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Acupuncture for Fertility & IVF Support

Acupuncture and fertility care

Acupuncture is widely used by women undergoing IVF.¹ This page covers IVF and other assisted reproduction, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and ovulation, male infertility, and Chinese herbal medicine. Questions about why pregnancy has not happened, and which tests and treatments fit your situation, belong with a fertility specialist.

In the United States, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) 2017 guideline on embryo transfer concluded that there is fair evidence (Grade B) that acupuncture performed around the time of embryo transfer does not improve live-birth rates in IVF.² In Europe, the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) 2023 recommendations on IVF add-ons state that "acupuncture, Chinese and herbal medicine and other complementary therapies are not recommended,"³ and its 2023 guideline on unexplained infertility states that "acupuncture in women is probably not recommended" (a conditional recommendation).⁴ The UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 2026 fertility guideline does not mention acupuncture; it advises telling people that the effectiveness of complementary therapies for fertility problems has not been properly evaluated, and that further research is needed before they can be recommended.⁵

Below is a summary of what studies have found, including results that are mixed or negative. HPA helps you find licensed clinics that focus on fertility and IVF support.

What the research says

Acupuncture during IVF and other assisted reproduction

What the research shows overall. Some studies report higher pregnancy rates with acupuncture during IVF, but the certainty of that evidence is very low, and acupuncture has not been shown to increase live births.^1,6,7

Pregnancy rates. A 2026 review of 42 trials including 9,390 women (manual acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation) found acupuncture was associated with higher clinical pregnancy rates (RR 1.25) and implantation rates (RR 1.16), while the effect on live birth was uncertain (RR 1.14; 95% CI 0.98–1.32). The certainty of evidence for all main outcomes was very low.⁶

Live births. In a 2018 randomized trial of 848 women at 16 IVF centers in Australia and New Zealand, the live-birth rate was 18.3% with acupuncture and 17.8% with sham acupuncture (relative risk 1.02). The authors concluded that the findings do not support acupuncture to improve live-birth rates in IVF.¹ A 2013 Cochrane review of 20 trials found no evidence that acupuncture improves live birth or pregnancy rates in assisted conception.⁷

The comparison group matters. A 2022 review of 29 studies found better pregnancy and live-birth outcomes when acupuncture was compared with no added treatment, but no significant difference in any outcome when it was compared with sham acupuncture (live birth OR 1.02).⁸

Stress and anxiety during IVF. A 2022 review of eight trials (2,253 participants) found a small effect of acupuncture on IVF-related anxiety compared with any control (standardized mean difference −0.21), based on very low certainty evidence. The authors said more research is needed to confirm it.⁹ ASRM's patient fact sheet on stress lists acupuncture among several stress-reduction methods, along with exercise, meditation, yoga and others. It also notes that less stress may not, in and of itself, result in a pregnancy.¹⁰

PCOS and ovulation

What the research shows overall. Some reviews report improvements in hormone and metabolic measures, but these reports are preliminary, and large trials have not found that acupuncture increases live births for women with PCOS.^11,12,13 The 2023 international evidence-based PCOS guideline does not include a recommendation on acupuncture.¹⁴

Large trials and reviews. A 2025 Cochrane review (nine trials, 1,606 women) found no clear evidence of a difference between acupuncture and sham acupuncture in live birth, ovulation, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage or restoring regular periods (live birth RR 0.97; low-certainty evidence). It found that adverse events are probably more common with acupuncture (moderate-certainty evidence).¹² In a 2017 trial of 1,000 women with PCOS in China, acupuncture with or without the fertility drug clomiphene did not increase live births compared with control acupuncture; diarrhea and bruising were more common with active acupuncture.¹³

Insulin and hormones. In a 2022 trial of 342 women with PCOS and insulin resistance, acupuncture did not improve insulin sensitivity as much as metformin, and no significant difference was found between acupuncture and sham acupuncture in HOMA-IR, a measure of insulin resistance. At 4 months after the baseline visit, no significant differences were found between acupuncture and sham acupuncture in LH/FSH, total testosterone or free androgen index. Fasting blood glucose fell more with acupuncture than with sham acupuncture (difference −0.2 mmol/L; 95% CI −0.4 to −0.0; P = 0.01). Bruising was more common with acupuncture.¹⁵

Preliminary reports. A 2025 review of 51 studies reported improvements in hormone, metabolic and body-weight measures with acupuncture and combined therapies, mostly acupuncture combined with metformin or with herbal medicine. The authors noted risk of bias and heterogeneity and called for high-quality trials to confirm the findings.¹¹

Male infertility

Semen measures, not pregnancies. A 2021 review of seven trials concluded that current evidence does not support acupuncture as an effective treatment for low sperm count or low sperm motility, noting a high risk of bias in the studies.¹⁶ A 2023 network analysis of 38 trials reported better semen measures with warming acupuncture (needle acupuncture with burning moxa attached to the needle handle) and electroacupuncture, but said its findings need further validation because of the quality of the included studies.¹⁷ These studies looked at semen measures, not pregnancy or live birth.

