If you’re considering IVF and wondering what else you can do to improve your chances, you’re not alone. Many of the women I work with in Niagara are 35 and over, have been trying for a while, and are understandably feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, and even a little skeptical when they hear about something like acupuncture. I get it. When you’re putting so much into your fertility journey – physically, emotionally, and financially – you want to make sure everything you do is evidence-based and truly supportive. And the good news? Recent research shows that acupuncture might be exactly that.
Research on Acupuncture and IVF
Let’s start with science. Over the last five years, several high-quality studies have shown that acupuncture, when added to IVF treatment, can improve implantation and pregnancy rates – especially for women over 35 and those with unexplained infertility. A 2020 randomized controlled trial by Guven et al. found that women with unexplained infertility who had just three acupuncture sessions (one week before, immediately before, and after embryo transfer) saw their pregnancy rates jump from 33% to 64%. In a 2022 multicenter trial using electro-acupuncture-like stimulation (known as TEAS), women over 35 had an implantation rate of 30.8% compared to only 13.9% in the control group. And in a 2024 meta-analysis of 38 randomized controlled trials, women who received acupuncture during ovarian stimulation or before frozen embryo transfer had significantly better clinical pregnancy and live birth rates, especially when they received more sessions. These studies suggest that acupuncture isn’t just a nice extra—it could be a meaningful support for IVF success.
When to Start Fertility Acupuncture Treatments?
If at all possible, I recommend starting acupuncture well in advance of the IVF process. Ideally, the goal is to optimize your body well before the IVF protocols begin, so that you are in the best possible place for starting a healthy pregnancy. Acupuncture for at least 30 days prior to IVF is recommended for most women, especially if you are 35+ and have already been TTC for a while. Sessions may be weekly for some women, or I may recommend twice per week in certain cases. I know each woman’s situation is unique, and regardless of how often you can come and when you choose to start – I am here to help you. My suggestions for a treatment plan are meant to help guide you, ultimately you choose what you are most comfortable with.
How does Fertility Acupuncture work?
So what exactly is acupuncture doing? From a biomedical perspective, acupuncture is thought to support IVF by improving blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, regulating stress hormones, and promoting better hormonal balance throughout the cycle. It can help relax the nervous system, improve sleep, reduce inflammation, and potentially enhance the quality of the endometrial lining where the embryo needs to implant. Many studies also point to the importance of timing: treatments done not just on the day of embryo transfer, but during the weeks leading up to it, are associated with the best outcomes.
From a Chinese Medicine perspective, fertility is all about balance and flow. We look at the body as a whole and support the organs and meridians involved in reproduction, stress regulation, and overall vitality. When we work with women preparing for IVF, we often focus on nourishing the Kidney and Spleen systems (important in TCM for reproductive energy), calming the Heart to ease anxiety, and ensuring smooth flow of Liver Qi. It’s a gentle, individualized process—we’re not just supporting implantation, we’re helping your whole body feel more resilient and in sync with what it needs.
Does Acupuncture for Fertility hurt?
If you’re new to acupuncture and feeling nervous, that’s totally normal. Treatments are generally very relaxing, and any side effects are rare and mild. Most women find the experience calming and grounding – a little pocket of peace in an otherwise high-stress time. Nervous around needles? I like to say – “acupuncture does not have to hurt for it to work!” Even if you have had an unpleasant acupuncture experience somewhere else – I will work with you to help make this enjoyable and relaxing.
If you’re curious about how acupuncture might fit into your fertility plan, especially if you’re preparing for IVF, feel free to reach out. We’ll talk through your timeline, your goals, and come up with a care plan that supports both your body and your heart every step of the way.
I offer a free Wellness Call for you to ask questions and get more information on how this works before deciding to start acupuncture support.
