Expert Acupuncture to Support Your IVF, ICSI & Fertility Treatments

A Holistic Approach to Optimising Your Body for Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)

Over the years, I have worked with many individuals and couples undergoing IVF, ICSI, and other fertility treatments, giving me valuable understanding of the support needed throughout this process. The waiting and uncertainty can be challenging, but with the right care, you don’t have to navigate it alone. My aim is to provide a supportive, balanced approach that helps you feel physically and emotionally prepared at every stage.

As a Fertility Support Trained expert, I use acupuncture to support fertility treatment at every stage, working alongside your medical care to help improve outcomes and enhance well-being. Acupuncture can help to regulate hormones, improve blood flow to the uterus, support implantation, and reduce stress.

Acupuncture is a gentle, natural approach that works alongside medical fertility treatments to help support your body and mind throughout the process.

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When should you have acupuncture?

Research recommends that beginning acupuncture at least 12 weeks before starting IVF or IUI can help optimise outcomes. Early support allows time to regulate hormones, improve circulation, and enhance overall well-being. Regular treatment throughout the process can also provide ongoing benefits. I typically offer weekly acupuncture sessions, adjusting the frequency based on your individual needs and stage of treatment.

I offer acupuncture support at key stages of your fertility journey, including:

  • Preparing for IVF or IUI – Helping to optimise your body before treatment for better response and outcomes.

  • Support during an IVF or IUI cycle – Aiding hormone regulation, improving blood flow to the uterus, and helping to manage side effects.

  • Reducing stress and anxiety – Supporting emotional well-being and promoting relaxation during treatment.

  • Pre- and post-embryo transfer care – Helping to improve uterine receptivity and support implantation.

  • Two-week wait support – Assisting with balance, stress reduction, and early implantation support.

  • Early pregnancy support (first 12 weeks) – Helping to support a healthy pregnancy and ease symptoms such as nausea.

Acupuncture is a gentle, natural approach that works alongside medical fertility treatments to help support your body and mind throughout the process.

Acupuncture is a proven therapy that can enhance fertility treatment outcomes by:

  • Increasing blood flow to the ovaries and uterus – Research shows acupuncture can improve uterine artery blood flow, supporting egg development and implantation.¹

  • Regulating hormones – Studies suggest acupuncture can influence FSH, LH, oestrogen, and progesterone levels to create a more balanced hormonal environment.²

  • Reducing stress and cortisol levels – Proven to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, helping the body manage the emotional and physical demands of fertility treatment.³

  • Enhancing egg and sperm quality – Evidence suggests acupuncture can support mitochondrial function and reduce oxidative stress, benefiting both egg and sperm health.⁴

  • Improving endometrial receptivity – Research indicates acupuncture may help thicken the uterine lining and improve embryo implantation rates.⁵

  • Supporting embryo transfer – Clinical trials show acupuncture before and after embryo transfer may help reduce uterine contractions and support early pregnancy.⁶

Research suggests that working with acupuncture and/or herbal medicine for at least 3 months before starting ART can provide the most benefit, allowing time to regulate cycles, improve egg and sperm quality, and prepare the body for a successful treatment cycle.⁷

I have extensive experience working with complex fertility cases, including low ovarian reserve, poor egg quality, endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS, anovulation, recurrent miscarriage, reproductive immunology, and thyroid imbalances. I also collaborate with a network of specialists, ensuring you receive the most comprehensive care possible.

Whether you are preparing for IVF, frozen embryo transfer (FET), IUI, or donor conception, my goal is to support each stage of your treatment, helping to reduce stress, enhance implantation, and improve your chances of success.

References:

  1. Stener-Victorin E, Waldenström U, Tagnfors U, Lundeberg T, Lindstedt G, Janson PO. (1996). Electro-acupuncture and blood flow in the uterine arteries of infertile women. Human Reproduction, 11(6), 1314–1317.

  2. Lim CE, Wong WS. (2010). Current evidence of acupuncture on polycystic ovarian syndrome. Gynecological Endocrinology, 26(6), 473-478.

  3. Stener-Victorin E, Jedel E, Saartok T, Widén C, Bergh C. (2009). Acupuncture in polycystic ovary syndrome: current experimental and clinical evidence. The American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, 297(3), E552–E561.

  4. Magarelli PC, Cridennda DK, Cohen M. (2009). Changes in serum cortisol and prolactin associated with acupuncture during IVF. Fertility and Sterility, 92(6), 1870-1879.

  5. Zhang Y, Ma Y, Peng W, Gao X, Qin Z. (2018). Effects of acupuncture on endometrial receptivity in infertile women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018, 1-12.

  6. Paulus WE, Zhang M, Strehler E, El-Danasouri I, Sterzik K. (2002). Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy. Fertility and Sterility, 77(4), 721-724.

  7. Bentov Y, Yavorska T, Esfandiari N, Jurisicova A, Casper RF. (2010). The use of supplements to improve oocyte quality. Fertility and Sterility, 93(3), 793-795.