IVF is a medical treatment, but it is lived by a whole person. Between the injections, scans and waiting, many patients ask what else they can do to look after themselves. I’m Gabby Lamplugh, a fertility acupuncturist, and after almost twenty years of working with women and couples going through IVF, one of the questions I’m asked most often is whether acupuncture is “worth it”. My honest answer starts with the evidence.
Why do people look beyond the medical side of IVF?
Fertility treatment asks a great deal of people. Research has consistently shown that many patients experience significant anxiety and low mood during IVF and the twoweek wait after embryo transfer is often described as the hardest part of all.
Most people I see are not looking for an alternative to their IVF clinic. They trust their medical team. What they want is somewhere to put the stress, a way to feel a little more grounded and a sense that they are actively looking after themselves while the medicine does its work. That’s a very reasonable thing to want and it’s where complementary therapies can have a place, as long as everyone is clear about what they can and can’t do.
What does the research say about acupuncture and IVF?
The research picture is mixed, and I believe patients deserve to hear that there are no guarantees. A 2023 review by Xu and colleagues pooled 25 trials involving 4,757 participants and suggested acupuncture may support some IVF outcomes. However, one of the largest and most carefully designed trials, published in JAMA in 2018, found no difference in live birth rates compared with sham acupuncture. NICE guidance states that complementary therapies for fertility problems have not been properly evaluated.
So, in my view, acupuncture should not be thought of as a way to guarantee your chance of IVF success. Where I believe it has real value is in how people experience the treatment. Many patients tell me their sessions give them a protected time in their diary to rest, help them feel calmer and more able to cope, and give them somewhere to talk things through with someone who understands the process. Often it’s the only time in their day where they feel truly relaxed and they leave feeling lighter and more prepared for the next steps in their IVF journey.
What does acupuncture during IVF actually involve?
A first appointment begins with a detailed consultation covering your medical history, treatment protocol, cycle, sleep and how you’re feeling emotionally.
The treatment uses very fine, single-use sterile needles, usually left in for 20 to 30 minutes. Most people find it far more comfortable than they expect, and many fall asleep.
When is acupuncture usually scheduled during IVF? The best-known information about timing comes from a small 2002 German study by Paulus and colleagues, in which women had acupuncture immediately before and after embryo transfer. It reported a higher pregnancy rate, although larger trials since have not found the same benefit. Sessions that close to transfer aren’t always practical, and they can add anxiety when you won’t know your transfer time until that morning.
I usually suggest a few sessions in the weeks before a cycle begins, then once a week during ovarian stimulation, one the day before transfer, one 1–3 days after, and one during the two-week wait, when anxiety tends to peak. Acupuncture should help you feel calmer, not add pressure to an already busy diary, and your IVF clinic’s schedule always comes first.
What other holistic therapies might help?
Acupuncture is only one option. Depending on what feels right for you, other forms of support include:
- Counselling has the strongest evidence for reducing distress during fertility treatment. HFEA-licensed clinics in the UK must offer access to it.
- Mindfulness, breathing and gentle yoga can help with sleep and anxious moments. Follow your clinic's advice on exercise during stimulation.
- Nutrition and lifestyle. NHS advice is to take 400 micrograms of folic acid daily before conception and until 12 weeks of pregnancy. The UK Chief Medical Officers advise that if you're trying to conceive, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all.
Keeping your clinic in the loop
Tell your fertility team about anything you’re doing alongside treatment. Don’t take herbs or supplements without your consultant’s agreement, as some can interact with fertility medication, and never change your medication on a therapist’s advice. Choose a qualified practitioner who is registered with a recognised professional body.
Are holistic therapies right for everyone?
No, and that’s fine. Some people find weekly acupuncture a real anchor during treatment; others prefer a walk, a good friend and an early night. There is no evidence that choosing not to have complementary therapies puts your treatment at a disadvantage.
What matters is that your choices feel supportive to you, fit around your medical care, and are made with good information rather than pressure. IVF is guided by your medical team. Everything else is about looking after the person going through it.
About the author
Gabby Lamplugh is a fertility acupuncturist and the founder of Pink Lotus Acupuncture in Wilmslow, Cheshire, UK. A member of The Acupuncture Society, she has almost twenty years’ experience supporting women and couples through fertility treatment, pregnancy and menopause, working alongside their medical care. She also offers online fertility consultations by Zoom for those who can’t reach the clinic in person.
References
- Smith CA et al. Effect of acupuncture vs sham acupuncture on live births among women undergoing IVF. *JAMA* 2018;319(19):1990–1998. [LINK]
- Boivin J, Griffiths E, Venetis CA. Emotional distress in infertile women and failure of assisted reproductive technologies: meta-analysis of prospective psychosocial studies. *BMJ* 2011;342:d223. [LINK]
- NICE CG156, Fertility problems: assessment and treatment (complementary therapy recommendation). [LINK]
- Xu M, Zhu M, Zheng C. Effects of acupuncture on pregnancy outcomes in women undergoing in vitro fertilization: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. [LINK]
- *Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics* 2024;309(3):775–788 (published online 12 July 2023). doi:10.1007/s00404-023-07142-1
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Medical review
Medically reviewed by:
Dr Luciano Nardo
Consultant in Reproductive Medicine & Infertility
Founder & President
Review date: 12/10/26
Editorial information
- Written by a named external fertility-support practitioner.
- Reviewed for medical accuracy by a NOW-fertility clinician, once completed.
- Sources include peer-reviewed research and NICE guidance.
- Published and last-reviewed dates displayed accurately.
