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The only prescription is more needles

October 31, 2007

Since I had to take September off from ttc, I spent some time researching new treatments I'd like to try, and I decided to try acupuncture. I knew nothing at all about it except that it involved a lot of needles. I used to be afraid of needles, but after so many times getting blood taken at the clinic, and having to administer my own shots, I have gotten a lot more used to them.

Acupuncture is a holistic traditional Chinese approach to medicine that tries to bring your body into a natural state of balance. It is based on the idea that the blood and energy in the body can get out-of-balance and cause health problems like infertility. The main thing I want help with is my short luteal phase, and the acupuncturist thinks acupuncture will enhance my current fertility treatments to make them more effective.

At my first acupuncture appointment, I had a long initial health history consultation with the acupuncturist. She asked much more and detailed questions than my infertility doctor had, like how many days my periods last, what each day looks like, and things like that. I get migraines and she asked a lot of questions about them, too, like where the pain is and foods I have eaten before getting one.

I lay down on my back on a table like a massage table. She put the needles all over the place...in the upper cartilage of each ear, in each wrist, all around my knees, and in my ankles. The needles were so tiny and thin that I could only feel one go in (the one in one of my ears hurt). The needle in my left wrist felt like a warmth was spreading from it, but I couldn't feel the others.

Next she used a treatment called Moxabustion on my tummy. She put a salve right above where my uterus is, and on it she put what looked like little burning embers about the size of rice grains. They were lit with incense, which smelled really nice and relaxing. I felt a lovely warm sensation all over my tummy, like a warmth from within. This treatment is supposed to increase blood flow to the uterus.

Then the acupuncturist dimmed the lights left the room for a while so I could relax. It was a perfect evening, the most relaxing kind for me...a little warm, with a cool breeze coming in from the open window, and heavy rains. She had some relaxing music playing, too.

Afterwards she cleaned off the salve and took out the needles, and I turned over onto my tummy. She put a whole bunch of needles all over my upper back, around my shoulder blades, and she did the Moxabustion on my lower back. Then she let me relax for a little while again, and that was it.

Now for the big question...did it help? Well, I only had one appointment during my last cycle, and I didn't get pregnant. But my luteal phase was 5 whole days longer than usual (12 instead of 7 days). I was also using progesterone support, but it had never lengthened it that much before. And in general, I have just felt more relaxed and at peace. Maybe I would have anyway just from where I am at with everything right now, I don't know. But I've scheduled three more appointments for this cycle...and I am very hopeful that in the next few months, something will work out for me. :)

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