Monday 21 January 2013

I'll try anything...

After rejecting all the bullshit advice from well meaning friends and family, "just relax," "keep your legs up after sex" or "wear socks!" what advice to you take from fellow infertiles? Admittedly, we're a pretty biased group. Following months, if not years, of failed attempts and treatments, it's hard not to believe that what you ate for breakfast contributed to the success, once it is achieved. Some alternative treatments  most often employed include acupuncture and vitamin supplements. The data is light, due to limited studies evaluating supplements, and difficulty analysing acupuncture effects without a true 'placebo' comparative. I came across a journal article that examined many different uses of acupuncture in an Ob/Gyn setting. While the authors noted that the use of acupuncture for infertility is increasing, the only statistically significant benefit was reducing pain during egg retrieval. Co-worker's RE recommended that she start acupuncture. Co-worker asked if she had some statistics to show that it helps achieve a pregnancy, but her RE claimed that it would help her with her painful periods and she asked her "what do you have to lose?" Um, money? thought Co-worker who was finding the bills for her fertility treatments daunting. She had been dealing with her heavy and painful periods since she was a teenager and had learned to cope. She wanted answers to why she has heavy periods and if it was contributing to her infertility and was frustrated that her RE was deferring her laparoscopy and was insisting on doing "one more IUI". It was the one that was successful in impregnating her with twins. A few weeks later, I encountered a local acupuncturist at a holiday party and decided to do a little recognisance work. She identified herself as an "infertility specialist", which I questioned if it was like the title 'Assistant to the Regional Manager'. Acupuncturist who specialises in infertility seemed a little more accurate. I asked a few specific questions on how acupuncture is thought to benefit fertility patients (specifically about increasing blood flow to the uterus) and when during a treatment cycle (i.e in the follicular phase, just before or after IUI or transfer?) should it be performed? She didn't answer any of my questions, but just discussed how all her patients get pregnant, and then she continues to see them and she flips breech babies and induces labour. Really? No one has a 100% success rate. Maybe she didn't want to answer my questions as I was disturbing the 'delicate genius' at a party, but I expected a little more substance from a 'fertility specialist'. She handed me a handful on her business cards. While not completely skeptical, I also wasn't convinced. I decided that doing acupuncture would cut into my exercise time, which also promotes relaxation and improves blood flow.
I was also a little hesitant to start supplements. When Husband first received the results of his semen analysis, he headed to GNC and purchased everything the Google reported would improve sperm counts and quality. Unfortunately, neither the supplements nor Clomid improved his semen analysis much, and the drawer in our bathroom still smells like dried leaves, as I suspect he's stopped taking them. However, I have heard some women reporting improvements with their follicle counts or lab results. Additionally, I was in the 'what do you have to lose?' mindset. Non Sequitur Chica posted a list of doctor recommended supplements on her blog. I picked up all the ones that target blood vessel and endometrial support for about $75. As long as I'm waiting to start treatment, I might as well try to make the most of it. I've also read that some women have tried eating pineapple during the time of embryo transfer to help thicken the uterine lining. I like pineapple and could very well be eating it at that time anyway. If grapefruit juice can cause significant drug interactions, is it that unreasonable to think that other foods could work in weird ways?

12 comments:

  1. Please share if you have any experiences with acupuncture, supplements or other alternative treatments!

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  2. Very interesting! I can't believe that acupuncturist couldn't give you more concrete answers. Would make me a little skeptical myself. All I can say is that I did eat pineapple after transfer and am still eating it! That was easy since I love it! Nothing like fresh pineapple.

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    1. I'll consider you a pineapple success story!

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  3. I also picked up a lot of the supplements Non-Sequitur Chica recommended. However, I worked at GNC for 6 years while I (slowly) paid my way through University, so I'm probably biased towards supplements. Placebo effect or not, I'm willing to try anything and we are dealing with purely male factor! I actually read somewhere that a healthy egg can correct some problems with the sperm by pushing the bad stuff outside the egg or something like that... I don't know if I really believe that, but there is always that little voice in the back of my head saying "what if"

    Most of all, I think taking supplements etc. makes me feel like I am doing something while I am waiting for my next cycle.

