Fertility acupuncture in Ealing

Fertility acupuncture in Ealing, offering gentle and personalised support for women at different stages of their fertility journey. Kate combines acupuncture with a holistic approach to support menstrual health, hormonal wellbeing, stress management and emotional wellbeing, including alongside assisted fertility treatment such as IVF.

Every treatment is tailored to your individual needs, health history and stage of your fertility journey.

How Can Acupuncture Support Your Fertility Journey?

"It takes two" — conceiving relies on the quality of both egg and sperm, and the process of trying to conceive can be lengthy, complex and emotional for many couples. Research suggests infertility factors are roughly split — around 30% relate to the man, 30% to the woman, and the remainder are combined or unexplained. Unexplained fertility issues are thought to account for 30–50% of couples experiencing difficulty conceiving, often with no clear explanation from Western medicine.

Active Childbirth London is a group of highly trained acupuncturists who is required to continue professional development, within that we have fertility focused webinars every month.

Factors That Can Affect Fertility

Some factors of infertility:

Male factors
Female factors: blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), and others
Previous miscarriage, termination, or IVF, which can be depleting on the body
Diet and weight
Stress
Chemical exposure (xenoestrogens — see below), which can affect male and female endocrine systems
Coffee, alcohol, smoking, recreational drugs
Infections
Autoimmune factors
Genetic or chromosomal factors

How Acupuncture Can Help

In TCM, treatment focuses on restoring balance — between Yin and Yang, rest and activity, cold and hot — to help the body function optimally.

Acupuncture may be a supportive, complementary treatment for both men and women during the fertility process, helping patients relax and supporting general wellbeing alongside efforts toward natural or assisted conception. Some studies suggest acupuncture may be associated with:

Lower stress hormones and more regulated FSH*
Improved blood flow to the pelvic area, ovaries and uterus**
Reduced uterine contractions
Support for immune system regulation

As with much complementary medicine research, study quality varies, and acupuncture is best considered a supportive addition alongside — not a replacement for — medical fertility care.

Male fertility factor

Men are equally involved in the fertility process and their genetic material matters just as much, yet this side of fertility receives comparatively little attention. Men may be offered a standard semen analysis, but often little further support or guidance.

My colleague Ian Stone has created support specifically for men navigating fertility:

www.Testhim.com — instant recommendations from a free assessment
www.himfertility.com — monthly Zoom meetings for men only

Some simple, positive steps men can consider:

Plenty of vegetables, fruit, good fats, fish, nuts and antioxidants
Regular exercise
Staying well hydrated
Appropriate supplements, where needed
Loose-fitting underwear
Stress management
Regular ejaculation (roughly every 3–4 days) to support sperm health
Seeking medical professional guidance
Reducing or cutting out alcohol, coffee (over 2 cups/day) and cigarettes, all of which may affect testosterone levels

If sperm quality is a concern, further tests to discuss with a doctor may include:

Infection screening
Ultrasound
DNA fragmentation testing
Oxidative stress testing (ROS/Mioxsys)
Hormone profile (testosterone naturally tends to decline after age 35)
Karyotyping
Anti-sperm antibody testing (MAR)
HBA sperm binding assay

Timing of Acupuncture during natural fertility journey

Every person is unique and has different TCM pathologies, therefore each person would receive personalised treatment. However, there are so many studies and research showed receiving acupuncture at the right time can help improve your chances of success.

Prior to Conception

I would advise to start regular treatments 3-6 months prior to planned conception. The reason is to allow your body at least three cycles to prepare itself. In the treatments the egg quality and lining of the uterus are always the focus. Starting treatment about 90 days prior to when you hope to become pregnant will help in proper egg development.

During Your Menstrual Cycle

Having acupuncture during bleed has resulted in success according to studies due to the thickness of the endometrium and maturation of follicles that occurs during this period. Your chances of conception may also improve if you undergo acupuncture the day of, day before, or day after ovulation.

Follicular Phase

Day four or five of the follicular phase (day 8-14): The follicular phase is also good to have acupuncture for fertility. Acupuncture aids in improving egg production while also stimulating egg growth. This is because acupuncture treatment can result in an increase in blood flow which helps with the absorption of nutrients.

During Ovulation

Treatment during ovulation may also be the best time to have acupuncture for fertility, it can help maturation of the egg and aid blood flow to the uterus lining.

Luteal Phase

In lutheal phase (day 14-29): Having acupuncture treatment during implantation can improve fertility due to the increase in the flow of blood to the ovaries and the uterus. Acupuncture has been proven to help to reduce the anxiety and stress that may sometimes accompany fertility struggles.

Fertility Acupuncture & IVF

Acupuncture is the one of the most commonly used complementary treatment alongside IVF treatment and has become integrated into many of the best fertility clinics across the world.

