Why Fertility Patients Use Acupuncture
Trying to conceive can be one of the most demanding experiences a couple faces.
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Whether you are trying naturally, preparing for IVF, or navigating a complex fertility diagnosis, many patients look for additional ways to support their health.
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) have been used in reproductive care for thousands of years. They are now among the most commonly used complementary therapies by patients undergoing assisted reproductive treatment.
Researchers have examined whether acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine may help support:
- Ovulation and menstrual cycle regularity
- Blood flow to the uterus and ovaries
- Endometrial development and receptivity
- Hormonal balance
- Stress and anxiety during fertility treatment
- Egg quality and embryo development
- Sperm quality and male fertility
- IVF treatment outcomes
The overall picture from research is encouraging. But results vary between studies, and more rigorous trials are still needed.
What the Evidence Is Really Showing
Many articles about acupuncture and IVF ask a single question: does acupuncture on embryo transfer day improve pregnancy rates?
That question may actually be too narrow.
Fertility is influenced by a combination of factors. These include egg quality, sperm quality, ovulation, hormonal balance, endometrial development, stress levels, and overall health before conception.
Most of these factors take weeks or months to shift – not days.
This may explain why research consistently reports stronger results when acupuncture and Chinese medicine are used throughout fertility treatment, rather than only around the time of transfer.
It also highlights a critical gap in earlier studies. Many trials used only two sessions: one before and one after embryo transfer.
Researchers have since concluded that two to three acupuncture sessions performed only on or around the day of embryo transfer are insufficient interventions to improve IVF birth outcomes – though they do provide significant stress reduction. [PubMed]
The evidence increasingly points toward ongoing, well-timed treatment as the model that produces meaningful results.
The Missing Piece: Timing and Dosage
One of the most practically useful findings in recent fertility research is one that rarely appears on clinic websites.
- Egg development begins approximately 3~4 months before ovulation.
- Sperm production takes around 70~90 days.
This means the health of an egg or sperm today reflects what was happening in the body several months ago.
For this reason, fertility specialists generally recommend that preconception preparation begin well before a planned IVF cycle – not in the final days before transfer.
Newer research suggests acupuncture may be more beneficial when performed as a series of treatments rather than as a single session. A 2024 meta-analysis focused specifically on timing found that acupuncture administered before frozen embryo transfer was associated with significantly improved pregnancy and live birth rates. [Pubmed]
At Almond Wellness Centre, we discuss treatment timing with each patient individually. Some patients begin with us 3~4 before a planned cycle. Others come during active IVF treatment. Both approaches have value – but earlier preparation consistently allows for a more complete and individualised program.
Acupuncture, Stress and the Fertility Hormone Connection
This is an area the research has developed substantially – and one that deserves more attention than it typically receives.
IVF is not only physically demanding. It is psychologically intense, often across multiple cycles, with no certainty of outcome.
A 2024 systematic review found that:
- Associated stress with poorer IVF outcomes.
- The egg retrieval stage appeared most affected by both chronic and acute stress.
- Chronic stress also showed a possible association with fertilisation and embryo transfer outcomes.
The mechanism is physiological, not merely psychological.
Chronic stress influences cortisol and other hormones that play a role in reproductive function. Research has shown that anxiety is associated with both pregnancy rate and live birth rate in IVF patients, an effect partly mediated by the stress-hormone system.
When infertility-related stress is higher, IVF success rates are lower.
Acupuncture has been shown to modulate the autonomic nervous system and regulate the HPA axis – the body’s primary stress-response pathway – which in turn influences cortisol and reproductive hormones. [ScienceDirect]
A 2025 study published in Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health found that even a single session of whole-systems TCM during an IVF cycle produced meaningful improvements in patient-reported outcomes. Patients reported average reductions of more than two points in both stress and anxiety scores, measured before and immediately after treatment.
Acupuncture’s documented effect on stress and anxiety during IVF is a benefit in its own right – independent of its direct reproductive effects.
