Acupuncture has been used to support fertility for thousands of years, but over the past two decades it has also become one of the most extensively researched complementary therapies in reproductive medicine. Today, dozens of randomized controlled trials and multiple systematic reviews have evaluated whether acupuncture can improve pregnancy outcomes during in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Like many areas of medicine, the research is not entirely uniform. Individual studies have produced varying results, reflecting differences in patient populations, acupuncture protocols, and study design. However, when researchers combine data from many high-quality clinical trials, the overall evidence has become increasingly encouraging.
This article reviews the current scientific evidence on acupuncture and IVF, including the latest meta-analyses, proposed biological mechanisms, and important limitations of the available research.
Table of Contents
Key Findings at a Glance
- More than 100 clinical studies have evaluated acupuncture as an adjunct to IVF which shows acupuncture helps improve clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, and live birth rates when combined with IVF.
- A 2023 meta-analysis of 25 randomized controlled trials involving 4,757 women found significant improvements in several pregnancy outcomes.
- A 2025 meta-analysis of 42 randomized controlled trials involving more than 7,400 women reinforced these findings and reported reduced anxiety and procedural pain during IVF.
- Research suggests that four or more acupuncture treatments may be more effective than a single treatment performed only on embryo transfer day.
Why Researchers Have Studied Acupuncture During IVF
Despite significant advances in assisted reproductive technology, IVF success rates remain influenced by many biological factors, including ovarian response, embryo quality, endometrial receptivity, uterine blood flow, hormone regulation, and stress.
Because acupuncture appears to influence several of these systems, researchers have investigated whether it may improve reproductive outcomes when used alongside conventional fertility treatment. More than 100 randomized clinical trials have now examined acupuncture in women undergoing IVF, making fertility one of the best-studied applications of acupuncture.
Evidence from Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
2023 Systematic Review: Improved Pregnancy Outcomes
One of the most influential reviews was published in 2023 in Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics. They analyzed 25 randomized controlled trials involving 4,757 women undergoing IVF. The investigators found that women receiving acupuncture experienced improvements in several important reproductive outcomes compared with IVF alone, including clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate.¹
The review included manual acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS), suggesting that benefits were observed across several acupuncture approaches rather than being limited to one specific technique.
Perhaps one of the most clinically useful findings was that women who received at least four acupuncture treatments appeared to have better outcomes than those receiving only a single treatment around embryo transfer.¹
2025 Updated Meta-analysis: Stronger Evidence
Since that review, an even larger systematic review and meta-analysis was published in the International Journal of Nursing Studies in 2025. Fu and colleagues analyzed 42 randomized controlled trials involving more than 7,400 women undergoing IVF.²
Compared with sham acupuncture or IVF alone, acupuncture was associated with statistically significant improvements in clinical pregnancy rates, pain associated with IVF procedures, and anxiety during treatment²
Importantly, the review also highlighted the favorable safety profile of acupuncture, with reported adverse effects limited primarily to mild local reactions.²
Does Acupuncture on Embryo Transfer Day Help?
One of the most common questions patients ask is whether acupuncture performed immediately before or after embryo transfer improves success rates.
A 2025 systematic review specifically evaluated acupuncture administered around embryo transfer. The review included 11 randomized controlled trials and found that acupuncture performed during the embryo transfer period was associated with improved clinical pregnancy rates compared with control groups. The authors also explored the optimal timing of treatment but concluded that additional research is needed before standardized protocols can be recommended.³
Taken together, these findings suggest that acupuncture performed around embryo transfer may be additionally beneficial, although many fertility specialists now believe that treatment throughout the IVF cycle is likely more important than a single session alone.
How Might Acupuncture Support IVF?
Researchers continue to investigate the biological mechanisms responsible for these findings. Although no single mechanism fully explains acupuncture’s effects, several pathways have received considerable scientific attention.
