With so many suggestions coming your way during an already overwhelming fertility journey, how do you know if acupuncture for IVF is right for you?
I asked Claire Norton, a fertility acupuncturist with 14 years of experience supporting women through fertility challenges, to break down everything you need to know about acupuncture and fertility. And here is what she had to say…
Should you try acupuncture to support your fertility journey?
If you’ve been trying to conceive for a while, you’ve probably come across acupuncture for fertility. From celebrities like Meghan Markle and Kim Kardashian to fertility forums and well-meaning friends, everyone seems to have an opinion about whether you should try it.
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is a part of Chinese medicine that’s been practised for thousands of years. Acupuncture works by stimulating the body’s own healing mechanisms to support balance and improve specific symptoms. When fine needles are inserted into acupuncture points, often near nerve pathways, they trigger a biological response, including the release of endorphins and other neurochemicals.
How Does Acupuncture Support Fertility?
Acupuncture helps to support hormone balance by calming the nervous system and improving communication between the brain and the ovaries (the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis). This can be helpful for regulating cycles, supporting conditions like PCOS, and preparing the body for IVF.
Research has shown that acupuncture can help to improve blood flow to the reproductive organs which may help to transport nutrients to the follicles for healthy development. Some evidence shows that acupuncture can also help to support the uterine lining which may help with implantation.
Another benefit of acupuncture is its effect on stress and anxiety, two things that can have a big impact when you’re trying to conceive.
Are the needles painful?
Acupuncture doesn’t tend to be painful, although points in the hands and feet can be a little more sensitive than on the rest of the body. If someone finds the needling uncomfortable, your acupuncturist can make minor adjustments to reduce pain such as finer needles to reduce the sensation. Acupuncture doesn’t tend to be painful, although points on the hands and feet can be more sensitive than those on the body.
If you’re finding needling uncomfortable, your acupuncturist can make adjustments – such as using finer needles or guide tubes to ease the sensation. The acupuncture needles are extremely fine. It always surprises people how fine the needles are, you can fit many needles (20-30!) into a hypodermic needle (the ones used to administer medications and draw blood). I liken it to plucking an eyebrow hair, although the sensations can be a little different, sometimes it can feel like mild ache in the point.
So acupuncture, it’s just needles?
Acupuncturists do use needles in most sessions, but we also draw on other techniques, including:
- Moxibustion – A dried herb called mugwort is placed on or near acupuncture points and gently heated. It can be used in various forms, including fluffy cones, stick-on discs, or cigar-shaped rolls. Moxa produces a warming sensation and is widely used in Chinese medicine to support immunity, regulate menstrual cycles, aid fertility, relieve pain, and even help turn breech babies.
- Herbal Medicine – Some Traditional acupuncturists are trained in Traditional Herbal medicine and may prescribe herbs to help with your symptoms.
- Cupping – Glass or plastic cups are applied with suction to increase circulation, reduce muscle tension, and encourage healing.
- Gua Sha – A type of massage using a smooth-edged tool to gently scrape the skin. This promotes circulation and can reduce inflammation. It also helps upregulate an anti-inflammatory enzyme called heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1).
- TDP Lamp – A mineral heat lamp used to ease pain, improve blood f low, and support healing by stimulating HO-1.
- Ear Seeds – Tiny vaccaria seeds or gold-coated magnets placed on ear acupuncture points, which you can gently press at home to help with stress and anxiety.
Acupuncture works best as part of a bigger picture.
It’s not a magic fix, you can’t out-acupuncture a lifestyle that’s constantly running on empty. But acupuncture can support areas like poor sleep, high stress, and hormone imbalance while also helping you make sustainable changes. A good fertility acupuncturist will also help you identify what’s missing , whether that’s rest, better nutrition, or follow-up testing and guide you in the right direction. It’s also very safe to use alongside medical treatments and is rarely contraindicated with medication.
So do you need it?