Acupuncture Chinese Herbal Medicine and IVF Outcomes
A 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis found that acupuncture may improve pregnancy outcomes for some women undergoing IVF, particularly those who had experienced previous unsuccessful cycles. Researchers also noted that treatment frequency appeared to influence results.
A large retrospective study published in Reproductive Biomedicine Online reviewed more than 1,200 IVF cycles. Women receiving a whole-systems TCM approach – combining acupuncture, herbal medicine, and lifestyle support – achieved higher live birth rates than those receiving IVF alone or transfer-day acupuncture only.
A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis registered in PROSPERO, searching eleven databases and including participants from five continents, evaluated the effectiveness of East Asian traditional medicine in improving clinical pregnancy and live birth outcomes in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology. Findings supported the potential role of integrated TCM care alongside ART.
A randomised controlled trial also found that combining Chinese herbal medicine with IVF and embryo transfer improved endometrial thickness, embryo quality, and overall pregnancy outcomes.
Although these findings are encouraging, the field continues to call for larger, well-designed trials. Earlier studies were limited by small sample sizes, variable treatment protocols, and difficulties designing appropriate controls for acupuncture research. More recent work is methodologically stronger.
Chinese Herbal Medicine for Female Fertility
Chinese herbal medicine is a distinct component of TCM, frequently used alongside acupuncture to support reproductive health.
A large meta-analysis involving more than 4,000 women found that Chinese herbal medicine was associated with improved pregnancy rates over three to six months, compared with some conventional fertility medications. The review also reported improvements in ovulation, endometrial thickness, and cervical mucus quality.
Research has also examined TCM for women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) – a condition characterised by reduced ovarian function and fewer available eggs. A 2025 systematic review reported improvements in FSH levels and antral follicle count, suggesting potential benefits for ovarian response.
Acupuncture for PCOS
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is among the most common causes of ovulatory infertility.
Research suggests acupuncture may help improve:
- Menstrual cycle regularity
- Ovulation frequency
- Hormonal balance and metabolic function
- Fertility outcomes when combined with medical treatment
A 2017 systematic review found that acupuncture may improve ovulation rates in women with PCOS, particularly alongside conventional treatment. A further randomised controlled trial found that combining acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine with letrozole therapy produced better ovulation and pregnancy outcomes than letrozole alone.
The current evidence base for PCOS is rated low-to-moderate quality. Larger trials are ongoing. For patients with PCOS preparing for IVF or trying naturally, acupuncture may be a useful adjunct to medical care – particularly given its well-documented effects on hormonal regulation and stress.
Acupuncture and Endometrial Receptivity
Successful implantation requires a healthy, well-vascularised uterine lining at the right stage of development.
A 2019 systematic review found that acupuncture was associated with statistically significant improvements in endometrial receptivity among women with implantation difficulties.
More recent research has demonstrated that acupuncture combined with moxibustion may influence oestrogen levels on the day of hCG administration, improve high-quality embryo rates, and enhance endometrial blood flow and morphology. The research also suggests that acupuncture may exert a bidirectional regulatory effect on hormone levels – helping to correct both deficiency and excess depending on the patient’s presentation. This is consistent with TCM’s individualised, pattern-based approach to treatment.
Acupuncture and Hormonal Health
Hormonal balance plays a central role in fertility.
A comprehensive review of both human and animal studies found that acupuncture may influence several reproductive hormones, including FSH, LH, oestrogen, progesterone, and prolactin. Researchers proposed that acupuncture’s effects may involve the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis – the communication pathway between the brain and the reproductive system. This provides a plausible biological mechanism for the menstrual cycle improvements and ovulation changes observed across multiple studies.
Sleep, Circadian Rhythms and Reproductive Health
This is an emerging research area that receives far too little attention in fertility discussions.
Reproductive hormones do not operate independently. They are deeply linked to the body’s internal clock.
