cycle.
I’ve started acupuncture since so many women at the fertility clinic do it and swear by the results.
Unlike taking a pill where you feel better right away, acupuncture is a process. You won’t feel any dramatic changes in your body. Acupuncture gets your body back in balance. It takes a few sessions before things really start happening.
The needles are tiny. Thinner than anything I’ve ever seen. I feel a little prick when the needle goes in and maybe a little twinge when it’s adjusted. For example, when the therapist adjusted one needle in my hand, it made my index finger twitch once. It’s only the nerve being touched. That’s what it’s supposed to do.
If you get your eyebrows waxed or tweezed, you can absolutely handle acupuncture!
After the needles are in, you lay there and rest for about 30 min. My therapist has a little boombox that plays spa music and the lights are dim. I usually end up napping.
For treating my infertility and for stress relief, I get 4 needles in my stomach around my belly button, some in my legs around my knees, a few in my feet and ankles, one in my left hand and one in my forehead.
Just remember, this isn’t Western medicine where they give you a shot and you’re all better. The Chinese have been using acupuncture for 3,000 years. It’s a tried and true method of healing, but it is not instant.
Oh, one little bit of humor…when telling my husband about acupuncture for treating infertility, his joke was, “Well, there are over a billion Chinese so they must know something about treating infertility!”
Anyway, acupuncture can help your uterus relax and not spasm or cramp. This is very important after embryo transfers and such. It also helps relax you as a person. I know all the infertility tests, drugs, treatments etc stress me out big time!
I look at it this way. If my doctor said to me, “Try IVF without acupuncture and you have a 25% chance of success. Try it with acupuncture and you have maybe a 30-33% chance of success.” I’m going for the higher chance. Wouldn’t you? I mean, what do you have to lose?
I’m undergoing fertility treatment and agree that accupuncture is definitely a worthwhile component of the process.
In addition to helping the inner working of our bodies stay in balance, it has been very helpful with stress. Anyone undergoing fertility treatment knows how anxious you can get waiting for: “the call” to tell your test results, Insurance Coverage, timing of procedures with your/ spouses schedule, etc… During one of my sessions, I was so relaxed, I felt like I was melting into the exam table!
My practitioner is very tuned into the needs of fertility related care: Always asks things like : where are you in your cycle, how’s your energy, stress level, digestion/appetite, sleep, and are there any other concerns. (she also helped me with sinus pressure).
Sorry to ramble – but I want anyone who is undergoing fertility treatment to consider investing in this process with 1 more appointment- to see an acupuncturist!
While nothing can guarantee your pregnancy results, this can make the process more manageable!
THOUGH I’M NOT GOING THRU THE IVF PROCESS I CAN COMMENT ON THE WONDERFUL BENEFITS OF ACUPUNTURE.
I HAVE SUFFERED IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, I TRIED MANY TREATMENTS- ANTI DEPRESSANTS, YOGA, HYPNOTISE, NATURAL REMEDIES, ELIMATION DIETS, YOU NAME IT, I WAS DESPERATE. RECOMMENDED BY A FRIEND SUFFERING FROM ENDOMETRIOSIS WHO WAS CURED I GAVE IT A TRY, WITHIN THE FIRST TREATMENT I NOTICED RESULTS IT ONLY GOT BETTER AND BETTER WITH EACH TREATMENT. I, MYSELF PASS OUT AT THE SIGHT OF NEEDLES, I CAN’T EVEN LOOK AT THE ACUPUNTURE ONES BUT I RARELY FEEL A THING.
I HAVE ONLY JUST STATRED TREATMENT AGAIN AFTER 2 YEARS WITHOUT TREATMENT IN PREPARATION OF PLANNING A BABY AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THIS TREATMENT SURELY WILL INCREASE MY CHANCES OF CONCEIVING, I WILL BET MONEY ON IT.
I CAN ONLY SAY THAT IF YOUR WILLING TO PUT IVF CHEMICALS THRU YOUR BODY THAN SURELY A FEW TREATMENTS OF ACUPUNTURE COULD DO YOUR BODY THE WORLD OF GOOD.
While I did not do accupuncture for IVF, I did do accupuncture for infertility. As the previous poster mentioned, it is a process. It took roughly a year for my body to get aligned (and I was doing accupuncture in conjunction with western medicine). I felt more relaxed, and it *DRASTICALLY* improved my Clomid side effects (the cycle that I was on Clomid without accupuncture, I had headaches, hot flashes, craziness, you name it– when I was doing accupuncture– none of the above!). While I can’t said that accupuncture was completely responsible for my daughter, I do think that the combination of accupuncture and western medicine allowed me to have a baby.