Preparing for IVF
Ideally around 3 to 4 months before treatment, with a focus on cycle health, sleep, digestion, stress, circulation and overall wellbeing before medications begin.
Why have acupuncture alongside IVF?
Many stages, many reasons
- You may want support before your first cycle begins.
- You may be approaching embryo transfer and looking for steadiness around a key moment.
- You may simply need somewhere to pause for an hour during a demanding process.
People often hope it may support
- overall wellbeing throughout treatment
- healthy blood flow to the uterus and ovaries
- relaxation during a stressful and uncertain time
- better sleep and recovery
- common symptoms such as tension, headaches or bloating
- a greater sense of steadiness and control during treatment
What does the evidence say?
Acupuncture is increasingly used alongside IVF, and many fertility clinics now recognise it as a complementary therapy.
Research has explored several possible benefits. Some studies suggest acupuncture may help reduce stress and anxiety during fertility treatment, while others have investigated whether treatment around embryo transfer may influence pregnancy outcomes. Results across the research remain mixed, which is why I believe it is important to be honest about what we know and what we do not.
Rather than promising outcomes that no practitioner can guarantee, my approach is to use acupuncture to support your health throughout treatment, helping you feel calmer, better supported and better equipped to navigate the physical and emotional demands of IVF.
Acupuncture is designed to complement the care you receive from your fertility clinic, never replace it.
When should I start acupuncture?
The ideal answer is around three months before your IVF cycle begins.
That gives us time to support your health before treatment starts, helping prepare your body and establish a consistent rhythm before medications, scans and appointments become the focus.
For many people, though, that is simply not realistic. Referrals happen. Clinic dates move. Funding comes through unexpectedly. Sometimes stimulation starts in two weeks. If that is your situation, it is not too late.
Acupuncture does not have to be an all-or-nothing decision. Even when treatment begins later, appointments can still be planned around the stages of your cycle where they are likely to offer the greatest support.
Planning acupuncture around your IVF cycle
Every IVF journey is different. Your protocol, medication and timings will be unique to you, and dates can sometimes change with very little notice.
During ovarian stimulation
Usually one or two appointments each week, tailored to support relaxation, sleep, circulation, bloating, headaches, tension and your nervous system through a physically demanding stage.
Around egg retrieval and transfer
Sessions can be timed around egg collection, recovery and embryo transfer, supporting rest, steadiness and overall wellbeing around these key milestones.
The two-week wait and early pregnancy
Treatment can offer space to slow down, support sleep and anxiety, and continue into early pregnancy where appropriate.
Your IVF timeline
Every IVF journey is slightly different, but there are several natural points where acupuncture can fit alongside your treatment.
Some people choose to begin several months before IVF. Others only have time for a handful of carefully planned sessions around key milestones. Both approaches can be valuable.
Rather than following a rigid schedule, I think it is more helpful to see IVF as a series of stages. At each stage, acupuncture has a slightly different focus, adapting to what your body is doing and how you are feeling.
What if I have already started IVF?
One of the biggest misconceptions about fertility acupuncture is that you have to begin months before treatment for it to be worthwhile.
While earlier is ideal where possible, that is simply not how many IVF journeys unfold.
Sometimes referrals happen quickly. Sometimes a cycle starts sooner than expected. Sometimes you have only just heard about acupuncture after stimulation has already begun. That does not mean you have missed your opportunity.
Treatment can still be planned around the stages of your cycle where it is most likely to support your wellbeing. Rather than focusing on what is already passed, we will look at where you are now and create a plan that fits the time you have available.
If time or budget is limited
Not everyone is able to attend weekly appointments throughout an IVF cycle.
If you are working within a limited budget or have very little time before treatment begins, I would rather help you plan a smaller number of well-timed sessions than feel acupuncture is not an option at all.
If I were prioritising appointments, I would usually recommend:
- One session during ovarian stimulation. 2. One session around embryo transfer.
From there, additional sessions can be added depending on your symptoms, treatment schedule and personal circumstances. There is not a perfect number of acupuncture appointments. The right plan is the one that works for your treatment, your life and your budget.
Supporting both partners
Although IVF treatment often focuses on the person carrying the pregnancy, it can be emotionally demanding for partners too.
Many partners are trying to balance practical support with their own hopes, worries and uncertainty, often without feeling there is much space to talk about their own experience.
Acupuncture may also support partners by helping with stress, sleep and general wellbeing during treatment. Where male factor fertility is part of your journey, acupuncture may also be used alongside appropriate lifestyle advice before treatment begins.
What happens during an appointment?
Your first appointment lasts around 75 minutes and begins with a detailed conversation. We will discuss your fertility journey, your IVF protocol, your medical history, your menstrual cycle, your general health, sleep, digestion, stress levels and anything else that is relevant to your treatment.
We will also talk through your IVF timeline so that treatment can be planned around upcoming scans, medications and procedures.
Treatment itself is gentle. Very fine, sterile needles are placed at carefully selected acupuncture points. Most people notice little more than a brief sensation as each needle is inserted before settling into a deeply relaxed state.
If you would like to know more, you can also read what happens during an acupuncture appointment.
What clients say
My wife and I have been going to Saskia for over a year now, and I can’t put into words how important she has been on our fertility journey. As anyone who has been through this challenging process knows, there really is a lack of clear and consistent information out there, and a feeling of being unable to make a positive difference to your outcomes, so having someone so knowledgeable and lovely to talk to and ask advice has been invaluable.
Practical details
- Appointments take place in Saskia’s treatment room in Blackheath
- Sessions can be planned around scans, stimulation, transfer and recovery
- Treatment complements the care you receive from your fertility clinic
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Return to fertility and IVF support
Broader support for trying to conceive, fertility investigations and the emotional weight of the process.
- View prices and appointment details
- Explore pregnancy and postnatal support
Frequently asked questions
Is acupuncture safe during IVF?
Acupuncture is widely used alongside IVF and is generally considered safe when provided by a qualified practitioner.
Treatment is always adapted to your stage of treatment, your medication protocol and your individual circumstances. It is designed to complement the care you receive from your fertility clinic, not replace it.
Can I start acupuncture after stimulation has begun?
Yes. While it can be helpful to begin before your IVF cycle starts, that is not always possible.
If stimulation has already begun, acupuncture can still be planned around the stage you are in now and tailored to support your wellbeing, rest, sleep and nervous system alongside treatment.
Can acupuncture be used alongside IVF or medical treatment?
Yes. Acupuncture is often used as supportive care alongside IVF, fertility treatment and other medical care.
It does not replace medical treatment, but sessions can be planned around your cycle, appointments or treatment stage. If you’re under the care of a doctor or clinic, continue following their advice and let me know about any medication, investigations or procedures.
If you are considering acupuncture alongside IVF
You are welcome to book an initial appointment if you already know you would like support.
If you would prefer to talk things through first, you can book a free discovery call.