Acupuncture and IVF: what does the research say?

The research on acupuncture and IVF is mixed, and the largest, most careful studies don’t show that it improves live birth rates.[1][2][3] Some reviews find a difference compared with no acupuncture at all, but not compared with sham acupuncture.[3] I work in parallel with your fertility clinic, and many people choose acupuncture during IVF as a way to rest and feel supported, without expecting it to change the result.

I want to be honest with you about this, because IVF is expensive, demanding and emotional. You deserve to know what the studies show before you spend time and money on anything extra.

What the largest trial found

The most cited trial was published in JAMA in 2018. Researchers at 16 IVF centers in Australia and New Zealand randomized 848 women to acupuncture or sham acupuncture.[1] The first session was on days 6 to 8 of ovarian stimulation, and two more were given before and after embryo transfer.

Live birth rates were 18.3% in the acupuncture group and 17.8% in the sham group.[1] That difference is so small that it could be chance. The authors concluded that the results don’t support acupuncture for this purpose.

What the reviews say

A single trial is never the whole picture, so I also look at systematic reviews.

• Cochrane, 2013. The review found no evidence that acupuncture improved live birth rates, whether it was given around embryo transfer or around egg retrieval. The quality of the evidence was low.[2]
• Embryo transfer day, 2025. A review of 11 randomized trials found a higher rate of clinical pregnancy with acupuncture compared with no acupuncture. Compared with sham acupuncture, the difference disappeared, and there was no clear effect on live birth.[3]
• ESHRE, 2023. The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology went through the research on IVF add-ons. It describes the evidence on acupuncture and live birth as contradictory, and its recommendation is that acupuncture, Chinese and herbal medicine and other complementary therapies are not recommended as IVF add-ons.[4]

ESHRE also points out how hard acupuncture is to study. Trials have used different control groups, different numbers of needles, and sessions at different points in the cycle.[4] That’s one reason the results vary so much.

Why sham acupuncture matters

When acupuncture does better than no acupuncture, but not better than sham, it usually means the effect comes from the visit itself. Lying down, resting, being cared for and having someone pay attention to you can matter. That’s real, but it’s a different thing from an effect of the needles themselves.

I think this is worth knowing when you make your choice. If you come to me during IVF, I want it to be because the visits feel good to you, not because you’ve been told they will raise your chances.

What the UK regulator says

The HFEA, the UK’s fertility regulator, writes that it does not regulate complementary therapies and that they are not usually offered at licensed fertility clinics. It notes that they may be suggested to help with relaxation or wellbeing.[5] It also encourages people to ask why an add-on is recommended and whether it would help them specifically.[5]

So why do people still come for acupuncture during IVF?

IVF often means weeks of injections, scans, waiting and uncertainty. Many people describe acupuncture as a quiet hour in the middle of all that. Some want help with sleep and stress. Others simply want someone to talk to who isn’t part of the medical process.

That’s how I see my role. Your clinic is in charge of your IVF: medications, timing and every medical decision. I work alongside it with:

• Japanese-style acupuncture, with thin, sterile, single-use needles
• advice on sleep, stress and food
• herbs and supplements, chosen with your medications in mind

Before I recommend any herbs or supplements, I go through everything you take. Questions about your medications and protocol always go to your clinic.

Safety and timing

Serious side effects from acupuncture are uncommon. According to 1177 (Sweden’s public health information service), small bruises where the needles were are common, and some people feel tired, dizzy, thirsty or nauseous afterward.[6]

1177 also lists situations when acupuncture isn’t suitable, for example:[6]

• you have an increased bleeding risk or take blood thinners
• you have a pacemaker
• you have an infection in the area where the needles would go

Timing matters around egg retrieval, transfer and the weeks after. Let me know your clinic’s dates and your medications, and we’ll plan the visits with them in mind.

Visits with me

I practice at Kommendörsgatan 9 in Östermalm, near the Östermalmstorg and Stadion metro stations. Visits are in English or Swedish.

• First visit, acupuncture only: 50 minutes, 1,750 SEK
• Acupuncture follow-up: 50 minutes, 1,150 SEK
• First visit with the whole picture: 60 minutes, 3,500 SEK, if you’d also like to go through food, sleep, stress, earlier lab results and a written plan

You’ll find more on fertility support, on how acupuncture works with me, and every option on prices. If you’re not sure what fits, there’s a free 15-minute call on Tuesdays between 1 and 2 pm.

When to see a doctor

Your IVF clinic is the first place to turn if something feels wrong during your cycle. Contact your clinic right away, or 1177 outside its opening hours, if you have any of these after stimulation or egg retrieval:[7]

• your belly swells, or you gain weight quickly
• it’s hard to breathe
• it’s hard to pass urine
• you feel very unwell

For new, severe or unclear symptoms, or low mood that doesn’t lift, contact your vårdcentral (local primary care clinic) or 1177. In an emergency, call 112.

Sources

1. Smith CA, de Lacey S, Chapman M, et al. Effect of Acupuncture vs Sham Acupuncture on Live Births Among Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA, 2018;319(19):1990-1998. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6583254/
2. Cheong YC, Dix S, Hung Yu Ng E, Ledger WL, Farquhar C. Acupuncture and assisted reproductive technology. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2013. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11285306/
3. Wang Y, Ji J, Duan N, Yin Y. Acupuncture as an adjunctive therapy on embryo transfer day: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical pregnancy and live birth outcomes. Frontiers in Reproductive Health, 2025. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frph.2025.1673144/full
4. ESHRE Add-ons working group, et al. Good practice recommendations on add-ons in reproductive medicine. Human Reproduction, 2023. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10628516/
5. HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority). Treatment add-ons. Accessed 2026-11-09. https://www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/treatment-add-ons/
6. 1177. Akupunktur (in Swedish). Updated 2026-08-25. Accessed 2026-11-09. https://www.1177.se/undersokning-behandling/smartbehandlingar-och-rehabilitering/akupunktur/
7. Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), patient information leaflet. Accessed 2026-11-09. https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/leaflets/ovarian-hyperstimulation-syndrome-ohss/