Acupuncture & IVF: Weaving Ancient Wisdom Into Modern Fertility
As an acupuncturist, I have the privilege of walking beside many women and couples on the tender, often winding road to conception. When the heart opens to IVF—a marvel of modern medicine—I often find myself bridging two worlds: the clinical and the energetic, the measured and the mysterious.
In Acupuncture & IVF, Dr. Lifang Liang illuminates this intersection with clarity and compassion. Her work shows us what we have long sensed in our treatment rooms: that acupuncture does more than complement IVF—it harmonizes it. It grounds the process in the body, calms the spirit, and prepares the womb not just to receive, but to hold.
Let us explore how, step by step, acupuncture walks with IVF—from preparation to pregnancy—with both science and soul.
Preparing the Soil Before the Seed
In Chinese medicine, we never rush to plant. First, we prepare the soil. The months leading up to an IVF cycle are precious—an opportunity to strengthen, clear, and align.
With acupuncture and herbal support, we aim to:
Nourish the Kidneys—the root of fertility and reproduction
Regulate the menstrual cycle and calm the Liver
Improve blood flow to the uterus and ovaries
Support egg quality by balancing the body’s internal environment
Reduce cortisol and quiet the mind, creating space for hope
Dr. Liang recommends beginning acupuncture at least 2–3 months before IVF. This window allows us to support the entire process of folliculogenesis—the maturation of the egg—long before retrieval. Like a potter shaping clay, we work gently but consistently, shaping conditions for success.
“To cultivate fertility is to listen to the body’s whispers, not just its cries.”
During IVF: Supporting Every Phase with Stillness and Strength
IVF is a journey through hormones, appointments, and waiting. Amid all the doing, acupuncture offers a moment of being. A return to stillness. A breath between steps.
Here’s how acupuncture supports each stage:
Stimulation Phase
We enhance ovarian response, improve follicular development, and encourage the body to respond evenly to medication—minimizing overstimulation.Egg Retrieval
Acupuncture can help reduce post-procedural inflammation, ease abdominal tension, and support recovery.Embryo Transfer
This is where acupuncture shines. Research—including studies Dr. Liang references—shows that acupuncture just before and after embryo transfer can improve uterine blood flow, increase endometrial receptivity, and significantly raise implantation and pregnancy rates.
“The body must be soft to receive. The womb must be quiet to welcome.”
After Transfer: Nurturing the Unseen
Once the embryo is placed, the world often goes quiet. It’s a waiting game—but in Chinese medicine, this is a time of active tending.
Post-transfer, acupuncture works to:
Support implantation by improving Qi and blood flow to the uterus
Stabilize progesterone and calm the nervous system
Prevent uterine contractions by relaxing the pelvic muscles
Encourage rest, receptivity, and grounded hope
Many patients continue weekly treatments through the first trimester to reduce miscarriage risk and ease early symptoms—supporting the body as it carries the unknown miracle of new life.
The Power of Integration
Dr. Liang’s book is clear: acupuncture is not an alternative to IVF—it is an enhancement. Studies she references show that when used together, IVF success rates can improve by 40–60%. More than numbers, though, what I witness in practice is this:
Patients feel calmer, more connected to their bodies
Cycles feel less mechanical, more meaningful
Outcomes improve, and even when they don’t, patients feel held
Acupuncture brings warmth to the clinical coldness that IVF can sometimes carry. It offers presence in a process that can feel rushed. It says to the body, “You are not a machine. You are a field, a rhythm, a mystery—and we are listening.”
A Final Word from the Heart
IVF is not a failure of the body—it is a door. Sometimes, it is the door we never imagined we’d knock on. But once there, you do not have to walk through it alone.
Acupuncture can be your companion in that liminal space—before the heartbeat, before the test, before the knowing. It can steady you, soften you, and surround you with care.
If you're preparing for IVF—or even just considering the path—I welcome you to reach out. There is space here for your story, your timing, your journey.
“In the stillness of a needle’s pause, a thousand generations of wisdom whisper: You are not alone.”
Warmly,
Dr. Alexandria Henriques, DAc
Doctor of Acupuncture & Founder
Acupunk NYC
Suggested Reading:
Acupuncture & IVF by Dr. Lifang Liang
NIH Study – PMC3746244