Acupuncture for IVF

What is fertility acupuncture?

Fertility acupuncture involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body with the aim of increasing the chance of conception.

• Acupuncture is a type of complementary medicine which was originally part of traditional Chinese medicine (sometimes called TCM).
• Acupuncture involves the insertion of thin needles into specific points on the body, known as acupuncture points.
• Acupuncture needles can be stimulated manually (movement by the acupuncturist) or with a small electric current, known as electro‐acupuncture.
• Traditional acupuncture is based on the concept of “Qi” flowing through channel pathways in the body. The existence of Qi has not been proven scientifically.
• Acupuncture has been shown to release natural substances into the body, such as endorphins, which induce relaxation and relieve stress and pain.
• Fertility acupuncture is a broad term including acupuncture aimed at regulating menstrual cycles, improving blood flow to reproductive organs, and improving semen quality in men. The below information focusses on fertility acupuncture performed on the female IVF patient.

This IVF option refers to the use of traditional acupuncture with needles performed on the female IVF patient. It does not include acupuncture using acupressure, laser or electrical pulses (transcutaneous electrical acupuncture stimulation) or acupuncture aimed at improving sperm count or motility.

Why might fertility acupuncture improve IVF outcomes?

• Acupuncture may increase blood flow to reproductive organs including the lining of the uterus (endometrium) and the ovaries.
• Some research suggests that acupuncture can affect hormones related to fertility, which could help with things like making menstrual cycles more regular.
• IVF can be a stressful experience. Acupuncture during fertility treatment may reduce stress and anxiety levels, helping people to feel more relaxed and improving mental and physical health.

Why might fertility acupuncture not improve IVF outcomes?

• The existence of Qi and energy pathways in the body have not been proven scientifically.
• Benefits from acupuncture on feelings of stress may be due to the relaxing experience that accompanies an acupuncture treatment session – like the experience of receiving a massage. These benefits may not actually be related to the acupuncture itself.
• While acupuncture may increase blood flow and promote relaxation, this does not necessarily mean it will improve your chances of becoming pregnant.
• It is important to remember that most embryo transfers don’t result in pregnancy. Most of the time when embryos fail to implant it is due to genetic or chromosomal problems in the embryo itself, rather than issues with the endometrial lining or general health of the patient. Therefore, acupuncture may not be expected to make much difference to the chance of successful implantation.

Who might consider fertility acupuncture for IVF?

Anyone having IVF can consider using acupuncture

Learn more about common IVF issues and challenges

Does acupuncture for IVF work? What the evidence says

Acupuncture doesn’t seem to make a difference to the chance of getting pregnant or having a baby from IVF. The evidence is judged as low quality, as although many trials were available, they often reported conflicting results and the combined result from multiple studies was imprecise.

Side effects of acupuncture

Acupuncture can cause the following mild, short-term side effects in some people:

• pain where the needles puncture the skin
• bleeding or bruising where the needles puncture the skin
• drowsiness
• feeling sick
• feeling dizzy or faint.

Serious side effects are rare. Remember that all medical procedures carry some risk.

Risks of acupuncture and long-term outcomes

There are no known risks or long-term harms from fertility acupuncture.

• This is based on data from randomised controlled trials and input from IVF specialists. Possible risks of harm and long-term outcomes are often not reported in randomised trials and therefore it is unknown whether acupuncture poses any risk of harm to the IVF patient or the embryo/baby.

Acupuncture has been used during IVF in Australia since around 2008, and approximately 500,000 IVF cycles have used acupuncture.

Cost of acupuncture for IVF

A single fertility acupuncture session costs about $50-$150 AUD. Often, multiple acupuncture sessions may be scheduled for different time-points in an IVF or embryo transfer cycle. For patients having five sessions, the cost of acupuncture can be about $500 AUD.

Cost information is indicative only, costs can vary from clinic to clinic and depending on different circumstances.

Practical considerations about fertility acupuncture

Fertility acupuncture points

Fertility acupuncture is often suggested to be performed at multiple time-points in relation to an IVF cycle, such as: before starting IVF medication, during IVF stimulation, near the time of egg collection, on the day of embryo transfer, and after embryo transfer.

In a typical session, between 5-20 needles are inserted at various points in the body. These thin needles are typically left in place for a short period of time (20-30 minutes).

If you have a bleeding disorder, such as haemophilia, or are taking any medicines such as anticoagulant medicine, talk to your GP or acupuncture practitioner before you have acupuncture.

Acupuncture should be performed by a qualified practitioner. You should check that your acupuncture practitioner is either a regulated healthcare professional such as a doctor, nurse or physiotherapist or registered as Chinese Medicine Practitioner with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Unsure about some of the terms we have used? Use our glossary to understand scientific or unfamiliar terms.