Big, giant kudos to Today Show correspondent Bobbie Thomas, who's currently going through her third round of IVF and documenting it all for viewers and fans. With her brave #nomorewhispers campaign, she's using social media and Today segments to show every step of the process—from getting bloodwork and ultrasounds done to having an egg retrieval procedure. She even showed off her belly bruises from all of the hormone injections… Way to keep it real, Bobbie!
So when I saw Thomas undergoing acupuncture and cupping treatments during her most recent Today segment, I could immediately relate. Like a lot of us, the first time I ever heard about acupuncture being used as an infertility treatment was during the Sex and the City episode where Charlotte seeks it out to help overcome her reproductive challenges. A lifelong needle-phobe, I've always avoided the mere mention of acupuncture, but when I found out I had diminished ovarian reserve in March, I changed my tune rather quickly. I started seeing acupuncturist Carolyn Leigh every week, and six months later, she has become a trusted friend, advocate, and go-to guru for all things fertility. (Plus, she gives great caviar prescriptions.)
At each of my sessions with Leigh, I receive traditional acupuncture as well as cupping, an ancient Chinese treatment said to increase blood flow and promote healing. Though the benefits aren't always tangible, I'm a believer—especially after witnessing its magic in action during my first IVF cycle. I had only four very small follicles at the start, and when I upped my acupuncture visits to three times a week, they started growing more quickly and the amount increased to six follicles. (Not an easy feat for someone with diminished ovarian reserve.) Thomas also touts the benefits, saying that she's seen a marked improvement between her first cycle, when she didn't do acupuncture and cupping, and when she incorporated them the second time around.
Research supports acupuncture's efficacy too—one study published in Fertility and Sterility found that patients who received acupuncture before and after embryo transfer had significantly higher pregnancy rates than those who didn't.
"It helps to improve the chances of pregnancy by keeping the body in balance," says Leigh. "I've seen people get pregnant after just one month of treatment, and for others, it can take up to a year; it depends on the complexity of whatever it is that is causing the infertility in the first place."
Some acupuncturists rely on the pulse as a diagnostic tool, but Leigh likes to look at her patients' tongues to see what's happening inside the body. Her sessions last 30 to 45 minutes, as that provides ample time for the needles to work their magic. "With normal breathing patterns, it takes 18 to 20 minutes for your chi to make a full circuit through the system," she says.
There's also the fact that receiving acupuncture and/or cupping can help decrease stress and anxiety brought on by infertility. "My acupuncturist says it's all about blood flow and de-stressing, and it really does help," said Thomas on Today.
For those who don't have access to acupuncture, foot reflexology can be a viable alternative, according to Leigh. "I've seen people get really good results that way, as you're stimulating the same points we'd be using with acupuncture on the foot," she explains.
As for cupping, Leigh says it doesn't necessarily have a direct effect on infertility, but it can help those who have circulation issues. "Some people hold a lot of tension and inflammation in their back and shoulders, and if that's the case, it would help balance the whole system out. I normally won't do cupping unless there are indicators of it being necessary."
Check out Thomas' latest Today segment, in which she gets needled and cupped on the air.
Jen Jones Donatelli is an author and journalist whose work and photography have appeared in Conde Nast Traveler, LA Confidential, Natural Health, Variety, San Francisco, Whole Life Times, Clean Plates, Total Beauty, and many more. When not typing the day away at her laptop, she is also a journalism instructor for Ohio University, MediaBistro, and StoryStudio Chicago. Specializing in all things lifestyle and wellness, Jen is passionate about the topic of fertility—and thrilled to explore it more fully for REDBOOK. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Joe, and beloved spaniel pup, Tanner.
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Original article and pictures take www.redbookmag.com site
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