How Acupuncture Supports Fertility and Preconception Health
For many couples, the pregnancy journey begins long before conception.Just like pregnancies, every fertility story is unique — and sometimes the path can take longer than expected.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are both commonly used as gentle, empowering tools to support couples through their fertility and preconception journey.
Preparing the Body for Conception
It is ideally recommended beginning acupuncture three to six months before trying to conceive.
This time allows the body to regulate hormones, optimise egg and sperm quality, and create the best possible environment for conception. However, it is never too late to start supporting your fertility through acupuncture.
During this period, our treatments often focus on:
Improving egg and sperm quality
Enhancing uterine lining thickness
Regulating the menstrual cycle and ovulation
Supporting stress management and sleep quality
If you or your partner have noticed symptoms such as fatigue, menstrual issues, missed ovulation or vaginal dryness(female), or issues with ejaculation (male), these may be signs that your body needs extra support before conception. Addressing these early can make a significant difference.
How Acupuncture Can Help
Acupuncture works by supporting healthy blood flow and restoring balance within the body’s systems.
In fertility care, this means ensuring that energy (Qi) and blood move smoothly through the pelvis, providing nourishment for the reproductive organs.
Regular treatments can assist with:
Fertility planning – including basal body temperature (BBT) tracking and making sure ovulation is occurring
Cycle regulation – reducing PMS, cramping, and irregular bleeding
Hormonal balance – to improve egg and sperm quality
Improving blood flow – enhancing uterine receptivity and implantation potential
Unexplained infertility – providing a complementary approach when no clear cause is found
When mainstream investigations find “no medical reason” for difficulty conceiving, acupuncture can offer another layer of understanding — identifying subtle imbalances and helping restore optimal function.
Acupuncture and IVF Support
Many IVF specialists now recommend acupuncture as part of a comprehensive fertility plan. Research shows that acupuncture performed before and after embryo transfer can improve uterine blood flow, reduce stress, and increase implantation success rates.
Acupuncturists often work with couples throughout their IVF cycles to:
Support egg and sperm collection and embryo transfer phases
Minimise side effects from IVF medications
Regulate sleep, energy, and mood during treatment
Enhance overall wellbeing throughout the process
As an allied health practitioner, I collaborate closely with your medical team to ensure all treatments are safe, aligned, and supportive of your IVF or fertility plan. Acupuncture can be beneficial throughout the IVF journey, and include specific sessions tailored around your egg collection and embryo transfers.
Empowering Your Fertility Journey
Whether you’re beginning to plan, navigating fertility challenges, or undergoing IVF, acupuncture offers a holistic and evidence-informed way to support your body through it all.
Fertility care should feel nurturing, not stressful. My goal is to help you feel calm, grounded, and confident as you move through each stage of your journey.
If you’re planning to conceive in the coming months or would like to learn how acupuncture can support you please reach out.
References:
Dong XL, Ran JK, Zhang HJ, Chen K, Li HX. [Acupuncture combined with medication improves endocrine hormone levels and ovarian reserve function in poor ovarian response patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transplantation]. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2019 Aug 25;44(8):599-604. Chinese. doi: 10.13702/j.1000-0607.180779.
Magarelli PC, Cridennda DK, Cohen M. Changes in serum cortisol and prolactin associated with acupuncture during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in women undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer treatment. Fertil Steril. 2009 Dec;92(6):1870-9. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.10.067.
Westergaard LG, Mao Q, Krogslund M, Sandrini S, Lenz S, Grinsted J. Acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer significantly improves the reproductive outcome in infertile women: a prospective, randomized trial. Fertil Steril. 2006 May;85(5):1341-6. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.08.070
Zhou L, Xia Y, Ma X, Tang L, Lu J, Tang Q, Wang Y. Effects of "menstrual cycle-based acupuncture therapy" on IVF-ET in patients with decline in ovarian reserve. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2016 Jan;36(1):25-8. Chinese. PMID: 26946729.