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    1. Thanks for your input! You also have a helpful list of supplements at http://gypsymamasjourney.blogspot.com/p/gypsy-mamas-fertility-diet.html?m=0

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  4. I go to an acupuncturist who specializes in fertility and she has never told me anything about her success rates or that she got everyone pregnant (other people have actually asked me if she has a success rate and I have to tell them it doesn't really work like that). She tells me anecdotal stories now and then if it applies but mostly talks about what I need to do to improve my chances. She actually referred me to my current RE. I really do believe some combination of acupuncture, chinese herbs, dietary changes and supplements have helped my numbers. I went from 1 to 5 eggs in my IVF's and at my last u/s I had 9 follicles. My highest number yet. None of this guarantees me a pregnancy but things are moving in the right direction at least. My husband has been taking tons of supplements to help his sperm and he actually told me this morning he wants to write something for my blog once he has his next semen analysis to talk about if it works or not.
    Oh, I have also done the pineapple thing. Per my acupuncturist I am supposed to cut the pineapple into 5 slices and eat a slice a day starting from transfer day. The core is the important part so you can't cut that part off,unfortunately. It all might work, it might not, but at least I feel like I am doing something. and it probably doesn't hurt anything.

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  5. For the first time in my IF journey I've been doing acupuncture and supplements (DHEA, ubiquinol (the active form of C0Q10) mainly for ovarian reserve). But I do so with a very hefty dose of scepticism. I have no idea if it works or not.

    I totally get your frustration. I pay out of pocket for everything that we do. It sucks.

    I also don't agree with the "what's it going to hurt" school of thought because I think people forget that supplements CAN hurt people. Not everything is well researched and studied.

    For me, it's about regret management and trust in my doctor. I'm nearing the end of my fertility journey and I want to feel like I tried everything.

    (And - side note: I did an IVF last spring and shocked my doctors with the result - 6 good embies after 2 previous RE's wouldn't even attempt IVF with me because of my poor FSH.).

    On my fertility clinic's website there is a section on acupuncture. It is http://www.colocrm.com/Services/Acupuncture.aspx. Admittedly, nothing is super convincing though.

    ICLW

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    1. I should add that the last IVF was after a couple months of DHEA.

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  6. When I meet with a traditional or CAM practitioner, I ask them one question first: "Do you believe in germ theory?" If the answer is no, I am out of there. If the answer is yes, we can talk! I acupuncturist and chiro understand that they can not regenerate my nonexistent follicles. What they do is very relaxing for me, which I believe may help me have a more successful cycle. If they told me they could cure POF, I would turn around and leave!

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  7. Thanks for sharing your experiences and perspectives! JenS, that would be so awesome if SH would do a guest post!

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  8. Omg, first, I am now totally paranoid about grapefruit after my husband told me about all these news articles pointing to people who've flippin' DIED after eating grapefruit and having it interact with their meds. Also, yeah, the whole pineapple thing actually refers to pineapple CORE (not the nice, juicy bits), and it's total hogwash. I did one cycle in which I partook in ALL of those things -- royal jelly, pineapple core, CoQ10, fish oil, Vitamin D, no coffee, no alcohol, acupuncture, etc.; and surprise surprise, BFN. So now I just think it's all bunk (except the supplements are good for you anyway, so keep taking them!). I do believe that acupuncture increases blood flow to your uterus and other lady bits, but again, increased blood flow isn't necessarily what's stopping 10% of women from getting pregnant... I dunno, you gotta be skeptical with this stuff!

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  9. My RE had me on baby aspirin from the start of my IVF cycle. I am still on it at almost 21 weeks pregnant. I also found that putting myself on bed rest (the RE only required the day of) for the day of transfer and then the next two days worked awesome.

    I have also read many reports and studies about women who laugh a lot around and leading up to the time of implantation. Apparently the contractions from laughing help the embryo burrow into your lining.

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