Acupuncture & IVF Research

Ancient Traditional Chinese Medical texts describe the benefits of acupuncture for many gynecological and women’s health conditions. However, what does modern research say? In my practice, patients schedule acupuncture sessions before, during, and after IVF cycles. How do acupuncturists know when to schedule acupuncture sessions to improve time to conception?

Thanks to more than twenty five years of research on acupuncture and IVF, we can now customize treatment plans according to ancient texts and modern studies. Research findings include the types of acupuncture beneficial for fertility and how to time acupuncture sessions prior to IVF.

Studies to date also give us great insight into the types of integrative medicine modalities to recommend in conjunction with acupuncture. Additionally, we also have a better understanding of how acupuncture works to improve fertility and cause physiological changes in the body.

How does acupuncture work to improve IVF outcomes?

Research shows that acupuncture is an effective and therapeutic modality in conjunction with IVF. The following physiological effects have been observed in several acupuncture and IVF studies:

• Improved endometrial lining measurements

• Improved blood flow to the uterus

• Reduced uterine contractility before and after embryo transfer

• Increased follicle count and egg quality

• Reduced inflammation

• Improved immune system response

• Reduced general anxiety and stress

When was the first study done on acupuncture and IVF?

In 2002, one of the first studies on acupuncture and IVF was completed by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. In the study, pregnancy rates increased from 26.3% to 42.5% after a single 25-minute acupuncture session post embryo transfer. Acupuncture and IVF research has since been conducted all over the world including Germany, China, Australia, Sweden, as well as the United States showing similar results. The majority of these studies examine the effects of single acupuncture treatments before and after embryo transfers.

How does electroacupuncture benefit fertility and IVF?

Most of the research studies on acupuncture and IVF have been done using traditional acupuncture points on the body using needle stimulation only. However, Elisabet Stener-Victorin, a Swedish researcher and endocrinologist, has been examining the effects of electroacupuncture during IVF cycles since 1996.

Her research shows that electroacupuncture improves uterine arterial blood flow, a measurement thought to be related to follicle development. Stener-Victorin also concluded from further research that acupuncture has benefits for polycystic ovary syndrome and other fertility-related conditions. This may be due to acupuncture’s ability to regulate the sympathetic nervous system and the neuroendocrine system. If you are interested in learning more about this topic, read our Acupuncture & PCOS article.

Is there research on acupuncture and other lifestyle modifications that may improve IVF outcomes?

Despite the promising data from over twenty five years, these studies on acupuncture and IVF are limited in showing the true potential of acupuncture. In clinical practice, each acupuncture treatment is always customized according to patient’s medical and gynecological history.

Treatments are never standardized and they typically include integrative therapies such as diet, nutritional support, exercise, and stress reduction. An American acupuncturist and researcher recognized these limitations and designed a study to examine how Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine benefited fertility.

The research compared three groups:

1) IVF patients not receiving acupuncture

2) IVF patients receiving two standard acupuncture treatments the day of embryo transfer

3) IVF patients receiving Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine (WS-TCM).

WS-TCM is a term that refers to the complex combination of acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, nutritional counseling, and lifestyle modifications customized for each patient. As you may guess, the third group benefitted the most, having the highest rate of live births.

In conclusion, the growing body of research indicates what acupuncturists have known for thousands of years:

Acupuncture is a powerful tool for the treatment of fertility and many women’s health conditions.

If you found this article helpful, you may be interested in our Acupuncture for Infertility: Frequently Asked Questions article.

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