Acupuncture During IVF

Acupuncture during an IVF cycle helps prepare the body for egg retrieval and/or embryo transfer, as well as helps with unwanted side effects from fertility medications, stress, and anxiety. Recent studies are showing that we want 10 treatments leading up to retrieval or transfer for the best outcome. However, other studies show that as little as 4 treatments can still have a positive impact on pregnancy success rates.

During your initial consult, we’ll go over your fertility and health history so I can create your Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnosis, which will be used to create your treatment plan and pick your acupuncture points*. For female partners (and patients with a uterus) I’ll also approach your treatment from a Western perspective and use points to increase blood flow to the uterine artery to better nourish the ovaries and uterus (for egg retrieval or embryo transfer, respectively). And since fertility treatments can be stressful, we’ll also work to reduce stress and anxiety and support sleep and overall well-being during your treatments.

For male partners and patients with testes, we work on similar things, such as increasing blood flow to the pelvis to support the healthy formation of sperm, reducing stress and anxiety, and supporting sleep and overall well-being. Acupuncture is recommended for partners that have abnormal semen parameters, or even partners that have “normal” sperm, but are on the low end of normal for one or multiple categories (count, motility, morphology, etc.).

Acupuncture Frequency during IVF Cycles (Female Patients & Patients with a Uterus)

1-2 months leading up to beginning fertility medications

• Acupuncture 1x/week

While on stimulating meds (these are the medications to prep you for egg retrieval).

• Acupuncture 2x/week

After egg retrieval

• Acupuncture 1x/week while prepping for embryo transfer

1-2 months before embryo transfer

• Acupuncture 1x/week

Week of embryo transfer

• Acupuncture 1 x before transfer, within 24 hours (this treatment is frequently performed the day before embryo transfer).

After frozen embryo transfer

• 1 treatment while waiting for blood work to confirm pregnancy
• Wait 5 days after transfer before returning for acupuncture

After fresh embryo transfer

• 2 acupuncture treatments are recommended:
  • Acupuncture within 2 days of transfer
  • Acupuncture 6+ days after transfer

Acupuncture Frequency during IVF Cycles (Male Patients & Patients with Testes)**

2-3 months before egg retrieval

• Acupuncture 1x/week

After egg retrieval

• Moving forward with the transfer, no more fertility treatment for male partners is necessary. 
• Patients with pregnant partners no longer require fertility acupuncture treatments but are welcome to continue acupuncture for overall health and wellness. (Once you’re a patient, you’re always welcome at my clinic!)

Prepping for several consecutive egg retrievals

• Acupuncture 1x/week until the last egg retrieval is performed

*Treatment plans will be sent to the patient within 2 business days of their consult and will include dietary, supplement, acupuncture, and lifestyle modifications. Please note that we do not recommend Chinese herbal medicine for female patients undergoing IVF unless Misty and your doctor have discussed and agreed on its use for your cycle.

**If both the male and female partner are seeking acupuncture treatment, they will each need to make their own IVF Consult + Acupuncture appointment. Treatment plans will be sent to the patient within 2 business days of their consult and will include dietary, supplement, acupuncture, herbal, and lifestyle modifications. (Male patients are able to take Chinese herbal medicine while prepping for IVF cycles.)