Chinese herbal medicine

Limited and uncertain evidence. A 2021 Cochrane review of eight trials in women with PCOS found insufficient evidence to support Chinese herbal medicine for subfertility. No trial reported live births. Adding herbal medicine to clomiphene may improve pregnancy rates, but this evidence was low certainty, and there was not enough evidence to say whether the herbs are safe.¹⁸ A 2013 review of 20 trials of herbal medicine alongside IVF reported higher clinical pregnancy rates (OR 2.04). However, because most trials had a high risk of bias, the authors said the differences were unlikely to be accurate, and no conclusion could be drawn about reproductive toxicity; the review reported no live-birth data.¹⁹ ESHRE's 2023 add-on recommendations do not recommend Chinese and herbal medicine.³ If you are trying to conceive or going through IVF, tell your fertility doctor before taking any herbal product.

Research results describe groups of patients, not any one person. Acupuncture does not replace evaluation or treatment by a fertility specialist. If you are going through IVF or other fertility treatment, tell your fertility team before adding acupuncture or herbal products.

What to expect at a visit

Acupuncture for fertility care is used alongside your medical care, not instead of it. Before starting, let your physician or fertility specialist know. Tell the licensed Acupuncture Physician (AP) about all your medications and treatments, including any fertility medications. In electroacupuncture, a mild electrical current is passed through some of the needles. Needling can cause minor bleeding or bruising. If you are in an IVF cycle, bring your treatment calendar so visits can be planned around it.

In Florida, acupuncture is provided by Acupuncture Physicians (AP) licensed by the Florida Department of Health. Insurance coverage for acupuncture varies by plan — ask the clinic and your insurer before your first visit.

Clinics on HPA that focus on fertility and IVF support

The clinics below list these concerns in their own Clinical Focus. HPA does not rank clinics.

Not near these clinics, or not sure which one fits? Send a request and HPA will follow up with you personally.

Sources

1. Effect of Acupuncture vs Sham Acupuncture on Live Births Among Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization: A Randomized Clinical Trial. PMID 29800212
2. Performing the embryo transfer: a guideline. PMID 28366416
3. Good practice recommendations on add-ons in reproductive medicine. PMID 37747409
4. Evidence-based guideline: unexplained infertility. PMID 37599566
5. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Fertility problems: assessment and treatment (NG257). March 31, 2026. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng257
6. Timing and dose of acupuncture as adjuncts to assisted reproduction: a meta-analysis and model-based network meta-analysis. PMID 42494870
7. Acupuncture and assisted reproductive technology. PMID 23888428
8. Acupuncture effects on in-vitro fertilization pregnancy outcomes: A meta-analysis. PMID 34979465
9. Effect of acupuncture on IVF-related anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PMID 35570176
10. ASRM Patient Education Committee. Stress and Infertility. Revised 2023. https://www.reproductivefacts.org/news-and-publications/fact-sheets-and-infographics/stress-and-infertility/
11. Improvement of endocrine and metabolic conditions in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome through acupuncture and its combined therapies: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PMID 40091529
12. Acupuncture for polycystic ovary syndrome. PMID 41147529
13. Effect of Acupuncture and Clomiphene in Chinese Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial. PMID 28655015
14. Recommendations from the 2023 International Evidence-based Guideline for the Assessment and Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. PMID 37580037
15. Effect of acupuncture and metformin on insulin sensitivity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin resistance: a three-armed randomized controlled trial. PMID 34907435
16. Acupuncture for oligospermia and asthenozoospermia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PMID 35049183
17. Efficacy and safety of nonpharmacological strategies for the treatment of oligoasthenospermia: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis. PMID 36600309
18. Chinese herbal medicine for subfertile women with polycystic ovarian syndrome. PMID 34085287
19. Can Chinese herbal medicine improve outcomes of in vitro fertilization? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PMID 24339951

Prepared by Harmony Pain Alliance · Last reviewed: 2026-11-06
This page is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.