Regulation of Reproductive Hormones
Research suggests acupuncture may influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis, the hormonal system responsible for regulating ovarian function. Studies have reported changes in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone, and other reproductive hormones that play essential roles during IVF.⁴⁻⁶
Improved Blood Flow to the Uterus
Several studies suggest acupuncture may improve blood flow to the uterus and ovaries. Enhanced uterine perfusion may help optimize endometrial development and create a more favorable environment for embryo implantation.⁷
Reduced Stress and Anxiety
IVF is physically and emotionally demanding. Multiple studies have shown acupuncture can reduce anxiety and influence the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, helping regulate the body’s stress response. While stress reduction alone is unlikely to explain improvements in pregnancy outcomes, it represents an important benefit for many patients undergoing fertility treatment.2,8
Modulation of Inflammation
Emerging research also suggests acupuncture may influence inflammatory pathways and immune function. Because implantation depends upon a carefully regulated immune environment, this remains an active area of investigation.⁹
Why Do Acupuncture Studies Sometimes Show Different Results?
As you read the research, you may notice that not every study reaches the same conclusion. While the overall evidence is encouraging, differences in study design, treatment protocols, and patient populations can lead to varying results.
One of the greatest challenges in acupuncture research is that there is no single “IVF acupuncture protocol.” The studies included in systematic reviews vary considerably in:
- The number of acupuncture treatments provided
- When treatments were performed during the IVF cycle
- The acupuncture points selected
- The use of manual acupuncture, electroacupuncture, or other techniques
- The experience and training of the practitioner
These differences make it difficult to directly compare studies or determine one standardized treatment approach that works for every patient.
This variability also reflects an important difference between clinical research and real-world practice. In many clinical trials, every participant receives the same acupuncture protocol to ensure consistency. In our clinic, however, acupuncture is individualized. Two women undergoing IVF may have very different medical histories, fertility diagnoses, hormone patterns, or symptoms, and an experienced practitioner may choose different treatment strategies based on those factors. Standardized research protocols are necessary for scientific study, but they cannot fully capture the personalized nature of acupuncture treatment.
In future research, I would like to see more pragmatic, real-world clinical trials. These studies evaluate how treatments perform in everyday practice, where acupuncture is individualized based on each patient’s diagnosis, medical history, symptoms, and response to treatment rather than following a single standardized protocol. Combining high-quality randomized trials with well-designed real-world studies would provide a more complete understanding of how acupuncture can best support patients undergoing IVF.
The Bottom Line
The current body of scientific evidence suggests acupuncture improves several important IVF outcomes, including clinical pregnancy and biochemical pregnancy rates, while also reducing treatment-related anxiety and procedural discomfort. Recent systematic reviews involving thousands of patients have produced encouraging results, particularly when acupuncture is incorporated as part of a treatment plan.
As the quality of the evidence continues to improve, future studies will help clarify which patients are most likely to benefit and how acupuncture can best be integrated into modern fertility care.
For patients interested in how acupuncture is incorporated into an IVF cycle—including when to begin treatment, recommended treatment frequency, and what to expect during ovarian stimulation, embryo transfer, and the two-week wait—please read our guide on Acupuncture for IVF.
References
1. Xu M, Zhu M, Zheng C, et al. Effects of acupuncture on pregnancy outcomes in women undergoing in vitro fertilization: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2023.
2. Fu QW, Zhu SM, Chen J, et al. Acupuncture for women undergoing in vitro fertilization: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis. Int J Nurs Stud. 2025;168:105097.
3. Wang Y, Ji J, Duan N, et al. Acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy on embryo transfer day: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical pregnancy and live birth outcomes. Front Reprod Health. 2025.
4. Ko JH, Kim SN. A literature review of women’s sex hormone changes by acupuncture treatment. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018.
5. Wang Y, Li Y, Chen R, et al. Electroacupuncture for reproductive hormone levels in patients with diminished ovarian reserve. Acupunct Med. 2014.
6. Pan W, Li FX, Wang Q, et al. A randomized sham-controlled trial of manual acupuncture for infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Integr Med Res. 2022.
7. Ng EHY, So WS, Gao J, et al. The role of acupuncture in the management of subfertility. Fertil Steril. 2008.
8. Eshkevari L, Permaul E, Mulroney SE. Acupuncture blocks cold stress-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. J Endocrinol. 2013.
9. Arranz L, Guayerbas N, Siboni L, et al. Effect of acupuncture treatment on immune function impairment found in anxious women. Am J Chin Med. 2007.