Poor sleep quality, shift work, chronic stress, irregular bedtimes, and circadian disruption may influence:
- Hormonal regulation
- Ovulation
- Egg quality
- Sperm production
- Metabolic health
- IVF outcomes
Research has increasingly examined the relationship between circadian health and IVF outcomes. Disruption to sleep-wake cycles and cortisol rhythms is associated with poorer hormonal regulation and reduced reproductive function.
Evidence suggests that sleep habits and quality can affect IVF outcomes like clinical pregnancy and live birth rates.
Acupuncture is often recognised for its stress-reduction effects. But this may be only part of its contribution.
By supporting nervous system regulation, reducing sympathetic overdrive, and promoting improved sleep quality, acupuncture may indirectly influence several biological systems relevant to fertility.
This is an area we expect to see receive considerably more research attention in the coming years.
Male Fertility and TCM
Male factors contribute to approximately half of all infertility cases.
Yet fertility conversations still frequently focus on women alone.
Research examining Traditional Chinese Medicine for male fertility has reported improvements in:
- Sperm concentration
- Sperm motility
- Sperm morphology
- Overall semen quality
One study found that more than 92% of male patients treated with TCM showed improvements in semen parameters. Another study found that more than 70% of male infertility patients had partners who conceived naturally within a year of completing treatment.
Research has also examined specific natural compounds. A systematic review on garlic (Allium sativum) suggested antioxidant effects that may support sperm health, testosterone levels, and testicular function.
Fertility is a couple’s issue – not solely a woman’s issue. At Almond Wellness Centre, we treat both partners where appropriate, addressing male reproductive health as part of a shared fertility program.
An Honest Assessment: What TCM Can and Cannot Do
Most fertility information pages present only positive findings.
We prefer to be direct.
The research on acupuncture and TCM for fertility is encouraging. But it is not uniformly positive. Some well-designed studies have found no significant improvement in IVF pregnancy rates. Others have found benefits that diminish when methodology improves. The field is still maturing.
What the research does support, with reasonable consistency:
- Acupuncture appears safe when administered by a qualified practitioner
- It has documented effects on stress and anxiety during IVF treatment
- Treatment timing and dosage matter — brief or single-session protocols are likely insufficient
- Whole-systems TCM (acupuncture, herbal medicine, and lifestyle support together) appears more effective than acupuncture alone
- Benefits may be most pronounced for patients with PCOS, poor endometrial development, or a history of unsuccessful IVF cycles
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are best understood as adjunctive. They support and complement medical fertility care. They do not replace it.
All clinical claims made on this page are expressed as potential or possible benefits only, consistent with available evidence. Acupuncture and TCM are complementary to, not a replacement for, the care of your medical fertility team. Individual outcomes vary. We encourage all patients to discuss complementary therapies with their treating specialist.
At Almond Wellness Centre, treatment is individually tailored to your health history, fertility goals, and medical care plan. We welcome patients who are trying to conceive naturally, preparing for IVF, or who have experienced previous unsuccessful treatment cycles.
To discuss how acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine may support your fertility journey, book a consultation at our Coburg or Ringwood clinics.
FAQ
Does acupuncture improve IVF success rates?
Recent research suggests acupuncture may improve IVF outcomes, particularly when provided as part of a structured treatment program rather than a single treatment around embryo transfer.
A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis involving 25 randomised controlled trials and 4,757 women found that clinical pregnancy rates were significantly higher in acupuncture groups (43.6%) compared with control groups (33.2%). Live birth rates were also significantly higher in acupuncture groups (38.0%) compared with control groups (28.7%).
Researchers found positive effects across several acupuncture methods, including manual acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and transcutaneous acupoint electrical stimulation.
Earlier research has also reported benefits. A 2019 systematic review found acupuncture may improve pregnancy outcomes for some women undergoing IVF, particularly those with previous unsuccessful treatment cycles.
A large retrospective study involving more than 1,200 IVF cycles reported that women receiving a whole-systems Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approach, including acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and lifestyle support, achieved higher live birth rates than women receiving IVF alone or transfer-day acupuncture only.
