Trying for a baby can be one of the most exciting — and sometimes one of the most emotionally demanding — times in your life.
For many couples conception is fairly easy but for others, it can cause huge anxiety and take months or years. And fertility treatments like IVF may become part of the journey.
I have been supporting women and couples with their natural fertility and those going through IVF for over 20 years. I combine acupuncture with Western nutrition and lifestyle advice to best prepare women to conceive naturally as well as to support them through fertility treatment.
Some women come for acupuncture while they are trying naturally. Others come for several weeks or months before starting IVF, while some begin treatment once their IVF cycle begins.
Acupuncture is a deeply calming and supportive treatment during what can otherwise feel like a very medical and stressful process but it can offer a lot more than that.
Acupuncture can be used to support:
- menstrual cycle regularity
- ovulation
- pelvic and reproductive blood flow
- relaxation and nervous-system regulation
- sleep and wellbeing
- stress and anxiety around fertility treatment
- symptoms associated with PCOS or endometriosis
- general health and nutritional preparation before conception
How can acupuncture support fertility?
Traditional Chinese Medicine takes a holistic approach to fertility. As acupuncturists we are trained to look at your health and wellbeing as being interconnected.
So I’m trained to look at the whole person — your menstrual cycle, when you ovulate, if you have digestive issues, how well you sleep, how stressed you are, and how stressed you may have been in the past, your energy levels, how well you eat as well as your emotional wellbeing.
Sessions are long enough for us to talk you through what to expect and I have over 20 years of experience to draw from. They’re also about you, what you need and can help women feel part of their fertility process rather than a number.
Everything about you is important and each treatment is individual to you and where you are on your fertility journey.
Often having a space to share how you feel and permission to deeply relax with ease can be clinically significant.
Acupuncture regulates the nervous system, lowers cortisol, reduces inflammation, supports increased blood flow to the pelvis and deep internal organs, reduces anxiety and deepens sleep.
Important physiological changes that you feel during a session, or report back after acupuncture which can improve hormone balance and how you positively respond to your IVF medication and treatment.
Acupuncture and IVF
IVF can be physically and emotionally intense and having the support of an acupuncturist can help you feel less overwhelmed. There are hormone injections, scans, blood tests, egg collection, waiting for results and freezing or an embryo transfer.
There are numerous stages that need to be managed and being able to come to an acupuncture session, lie down and have a deeply supportive treatment helps many women feel more in control. They often say they feel like they are doing something positive for themselves.
I see women at each stage of their IVF treatment and will adapt their acupuncture treatment to where they are in their menstrual cycle as well as their IVF cycle once it has begun.
Before IVF
Ideally, I like to start supporting women before their IVF cycle begins.
This gives us time to look at the foundations of fertility — nutrition, digestion, sleep, stress, menstrual health and lifestyle — as well as using acupuncture to support overall wellbeing.
For some women this may be a few months before IVF for others, there may only be a few weeks.
There is no single ‘perfect’ amount of time. Every woman and every IVF journey is different.
During ovarian stimulation
During stimulation, the ovaries are responding to fertility medication and several follicles may be developing at the same time.
Acupuncture during this stage can be used as supportive care, with the focus often being on relaxation, sleep, managing treatment-related symptoms and helping you feel more grounded during the process.
Around egg collection
Egg collection is a significant milestone in an IVF cycle and understandably can bring anxiety.
Between egg collection and embryo transfer
This can be a particularly emotional part of IVF. Acupuncture may be used around this stage to support relaxation and wellbeing.
You may be waiting to hear how many eggs fertilised, how the embryos are developing and whether you will reach transfer.
I often use acupuncture at this stage with the aim of helping women relax, sleep better and feel supported while they wait.
Can acupuncture improve IVF success rates?
There have been many studies investigating acupuncture alongside IVF, but they have produced mixed results. Differences in acupuncture protocols, timing, control groupsand study quality make the evidence difficult to interpret.
Some research has investigated acupuncture for pain and anxiety associated with fertility procedures. A 2025 systematic review of 42 trials involving around 7,400 women found that acupuncture was associated with reduced anxiety and improved pain management.
