The Role of Acupuncture in Enhancing IVF Success Rates

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Silvana Chedid on September 9, 2026

The strongest available evidence does not show that acupuncture increases live birth rates in IVF. Large reviews and the best-designed randomized trials have found little or no difference in live births when acupuncture is compared with sham acupuncture or with no added treatment, although some smaller studies report higher pregnancy rates. Many patients still value acupuncture for relaxation and a sense of active participation during a stressful process, and it is generally considered low risk when performed by a licensed practitioner, so the most accurate way to think about it is as an optional comfort measure alongside proven fertility treatment rather than a way to raise success rates.

At Chedid Grieco, we take a holistic view of fertility care that considers a patient’s full well-being, not just their treatment protocol. Our team works alongside patients considering complementary therapies like acupuncture as part of their IVF plan, helping them understand what the evidence does and does not show before they decide whether to add it to their care.

How Acupuncture Is Used in Fertility Care

Acupuncture involves inserting very thin needles at specific points on the body to stimulate the nervous system and, according to traditional Chinese medicine, to promote the flow of energy through the body. In a fertility context, practitioners target points believed to support reproductive function and reduce stress.

Researchers have proposed several mechanisms through which acupuncture might affect reproductive health, including reducing stress hormones, increasing blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, helping regulate ovulation in some patients with irregular cycles, and supporting sperm quality in male partners. These ideas come mostly from small or early-stage studies, and none of them has been shown to translate into more live births for IVF patients, which is an important distinction for anyone weighing whether to add acupuncture to their treatment plan.

Acupuncture is classified as a complementary therapy rather than an alternative one, meaning it is intended to work alongside, and not in place of, evidence-based fertility treatments such as IVF, ovarian stimulation medications, or embryo transfer protocols. Patients who are curious about acupuncture should think of it the same way they would think of any complementary therapy: worth discussing with their care team, but not a substitute for the medical treatment plan a fertility specialist has recommended.

What the Research Actually Shows

The research on acupuncture and IVF outcomes is larger than many patients expect, and the higher-quality studies have mostly been disappointing. A Cochrane systematic review of acupuncture and assisted reproductive technology concluded that there is no evidence that acupuncture improves live birth or pregnancy rates in assisted conception, whether it is given around egg retrieval or around embryo transfer, and it rated the available evidence as low quality. In 2018, a randomized trial of 848 women at 16 IVF centers in Australia and New Zealand, published in JAMA, compared acupuncture with a sham control and found live birth rates of 18.3 percent and 17.8 percent, a difference that was not statistically significant.

Smaller studies sometimes point the other way. A 2020 randomized trial of 186 women on the timing of acupuncture around embryo transfer reported higher clinical pregnancy rates with a single session before transfer compared with no acupuncture, but adding a second session after transfer was no better than no acupuncture at all. That trial did not use a sham group, was not blinded, and did not measure live births, so it cannot answer the question most patients care about. Patients reading claims about acupuncture and fertility online should look for whether a study compared acupuncture with a sham control and whether it reported live births, since studies without those features tend to overstate the benefit.

Timing of Acupuncture Treatment During IVF

Patients who decide to try acupuncture often ask when sessions should happen. The schedules below reflect what acupuncturists commonly offer, not a protocol proven to change IVF results, and your fertility team and acupuncturist can coordinate them around your own cycle.

Common approaches include the following:

• Pre-treatment phase: Regular sessions for two to three months before starting IVF, which some patients use mainly for stress management
• During stimulation: Sessions during ovarian stimulation, offered by some practitioners although evidence of an effect on follicle development is lacking
• Around embryo transfer: Sessions immediately before and after transfer, an approach sometimes called the Paulus protocol after the researcher who first studied it, which later trials have not confirmed
• Early pregnancy: Continued sessions in early pregnancy that some patients pursue for stress management and relaxation

The experience of acupuncture varies from person to person, and a fertility specialist can help determine whether this complementary approach fits a patient’s specific treatment plan and hormonal and reproductive consultation.

What to Expect During Acupuncture Treatment

Patients considering acupuncture as part of their fertility care can expect a first appointment that begins with a detailed consultation about medical history, fertility diagnosis, and current treatment plan. Many acupuncturists trained in Chinese medicine will also check pulse points and examine the tongue as part of a traditional diagnostic approach, then develop a treatment plan based on that assessment.

During treatment, patients lie comfortably while very thin, sterile needles are placed at selected points. Most people feel minimal or no discomfort during insertion. Needles typically remain in place for twenty to thirty minutes while the patient rests, and many describe the experience as deeply relaxing, which can itself be valuable given the stress that often accompanies fertility treatment.

Acupuncture When Your IVF Cycle Happens Abroad

Many of our patients have their consultation in Miami and travel to Sao Paulo for retrieval and transfer, which changes the practical side of adding acupuncture. A session timed to transfer day only makes sense if a licensed practitioner is available near the clinic and the appointment does not add rushing or stress to an already full travel schedule. Some patients choose to keep acupuncture to the weeks before they travel, with an acupuncturist they already know at home, and skip sessions in Brazil entirely.

Cost is part of the decision as well. Acupuncture is usually paid out of pocket, and a program of weekly sessions plus transfer-day visits can add up. Because the evidence does not show a live birth benefit, we encourage patients to treat it as a comfort expense rather than a medical investment, and to put their budget first toward the treatment steps that are proven to matter.

Balancing Complementary Care With Your IVF Treatment Plan

Fertility treatment can be physically and emotionally demanding, and many patients look for ways to feel more in control of their care during a process that can otherwise feel entirely out of their hands. Acupuncture is one option some patients add for exactly this reason, alongside other approaches to balancing fertility treatment with daily life, such as adjusting work schedules or building in more rest between appointments.

Our team’s role is to make sure any complementary therapy a patient chooses fits safely alongside their medical protocol rather than working against it. We encourage open conversation about any complementary treatments a patient is considering, including acupuncture, supplements, or herbal products, so we can flag any potential interactions with fertility medications and keep the full care team informed.

Contact Chedid Grieco for Comprehensive Fertility Care

Dr. Silvana Chedid and the Chedid Grieco team bring decades of experience in reproductive medicine and a holistic approach that considers every aspect of a patient’s well-being, not only their treatment protocol. With FDA registration and a New York State tissue bank license for our Sao Paulo facility, we combine advanced reproductive technology with honest guidance about the complementary therapies patients choose to pursue alongside their care.

If you are curious whether acupuncture or another complementary therapy might fit into your IVF plan, our team can talk through the evidence and help you make an informed decision based on your specific situation, rather than a generic recommendation that may not apply to your diagnosis or protocol. Consultations are held in Miami, with treatment provided at our facility in Brazil through our fertility tourism program. Reach out through our contact form to schedule a consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Acupuncture and IVF