Acupuncture and IVF: What the Scientific Evidence Says in 2025
When a couple starts trying to conceive and things don’t happen as quickly as expected, it is common to feel frustration, anxiety, and sometimes the sense that something isn’t working quite right in the body.
Traditional Chinese Medicine has supported women in this process for thousands of years, and current scientific evidence is beginning to confirm what tradition already knew: acupuncture can be a very useful tool, whether you are trying to conceive naturally or undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).
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How does Traditional Chinese Medicine view fertility?
In TCM, fertility depends on a delicate balance between three systems: the Kidney, which stores essence (what in the West we would call ovarian reserve and the quality of eggs and sperm); the Liver, which ensures the free flow of Qi and Blood (Xue) to the uterus and ovaries; and the Spleen, which produces the energy needed to sustain a pregnancy from the very beginning.
When any of these three systems weakens, or when there is stagnation, coldness in the uterus, or an excess of dampness and phlegm, fertility suffers. Acupuncture acts precisely here: it regulates these systems, improves the quality of the uterine environment, and supports implantation.
What does the scientific evidence say?
A systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2024 in the Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine—which pooled data from multiple clinical trials on acupuncture and in vitro fertilization—concluded that acupuncture significantly improves clinical pregnancy and live birth rates in women undergoing IVF, particularly when administered at the appropriate stage of the cycle and over a sufficient number of sessions.
Another recent meta-analysis published in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2024), focusing on women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing IVF, found that acupuncture improves implantation rates and reduces the incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.
Additionally, an updated review incorporating trial sequential analysis (2025) reinforces the view that acupuncture is an effective and safe complement to assisted reproductive treatments.
How can acupuncture help you if you are trying to conceive?
Regulates the menstrual cycle and promotes regular ovulation.
Reduces cortisol levels and anxiety associated with the process.
Support for IVF and artificial insemination treatments
Improves endometrial quality.
Balances hormones in cases of PCOS.
Reduces side effects of hormonal medication.
Increases blood flow to the uterus and ovaries.
Improves sperm quality in men.
Acupuncture and in vitro fertilization: when to start?
Ideally, acupuncture treatment should begin between two and three months before starting the IVF cycle. This timeframe allows for regulating the cycle, improving endometrial quality, balancing the nervous system, and preparing the body for stimulation medications.
Subsequently, it is recommended to continue with sessions during the stimulation phase, before and after embryo transfer, and during the initial weeks of implantation. Each phase has its own objective and specific selection of acupuncture points.
What if we are trying to conceive naturally?
Acupuncture works just as well in this case. In fact, many natural pregnancies are achieved after regulating the cycle, improving egg quality, balancing hormones, and reducing stress—which is often unknowingly blocking ovulation.
In these cases, we also tend to work with the partner, since around 40% of fertility issues involve a male factor. Acupuncture improves semen parameters such as motility, concentration, and sperm morphology.
What to expect from a session?
Every individual is unique, but clinical experience shows that a serious fertility treatment using acupuncture typically requires between 12 and 24 sessions—scheduled once or twice a week—ideally combined with Chinese herbal medicine and recommendations regarding diet and lifestyle.
Most women begin to notice changes within the first 4 to 6 weeks: more regular cycles, reduced menstrual pain, better sleep quality, and lower anxiety levels. Improvements in fertility tend to be the last changes to appear, but they do come.
Take the first step
If you have been trying to conceive for some time or are about to start assisted reproduction treatment, a free initial information session at Kan & Li can help you understand what is happening in your body and what acupuncture can do for you.