A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis included 58 randomised controlled trials involving almost 11,000 women undergoing IVF. It reported a small improvement in clinical pregnancy and live birth rates in the acupuncture groups
A more recent 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis included 42 trials and approximately 7,400 participants. It found improvements in biochemical and clinical pregnancy rates, as well as reductions in anxiety.
Another 2025 network meta-analysis of 96 randomised trials involving more than 14,000 participants found that some acupuncture treatment schedules appeared promising for clinical pregnancy outcomes.
IVF is complicated, and success depends on many factors including age, egg and sperm quality, ovarian reserve, embryo quality, underlying conditions and the individual circumstances of the couple.
What I can offer is personalised support alongside your fertility treatment.
Fertility acupuncture isn’t just about IVF
Acupuncture can also be helpful before you reach the point of fertility treatment.If you’ve been trying to conceive naturally, I can work with you to understand your menstrual cycle and overall health and look at areas such as:
Cycle health Supporting cycle regularity, identifying and helping you to look out for your body’s natural ovulation signs. Restarting delayed cycles and absent cycles. Reducing PMS and menstrual pain,
Ovulation Looking at cycle patterns and lifestyle factors that may be influencing ovulation. Do you know when your fertile window is?
PCOS Supporting women with symptoms associated with PCOS
Endometriosis Acupuncture helps lower inflammation, reduce pain, support sleep, lift mood and increase wellbeing.
Sleep and stress Regulating the nervous system, reducing anxiety, insomnia and helping you feel more rested and resilient.
Preconception health Preparing your body and general health before trying to conceive or beginning IVF.
Nutrition and Fertility
Nutrition is another important part of my fertility work. The right diet can positively impact endometriosis, PCOS, Hypothalamic Amenorreah, lack of periods after coming off the Pill and make sure you are eating the best diet to conceive and prepare for pregnancy.
I look at the quality and balance of your diet, protein and healthy fats, fibre, micronutrients, blood sugar balance, digestion and any potential nutritional deficiencies.
Where appropriate, I may also recommend the best supplements for your particular circumstances and help you understand why they might help you.
The aim is to take away the stress of worrying about your diet and relaxing into knowing you are creating the best nutritional environment for conception and pregnancy.
When should you start acupuncture for IVF?
There isn’t one right answer. Some women come several months before IVF so we have time to work on nutrition, lifestyle and general health.
Others start a few weeks before their cycle.
And some come for acupuncture during stimulation, around egg collection or embryo transfer.
If you’ve already started IVF, it is not too late to have acupuncture.
Your treatment plan can be adapted around your fertility clinic’s protocol and your individual circumstances.
I always recommend telling your fertility clinic that you are having acupuncture and checking with your medical team before adding any complementary treatment to your IVF cycle.
What happens at a fertility acupuncture appointment?
Your first appointment is much more than simply lying down and having needles inserted.
We spend time talking in detail about your fertility history, menstrual cycle, previous pregnancies or fertility treatment, general health, sleep, digestion, nutrition and how you are feeling.
I then create an individual treatment plan.
The acupuncture itself uses very fine needles at specific points on the body. The needles are inserted painlessly. Most people find the treatment deeply relaxing, and notice they sleep more deeply and feel much less stressed after each session.
At the beginning of each session, before deciding which points to use, we will discuss how you were after the session. We will go through where you are in your cycle, whether you are in your fertile window and when to recognise ovulation from your own natural signs. If you are in an IVF cycle we will discuss any side effects like bloating or tiredness. As well as how you are sleeping, feeling, your current diet and anything else which may be on your mind.
Fertility and IVF acupuncture in Fulham
I have been supporting women and couples with fertility, IVF, pregnancy and women’s health for over 20 years and has a wealth of experience and local contacts.
My approach combines acupuncture with naturopathic nutrition, lifestyle advice and, where appropriate, supplements and functional testing.
I see patients at Fulham Osteopaths in London to book follow the link in my https://fop.janeapp.co.uk/#/staff_member/34 section on this site or call 0207 384 1851 or [email protected]
For my Lewes clinic at the Open Door, Clinic, Lewes, BN7 2LU call me directly on 07799 417924 or book in here
If you are preparing for IVF, currently going through treatment or simply want to understand how acupuncture might fit into your fertility journey, you are very welcome to get in touch.
Hanna Evans Acupuncture & Nutrition
Fulham Osteopaths, London
www.hannaevans.co.uk
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