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Does Acupuncture Help With IVF?

The current evidence says yes. The largest and most recent meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials find that acupuncture used alongside in vitro fertilization significantly improves clinical pregnancy rates, and the better-powered analyses now also show improvement in live birth rates. A 2023 systematic review and meta-analysis published in Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics pooled 25 trials covering 4,757 participants and found a clinical pregnancy rate of 43.6% in acupuncture groups compared with 33.2% in control groups, and a live birth rate of 38.0% compared with 28.7%, both statistically significant at P < 0.00001.

Acupuncture does not replace fertility treatment. It is used as an adjunct to an IVF cycle, alongside the care of your fertility clinic. Here is what the research shows, how it is thought to work, and what a course of treatment involves.

What does the research actually show?

Two large recent analyses are worth looking at directly, because they use different databases and different statistical approaches and reach the same conclusion.

The 2023 review in Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science and ScienceDirect from inception to July 2022, assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane Handbook 5.3, and pooled outcomes as risk ratios. Across 25 trials and 4,757 participants, the pooled clinical pregnancy rate for all acupuncture groups was 43.6% against 33.2% for controls, and across the 11 trials reporting live births, the pooled live birth rate was 38.0% against 28.7%. The authors reported no significant publication bias for most comparisons.

A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis published in Healthcare, registered in advance with PROSPERO (CRD42023411712), searched 11 databases and analysed 37 randomized controlled trials involving 10,776 women. It found acupuncture improved clinical pregnancy rates with a risk ratio of 1.316 (95% CI 1.171 to 1.480) and live birth rates with a risk ratio of 1.287 (95% CI 1.081 to 1.533). Its subgroup analysis found that real acupuncture outperformed sham and placebo needling, which addresses the most common criticism of acupuncture research. Its conclusion: acupuncture “appears to be a safe and effective complementary therapy that can be used to improve ART outcomes.”

It is worth understanding why the picture has clarified. Earlier reviews, including a widely cited one from 2013, were inconclusive, because at that point the pool of trials was smaller and control groups were designed inconsistently. The trials published since have roughly doubled the available data and standardised how sham controls are handled, and the effect that emerges from the larger pool is consistent across independent research teams.

How is acupuncture thought to help during an IVF cycle?

The mechanisms proposed in the research literature are physiological rather than mystical.

The most studied is blood flow. Acupuncture is thought to influence uterine artery blood flow, which affects endometrial receptivity, the endometrium’s readiness to accept an implanting embryo. Implantation failure is one of the main reasons IVF cycles do not result in pregnancy despite good quality embryos.

The second is the stress response. IVF is a demanding process physically and emotionally, and acupuncture has a measurable effect on the autonomic nervous system. Reduced sympathetic activation is one of the proposed pathways for improved outcomes, and it is also the effect patients themselves report most often.

The third is hormonal regulation through the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, which is the pathway most often cited in trials looking at acupuncture in the stimulation phase rather than at transfer.

These are proposed mechanisms supported by physiological studies, not settled explanations. What the clinical trials measure is the outcome, not the mechanism.

When during the cycle should you have acupuncture?

Timing and dose appear to matter more than whether acupuncture is used at all.

Much of the early research tested a single session on the day of embryo transfer, which is the protocol most people have heard of. The more recent analyses that examine dosage find that a course of treatment spanning more than one menstrual cycle produces better results than a single session at transfer.

In practice, that means acupuncture is usually started in the weeks before the cycle rather than on transfer day, continued through stimulation, and typically includes sessions around the transfer itself. The exact protocol depends on your cycle type, whether you are doing a fresh or frozen transfer, and your clinic’s schedule.

The practical implication is that if you are considering acupuncture for IVF, starting early gives you the protocol the evidence supports. Booking a single session on transfer day is the version of the treatment with the weakest support.

Is acupuncture safe during fertility treatment?

The safety record in the trial data is good. The 2025 meta-analysis reported no significant differences in adverse events between acupuncture and control groups across its 37 trials.