While these findings are encouraging, researchers continue to call for larger, high-quality studies and standardised treatment protocols.
References: Xu et al. (2024); Xie et al. (2019); Hullender Rubin et al. (2015).
When should I start acupuncture before IVF?
Recent research suggests that timing may be one of the most important factors influencing outcomes.
Egg development begins approximately three to four months before ovulation, while sperm production takes around seventy to ninety days.
A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis involving 38 randomised controlled trials and nearly 6,000 women found that acupuncture timing significantly influenced IVF outcomes.
For fresh IVF cycles, acupuncture performed during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) was associated with improved clinical pregnancy rates. Acupuncture provided only on embryo transfer day did not demonstrate the same reproductive benefits.
For frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles, acupuncture administered before embryo transfer was associated with significantly improved clinical pregnancy rates and live birth rates.
The same review also found that higher treatment dosages were associated with better outcomes than lower treatment frequencies.
These findings support the idea that acupuncture may be more beneficial when started before IVF treatment rather than only around embryo transfer.
References: Wang et al. (2024); Xu et al. (2024).
Can acupuncture improve endometrial receptivity?
Recent research suggests acupuncture may support several biological processes involved in endometrial receptivity.
A 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis found statistically significant improvements in endometrial receptivity among women with implantation difficulties.
A 2025 literature review published in Frontiers in Physiology concluded that acupuncture may improve endometrial receptivity through multiple mechanisms, including:
• Improving endometrial morphology
• Increasing uterine blood flow
• Regulating reproductive hormones
• Influencing molecular markers involved in implantation
• Modulating the immune-inflammatory environment of the endometrium
• Potentially activating neurophysiological pathways involved in reproductive regulation
A randomised controlled trial examining women undergoing IVF found that acupuncture significantly improved several measures of endometrial blood flow compared with sham acupuncture, suggesting a possible mechanism through which acupuncture may support implantation.
The authors concluded that acupuncture may be a useful complementary therapy for women with reduced endometrial receptivity, although larger studies are still needed.
References: Zhang et al. (2025); Qian et al. (2019); Dong et al. (2023).
Can acupuncture reduce stress during IVF?
Yes. This is one of the most consistent findings in fertility acupuncture research.
Stress, anxiety, and emotional burden are common during fertility treatment and have been associated with poorer IVF outcomes in some studies.
Acupuncture has been shown to influence the autonomic nervous system and regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which plays a key role in the body’s stress response.
A 2025 study examining Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine (WS-TCM) during IVF reviewed 1,896 treatments associated with 202 embryo transfers. Researchers found clinically meaningful reductions in:
• Stress (average reduction of 2.11 points)
• Anxiety (average reduction of 2.22 points)
• Pain (average reduction of 1.38 points)
Importantly, these improvements were observed after a single treatment session.
Researchers concluded that WS-TCM may improve patient experience during IVF and provide valuable support for the psychosocial challenges commonly associated with fertility treatment.
References: Lu et al. (2025); studies examining HPA-axis regulation and fertility-related stress.
How many acupuncture treatments are recommended before IVF?
Research increasingly suggests that treatment dosage matters.
A 2024 meta-analysis involving 38 randomised controlled trials found that while improvements in clinical pregnancy rates occurred across different treatment frequencies, significant improvements in live birth rates were primarily observed in higher-dose acupuncture protocols.
The same study found that ongoing treatment during key stages of IVF appeared more beneficial than isolated treatments performed only on embryo transfer day.
This supports the growing view that fertility acupuncture may work best as a series of treatments delivered over time rather than as a single intervention.
Because fertility diagnoses, IVF protocols, and patient circumstances differ, treatment plans should always be individualised.
References: Wang et al. (2024); Xu et al. (2024).
