Fertility & IVF Acupuncture Support
This page offers an overview of fertility, infertility, and how acupuncture may be used to support people who are trying to conceive, either naturally or alongside assisted fertility treatment, including in vitro fertilisation (IVF), depending on individual circumstances.
Overview of Fertility Acupuncture
Acupuncture offers supportive care for fertility by focusing on the whole person rather than a single symptom. Treatment aims to optimise hormonal regulation, circulation, nervous system balance, sleep, digestion, and stress physiology. Fertility is influenced by many interconnected factors, and care is tailored accordingly.
Fertility care is part of women’s health.
In practice, fertility is closely connected to menstrual health, hormonal balance, emotional wellbeing, sleep, digestion, and stress regulation. You can read more about how we support women’s health as a whole here.
What is Infertility?
The World Health Organisation defines infertility as a disease of the male or female reproductive system. It is characterised by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. This definition is used to guide clinical assessment and access to appropriate support.
Common causes of Infertility
Fertility treatment is increasingly common, particularly for people navigating age-related or medically complex fertility journeys. Infertility may be influenced by a range of factors, including:
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Unexplained infertility (approximately 25%)
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Ovulatory disorders, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (around 25%)
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Tubal damage (approximately 20%)
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Male factor infertility (around 30%)
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Uterine or peritoneal factors, including fibroids, polyps, or endometriosis
In some cases, acupuncture is used to support natural conception, particularly where factors such as cycle irregularity, ovulatory dysfunction, stress physiology, sleep disturbance, or general health may be influencing fertility. Care is individualised and based on the wider clinical picture.
IVF statistics in the UK and supportive care
Around 80% of couples conceive within one year of trying, and 90–95% within two years if under the age of 35. NHS guidance recommends seeking fertility support after 12 months of trying, or after six months if over the age of 35 or where known conditions may affect fertility. In 2023, approximately 52,400 patients underwent fertility treatment in the UK, accounting for more than 77,500 IVF cycles. Around one in every 32 births in the UK now occurs following IVF.
IVF treatment in the UK includes both NHS-funded and privately funded care. Recent figures indicate that:
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Over 55,000 patients underwent IVF or donor insemination
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More than 76,000 IVF cycles (including fresh and frozen embryo transfer) were carried out
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Approximately 63% of IVF treatment is privately funded
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An estimated 20–45% of patients use acupuncture alongside IVF
Research over the past two decades has increasingly explored how acupuncture may be used alongside medical fertility treatment as a form of supportive care.
For many people, fertility treatment is both physically demanding and emotionally complex.
Acupuncture and IVF: why supportive care matters
Acupuncture does not replace fertility treatment. Instead, it is used alongside medical care as a form of supportive treatment, with the aim of supporting the wider physiological and emotional factors involved in fertility.
Support may include:
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Regulation of menstrual cycles and hormonal signalling
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Support for uterine and ovarian blood flow
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Support for egg and sperm quality
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Nervous system regulation and stress physiology
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Support during implantation and early pregnancy
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Education, preparation, and realistic expectation-setting
How Acupuncture is used alongside medical fertility treatment
A recent meta-analysis published in the Archives of Gynaecology and Obstetrics examined the use of acupuncture alongside IVF treatment. The analysis reported the following associations:
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Live birth rate: 38% with acupuncture compared to 28.7% without
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Pregnancy rate: 43.6% with acupuncture compared to 33.2% without
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Overall, acupuncture was associated with a 33.8% increase in live birth rates
Acupuncture was evaluated as an adjunct to medical fertility treatment and not as a replacement for IVF.
Why patients choose Acupuncture alongside IVF
For many people, acupuncture offers a form of continuity and support during fertility treatment. IVF cycles can be structured, time-limited, and clinically focused. Acupuncture sessions provide regular, individualised care alongside this process.
Egg maturation takes approximately 80–90 days, which means support is often considered in the months leading up to treatment as well as during IVF cycles themselves. Acupuncture may be integrated before, during, and after IVF, depending on individual timelines and clinical circumstances.
Weekly sessions offer the most consistent support, although fortnightly sessions may still be beneficial. Care is adapted over time and is often accompanied by guidance around sleep, stress management, and lifestyle factors where appropriate.
Who this care is for
This approach may be suitable for people trying to conceive naturally, those preparing for IVF, individuals currently undergoing fertility treatment, and those seeking additional physical and emotional support alongside medical care.
Appointments are tailored to individual circumstances and offered alongside medical care where appropriate.