Acupuncture can feel like a “nice to have”—and if the idea of needles adds more stress, or it’s out of budget or hard to fit in, it doesn’t have to be a deal breaker.
Could it help? It could. A growing body of research shows promise that acupuncture can be supportive for fertility and IVF. Many of my clients feel that acupuncture has been instrumental in their success. We’ll never know for sure whether it was the timing, the treatment, or both—but many people find the consistent, supportive care it offers to be a valuable part of their journey.
Other ways to consider to improve blood flow to the reproductive organs can be castor oil packs (not to be used when pregnant, in the luteal phase or during an IVF cycle), gentle movement, blood building foods such as beets (rich in nitrate!) and abdominal massages. Other ways to calm the nervous system include meditation, yoga, tai chi, qi gong and simply getting out in nature.
It’s worth considering acupuncture with a fertility acupuncturist if:
- You’re preparing for IVF and want to support it as much as possible
- You’ve been told you have “unexplained infertility” but feel like it’s “unexplored infertility”
- You’re wired, anxious, or running on fumes
- Your sleep is poor, or your cycles feel unpredictable
- Your menstruation is painful and/or clotted
- You’ve been told everything’s “normal,” but it doesn’t feel that way
- You want to try a different approach
How to find an acupuncturist who specialises in fertility
Not all acupuncturists are trained extensively in fertility. And whilst general acupuncture can help to relax you, if you’re investing your time and money, it’s worth finding someone who:
- Has extra training in fertility, gynaecology, or reproductive health
- Understands fertility tests and the ins and outs of IVF treatment
- Has supported women through miscarriage or IVF
- Is properly trained – in the UK, acupuncture isn’t regulated, which makes it difficult to establish who has taken an appropriate amount of training. I recommend looking for someone who’s a member of both the British Acupuncture Council and The Acupuncture Fertility Network. These practitioners have completed a degree-level course in acupuncture and gone on to undertake additional postgraduate training in fertility care.
If it’s out of budget
Some health insurance policies do cover your acupuncture sessions. It’s worth checking with your insurer.
Lower-cost options do exist. While these practitioners may not be fertility specialists, they can still support general wellbeing, such as improving sleep and reducing stress. If acupuncture is currently out of your budget, and you’re at the beginning of your fertility journey without known reproductive conditions, this can be a helpful place to start:
- Multi-bed clinics offer treatment in a shared space (separated by screens), which helps keep the cost down
- Training colleges sometimes offer treatments with student practitioners at reduced rates
These options can be a great starting point, But for complex fertility issues, testing advice, or IVF prep, it’s worth seeing someone with specialist experience such as a fertility support specialist.
Getting the most from your session
- Acupuncture is dose dependent, so regular sessions are important. Try to attend weekly, especially for the first 6–12 sessions
- Ideally, start at least three months ahead of IVF or actively trying to conceive.
- Cycle tracking (or BBT) can offer your acupuncturists fabulous insights.
- Avoid caffeine before your session. Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors, which may reduce the calming and hormone regulating effects of acupuncture, so it’s best to avoid caffeine before your treatment.
A gentle word to finish…
If you’re on a fertility journey, acupuncture can be a supportive tool. The right practitioner can help identify gaps in your testing, and signpost you to both NHS and private options that may have been overlooked. Regular sessions offer a calming space that may support better sleep, ease anxiety, regulate your cycle, and reduce period pain.
But if it feels like one more thing to squeeze in, another appointment, another expense, another task on an already overwhelming list, it’s okay to pause. You don’t have to do everything. The most important thing is that you feel supported however that might be, not stretched thin. Choose what feels right for you, in this season.
About Claire Norton:
Claire Norton is a fertility acupuncturist with 14 years’ experience supporting women through fertility challenges. Her integrated approach combines Traditional Chinese Medicine with personalised guidance on lifestyle and fertility testing. Claire offers acupuncture and compassionate support from her clinic in Leicester.
Connect with Claire at www.clairenortonacupuncture.co.uk or on Instagram @clairenortonacupuncture.