The U.S. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, part of the National Institutes of Health, notes that acupuncture is generally considered safe when performed by a qualified practitioner using sterile single-use needles, and that complications are uncommon but are associated with inadequately trained practitioners.

That qualification is the important one, and it is where practitioner regulation matters.

Who is qualified to perform acupuncture in Ontario?

Acupuncture in Ontario is performed by regulated health professionals whose colleges authorise it within their scope of practice, which includes naturopathic doctors.

The College of Naturopaths of Ontario, which regulates naturopathic doctors under the Naturopathy Act, 2007, sets out what practitioners are authorised to do and what is required of them. Its Standard of Practice on scope requires that in order to perform any diagnostic or therapeutic procedure, a member must “achieve, maintain and be able to demonstrate clinical competency (e.g., examination, certification, or proof of training)” in that procedure, and must obtain informed consent that is “fully informed, voluntarily given, related to the patient’s condition and circumstances” and documented.

The College also imposes mandatory referral obligations. Under Ontario Regulation 168/15, a member must refer a patient to a physician or nurse practitioner where the patient’s condition falls outside the naturopathic scope, where treatment requires technology outside that scope, or where “the response of a patient to the treatment offered by a member is not adequate and is not likely to improve.”

Practically, this means acupuncture from a regulated naturopathic doctor comes with a verifiable training requirement, documented consent, and a professional obligation to work with rather than around your medical care. You can verify any practitioner’s registration through the College’s public register before booking.

Does acupuncture work alongside a fertility clinic?

Yes, and it is designed to. Every study cited above tested acupuncture as an addition to IVF, not as an alternative to it.

Tell both providers what you are doing. Your fertility clinic should know you are having acupuncture and when, because transfer-day timing has to fit their schedule. Your acupuncturist needs to know your protocol, your medications, and your transfer dates in order to time sessions correctly.

If you are also taking supplements or herbal products, disclose those to your fertility clinic specifically. Some botanicals interact with the medications used in stimulation protocols, and the College of Naturopaths’ professional misconduct regulation treats failure to collaborate with a patient’s other health care providers, where that collaboration is necessary for the patient’s health, as misconduct.

What should you expect from a session?

An acupuncture session for fertility support typically runs 30 to 45 minutes with needles retained for about 20 to 30 minutes. The needles are fine, single use, and sterile, and most people describe the sensation as a dull heaviness rather than pain.

A first appointment will be longer and will include a full history: your cycle, your IVF protocol and its stage, past cycles and outcomes, sleep, stress, digestion, and current medications.

Most people find the sessions relaxing and some fall asleep. Mild bruising at needle sites is the most common side effect.

Frequently asked questions

Does acupuncture increase IVF success rates? The pooled data from 25 trials with 4,757 participants shows a clinical pregnancy rate of 43.6% with acupuncture versus 33.2% without, and a live birth rate of 38.0% versus 28.7%. A separate 2025 analysis of 37 trials and 10,776 women found consistent improvements in both measures.

How many acupuncture sessions do I need for IVF? The evidence favours a course of treatment spanning more than one menstrual cycle over a single session on transfer day. Your practitioner will set a schedule around your protocol and transfer date.

When should I start acupuncture before IVF? Starting in the weeks before your cycle begins, rather than at transfer, matches the protocols with the strongest supporting data.

Is acupuncture safe during IVF? The 2025 meta-analysis of 37 randomized controlled trials found no significant difference in adverse events between acupuncture and control groups. Safety depends on the practitioner being properly trained and using sterile single-use needles.

Can I have acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer? Yes, and it is a common part of a protocol. The evidence suggests it works better as part of a longer course than as a standalone session.

Does acupuncture help with male factor infertility? Most of the trial data concerns women undergoing IVF. There is a smaller body of research on sperm parameters, and it is less conclusive.

Is acupuncture covered by insurance in Ontario? OHIP does not cover acupuncture, but many extended health benefit plans do, either under acupuncture specifically or under the practitioner’s professional category. Check whether your plan covers naturopathic services and what the annual maximum is.

Do I need a referral? No referral is required to see a naturopathic doctor in Ontario, though some insurance plans ask for one for reimbursement.

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