A study(***) in 2002 found that conception rates with acupuncture rose to 42.5% compared to a non acupuncture control group that achieved a success rate of only 26.5%. Paulus protocol is used for the pre and post transfer treatments. Those include body and ear acupuncture points.

A 2008 systematic review and meta-analysis published in the British Medical Journal**** pooled data from seven trials involving 1,366 women undergoing IVF. It found that acupuncture given around embryo transfer was associated with higher rates of clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, and live birth. The authors note this evidence was preliminary, and a subgroup analysis of trials with stronger control-group results showed a smaller, non-significant benefit — so acupuncture is best considered a supportive addition alongside standard IVF care, not a guarantee of improved odds.

Timing of Acupuncture during IVF?

In preparation for the IVF similarily to natural conception I would advise starting treatments 3-6 months prior to the cycle. That is to maximise the quality of the egg. Younger women with good ovarian reserves may need less treatments in that period, while older women with poorer ovarian reserves will require more frequent treatments.
During stimulation - ideally during day 3-4 to have a treatment
Before egg retrieval. This is because adequate blood flow is especially important during this phase, particularly in older patients, as research shows that follicles that have poor blood supply during this stage produce more genetically damaged eggs.
Egg retrieval recovery- depending on how the woman is feeling, some women who experience complications during or after the egg retrieval procedure, for example, pain or symptoms of mild to moderate OHSS, may benefit from additional acupuncture treatment during this time.
Embryo transfer- ideally before and after, it could be on the same day, if that isn't too stressful. Paulus research (***)
Research has investigated acupuncture around the time of embryo transfer during IVF. In a 2002 randomised study by Paulus et al., two acupuncture treatments were given — one approximately 25 minutes before and one after embryo transfer. The study reported a clinical pregnancy rate of 42.5% in the acupuncture group compared with 26.3% in the control group. These findings generated interest in the potential role of acupuncture alongside IVF. However, subsequent research has produced mixed results, and acupuncture has not been established as a treatment that increases IVF success rates. It is best considered a complementary therapy alongside appropriate fertility care.
Pregnancy support if required

Chemical Exposure & Xenoestrogens

Xenoestrogens are chemical compounds found in some plastics, cosmetics, and household products that can mimic oestrogen in the body and may disrupt hormonal balance in both men and women. Reducing exposure — for example, by choosing glass or stainless steel over plastic food containers, and checking ingredient lists on personal care products — is a simple, practical step some patients choose to take alongside treatment.

Fertility Acupuncture FAQs

How many acupuncture sessions are needed for fertility support?

This varies by individual, but for natural conception I'd generally suggest starting regular treatment 3–6 months before you hope to conceive, allowing the body around three menstrual cycles to prepare. For IVF support, sessions are typically timed around your treatment cycle — before stimulation, before egg retrieval, and around embryo transfer. We'll discuss a personalised plan at your first consultation.

Can acupuncture help with unexplained infertility?

Unexplained infertility accounts for a significant proportion of couples who have difficulty conceiving, often with no clear answer from conventional testing. Acupuncture may be a helpful supportive treatment in these cases, focusing on general reproductive wellbeing, stress reduction, and improved blood flow — though it's not a guaranteed solution and works best alongside, not instead of, ongoing medical investigation.

Is acupuncture safe to have alongside IVF medication?

Acupuncture is generally considered safe alongside IVF and other fertility treatments when carried out by a qualified, experienced practitioner. It's widely used as a complementary treatment in many fertility clinics. As always, it's worth mentioning any fertility treatment or medication you're undergoing so sessions can be planned appropriately around your cycle.

When should I start fertility acupuncture before IVF?

Ideally, starting 3–6 months ahead of your IVF cycle gives the best opportunity to support egg quality, though this isn't always possible. Even starting closer to your cycle, or during stimulation, can still be worthwhile — sessions around egg retrieval and embryo transfer in particular are supported by research as potentially beneficial.

Location

To find out more about session fees, appointment availability, and how to book, visit our Location & Fees page.

Jill Glover — Miscarriage, repeated pregnancy loss
Ian Stone — Male fertility
Zita West — carefertility.com/blog/acupuncture-for-fertility
* Ng 2008, Huang 2008, Lim 2010, Stener-Victorin 2010
** Stener-Victorin 2006, Lim 2010, Stener-Victorin 1996, Huang 2008, Stener-Victorin (2000, 2008, 2009), Zhang (2009)
*** Paulus et al., Fertility and Sterility, Vol. 77, No. 4, April 2002 — PubMed link
**** Manheimer E, Zhang G, Udoff L, Haramati A, Langenberg P, Berman BM, Bouter LM. "Effects of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilisation: systematic review and meta-analysis." BMJ, 2008;336(7643):545-9. PubMed link