Again, there is no one answer to this question, as it very much depends on the individual. The focus of treatment would be different for someone who has a thin endometrium compared to someone else who has a short luteal phase. The aim of acupuncture is to create balance in your body and to support your entire reproductive system, so a one-off treatment for fertility is not really recommended. A course of treatment is a like laying a foundation where each treatment builds on the last.

By guiding the body back into balance, acupuncture treatment may help:

• Regulate the menstrual cycle and encourage regular, ovulatory cycles

• Support ovarian function and help improve egg quality

• Improve blood flow to the uterus and ovaries

• Increase the thickness and quality of the endometrial lining

• Support a healthy luteal phase

• Encourage healthy embryo implantation

• Support and regulate the immune system

• Reduce the chance of miscarriage

• Regulate hormones

• Reduce stress and anxiety

Acupuncture may help you to conceive because it brings the body back into alignment, both physically and emotionally. Studies also show it reduces stress, increases blood flow to the reproductive organs and helps to balance the endocrine system.

 In the same way as acupuncture may benefit natural fertility, it may benefit patients alongside all Assisted Fertility Techniques, including

• stimulated cycles

• IUI

• IVF

• ICSI

• Frozen Embryo Transfer

• Egg donation

• Sperm donation

Current research supports the findings that acupuncture during an IVF or ICSI cycle (long or short protocol) – with increased frequency during ovarian stimulation and at the time of transfer – can have a statistically positive treatment effect on clinical pregnancy and live birth rate. 

• During Stimulation 

During the IVF/ICSI cycle itself I would recommend you have treatment once a week from the start of down regulation. Once you start the stimulation phase, I recommend you continue treatment once a week, unless the endometrium is thin (ideally it should be >7.5mm in thickness and triple layer), in which case I would recommend treatment twice a week. 

• Pre and Post Collection 

I like to see my patients pre and post collection. Pre collection to give the follicles a final boost and promote emotional wellbeing as it can be a stressful time. Then another treatment immediately after collection when my focus turns to preparing the endometrium for transfer.   

• Pre and Post Transfer

I highly recommend you have acupuncture immediately pre and post transfer. 

There are numerous studies which show that having acupuncture treatment pre and post transfer increases the pregnancy success rate. One study found 

• a pregnancy rate of 42.5% in the group of women who receive acupuncture before and after IVF

• a pregnancy rate of 26.3% in women who simply underwent IVF and had no acupuncture 

The efficacy of acupuncture alongside IVF is further supported by the fact that more and more fertility clinics advocate the use of acupuncture alongside assisted fertility treatment, with some now having in-house acupuncturists.