Fertility Acupuncture

At Austin Acupuncture Studio your fertility acupuncture treatment plan will include the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture, dietary and lifestyle changes to help regulate and balance hormones. This process allows us to regulate ovulation, increase progesterone, improve circulation to the pelvis, normalize cycles and periods, and improve semen parameters. By improving these parameters, regulating menstrual cycles and balancing hormones, we can improve the patients overall health, as well as their fertility.

Over the years I have treated many different fertility-related conditions, including:

~ Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), menstrual cycle irregularities, and anovulation

~ Advanced maternal age, Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR) and Premature Ovarian Failure (POF)

~ History of miscarriage or Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL)

~ Fertility and IUI/IVF Preparation

~ Auto-immune issues and thyroid irregularities

~ Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

~ Abnormal semen parameters (low count or volume, poor morphology or motility)

~ Endometriosis

~ Unexplained Infertility

I also provide support during all types of fertility journeys, such as:

~ Trying to conceive at home, with or without ovulation induction medications

~ IUI (IntraUterine Insemination)

~ IVF (In Vitro Fertilization)

~ IVF with donor egg, donor sperm, or donor embryo

~ Fresh or Frozen Embryo Transfer

Frequently Asked Questions about Fertility Acupuncture

Should both partners be treated?

In most cases, yes, both partners should be treated. Here’s why.

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), one-third of infertility cases are caused by male factor issues, one-third are caused by female factor issues, and the other third are caused by a combination of male and female issues. (More information can be found here) Therefore, up to 60% of the time there is a male factor issue, and up to 60% of the time there is a female factor issue. This is why both partners may need treatment and are recommended to book an initial consult.

Roughly 5% – 10% of couples experiencing infertility are diagnosed with unexplained infertility. This is where all testing comes back within normal ranges, but the couple is still unable to conceive or maintain a pregnancy. In my experience, patients with unexplained infertility respond quickly to my services.

Trying to conceive at home, with or without ovulation induction medications – how many treatments do we need?

For couples trying to conceive at home (with or without the use of ovulation induction medications) I recommend booking a Consultation + Treatment for each individual. This allows time to go over each individual’s health history and establish a Chinese medicine diagnosis as well as a treatment plan. For these individuals, I usually recommend a beginning treatment plan of acupuncture once a week for 12 weeks, which gives us time to make a significant impact in overall health, hormone levels, and egg and sperm quality. Treatment plans will include recommendations for dietary and lifestyle changes, supplements and Chinese herbal therapy.

Recommended Acupuncture Plans

    • IVF & IUI Support: In an ideal world we would have 3 months to get 12 treatments (acupuncture once a week). However, many patients are already preparing for an IUI or IVF cycle by the time they contact me. Based on the research, our goal is to get in as close to 12 treatments as possible before egg retrieval and/or embryo transfer. Although 12 acupuncture visits are ideal, in my experience any number of treatments before retrieval or transfer can help lower stress, improve blood flow to the pelvis, and improve your overall fertility experience. Read more about my recommended frequency of treatment for IVF here and for IUI here.

    • PCOS and Amenorrhea: More challenging conditions, such as PCOS and Amenorrhea, may need acupuncture once a week for 3-6 months before the body is able to regulate the menstrual cycle on its own.

Still have questions? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page to get them answered.