Read more
Why Most Acupuncture Researches are Low Quality
References
Acupuncture and IVF Outcomes
Xie Z, Peng Z, Yao B, et al. The effects of acupuncture on pregnancy outcomes of in vitro fertilization: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019;19(1):131. doi:10.1186/s12906-019-2523-7
Hullender Rubin LE, Opsahl MS, Wiemer K, Mist SD, Caughey AB. Impact of whole systems traditional Chinese medicine on in vitro fertilization outcomes. Reprod Biomed Online. 2015;30(6):602–612. doi:10.1016/j.rbmo.2015.02.005
Guo J, Li D, Liu C, Ji X, Li R, Du X. Effects of Chinese herbs combined with in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer on infertility: a clinical randomized controlled trial. J Tradit Chin Med. 2014;34(3):267–273. doi:10.1016/s0254-6272(14)60089-3
Chinese Herbal Medicine for Female Fertility
Ried K. Chinese herbal medicine for female infertility: an updated meta-analysis. Complement Ther Med. 2015;23(1):11–22. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2014.12.004
Xia T, Ma RH, Mu W, et al. Traditional Chinese medicine for diminished ovarian reserve: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Tradit Chin Med. 2014. doi:10.1016/S1674-6384(14)60014-9
Acupuncture for PCOS
Jo J, Lee YJ, Lee H. Acupuncture for polycystic ovarian syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(23):e7066. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000007066
Yin Y, Zhang Y, Zhang H, Jiang D, Guo G. Clinical therapeutic effects of acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal medicine on infertility of polycystic ovary syndrome with letrozole induction. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2018;38(1):27–32. doi:10.13703/j.0255-2930.2018.01.006
Acupuncture and Endometrial Receptivity
Qian Y, et al. Acupuncture in improving endometrial receptivity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019;19(1):61. doi:10.1186/s12906-019-2472-1
Zhang S, He H, Wang J, et al. Acupuncture as an adjunct therapy for enhancing endometrial receptivity in female infertility: a literature review. Front Physiol. 2025;16:1548737. doi:10.3389/fphys.2025.1548737
Dong H, Wu X, Zhou Q, et al. Effect of acupuncture on endometrial blood flow in women undergoing IVF-ET: a randomized controlled trial. J Integr Med. 2023–2024. doi:10.1007/s11655-023-3731-4
Acupuncture and Hormonal Balance
Ko JH, Kim SN. A literature review of women’s sex hormone changes by acupuncture treatment: analysis of human and animal studies. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018;2018:3752723. doi:10.1155/2018/3752723
Male Fertility and TCM
Jo J, Jerng UM. The effects of traditional Korean medicine in infertile male patients with poor semen quality: a retrospective study. Eur J Integr Med. 2016. doi:10.1016/j.eujim.2016.01.007
Musavi H, Tabnak M, Alaei Sheini F, et al. Effect of garlic (Allium sativum) on male fertility: a systematic review. J Herbmed Pharmacol. 2018;7(4):306–312. doi:10.15171/jhp.2018.46
Acupuncture Timing, Dose & IVF Outcomes (Recent Evidence)
Wang X, Xu H, Wang Q, Zhu X, Zeng Y, Huang L, Feng X, Chen S. The timing and dose effect of acupuncture on pregnancy outcomes for IVF-ET: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Integr Complement Med. 2024;30(11):1031–1046. doi:10.1089/jicm.2023.0478
Xu M, Zhu M, Zheng C. Effects of acupuncture on IVF outcomes: updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2024;309(3):775–788. doi:10.1007/s00404-023-07142-1
Wang Y, Ji J, Duan N, Yin Y. Acupuncture as adjunct therapy around embryo transfer: systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Reprod Health. 2025;7:1673144. doi:10.3389/frph.2025.1673144
Whole Systems TCM & Clinical Outcomes
Lu R, Rodgers-Melnick SN, Kaiser CM, et al. Clinical delivery of whole systems Traditional Chinese Medicine and impacts upon patient-reported outcomes during IVF. Glob Adv Integr Med Health. 2025;14:27536130251349116. doi:10.1177/27536130251349116