How many acupuncture treatments do I need during my IVF cycle?
This article explores how many acupuncture treatments we recommend you have during your IVF treatment protocol. We have recommendations around the general number of treatments needed, which is mostly based on research, but it also depends on the number of IVF cycles you may have already had, and the type of IVF treatment protocol you’ll be undertaking.
Research
Research has been carried out around the most effective number of acupuncture treatments leading up to and during an IVF cycle. A meta-analysis by Smith et al (2019) found that there was a 50% increase in the clinical pregnancy rate (or live births) when the patient received three acupuncture treatments leading up to embryo transfer.
This research also found that acupuncture had a greater benefit for patients who previously had been a poor responder to IVF compared with patients in their first IVF cycle, and that a greater number of acupuncture treatments increased clinical pregnancy rates.
In fact, 12 acupuncture treatments had an improved outcome for live birth rates over an embryo transfer alone and acupuncture on the day of transfer (Smith et al 2019).
Our Kidney Jing and previous IVF cycles
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), fertility is associated with our Kidney Jing. Kidney Jing, or Kidney Essence, influences our ability to conceive, as well as our vitality and longevity. Kidney Jing is concentrated in the brain, bone marrow, ova (eggs in women) and sperm in men. Our Jing naturally declines with age, and this is what leads to declining egg and sperm quality and quantity.
Assisted Reproductive Treatments (ARTs), including IVF, is a physically and emotionally intensive process. In TCM, multiple IVF cycles can deplete our stores of Kidney Jing, especially if they have been undertaken within a short period of time.
Generally speaking, those who are over 35 years, or those who have undertaken multiple IVF cycles, may need more acupuncture treatments than those who haven’t. This is to replenish our Kidney Jing.
Treatment frequency during and after an IVF cycle
Here are our specific recommendations on treatment frequency during and immediately after your IVF cycle:
Weekly treatments from day one of your IVF cycle (during your menstrual bleed). This is to support the development of follicles, thicken the endometrial lining and calm the mind.
One treatment two to three days after egg retrieval to address pain and bloating.
One treatment the day before your embryo transfer to thicken the endometrial lining.
One treatment the same day as the transfer (ideally, on your way home from the IVF clinic) to support implantation and calm the mind.
Weekly treatments during your two-week wait. This is to support implantation and calm the mind.
If you are undertaking a treatment protocol that doesn’t involve hormone stimulation or an egg collection, such as a frozen embryo transfer, one treatment pre-transfer and one treatment post-transfer is recommended. However, if time allows, it is ideal to have additional acupuncture treatments in the weeks leading up to your transfer to maximise success.
Start early if you can
The benefits of acupuncture are cumulative. If it’s possible, it is best to start regular acupuncture treatments before you start an IVF cycle. If you have had a few cycles without success, consider waiting three months to begin your next round.
In women, our follicles (fluid-filled sacs within the ovaries that contain immature eggs) develop and mature over 90 days. So, commencing acupuncture, as well as making other dietary and lifestyle changes, is key to supporting the optimal health of our follicles and eggs.
See this blog post for tips on how to support your fertility through dietary therapy and lifestyle tips.
Other things to note
Chinese herbs are an important part of IVF treatments. Perhaps the most underestimated component of the practice of TCM, Chinese herbal medicine is a powerful way of restoring balance and harmony in the body. The vast majority of Chinese herbs are made from plants, with a few animal and mineral derived ones. See this blog post on the role they play.
It is recommended that your partner/husband/wife have regular acupuncture treatments too. Sperm contains the other half of genetic material, and, according to the Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand, male factor infertility accounts one-third of infertility.
However, we recognise that this advice is more challenging for those women or couples who are using donor sperm from an anonymous source.
In cases of Partner or Reciprocal IVF (same-sex couples) where one person provides eggs and the embryo is transferred to the uterus of the other partner, the recommendations in this article still apply.
In summary
Research shows that between three and 12 treatments increases the chance of live birth rates.
If you can, plan for two to three months of weekly acupuncture treatments prior to beginning both stimulated and non-stimulated IVF treatment protocols (this includes a frozen embryo transfer, ovulation induction and IUI).
During an IVF cycle, plan for weekly treatments from day one of your IVF cycle (during your menstrual bleed), one treatment two to three days after egg retrieval to address pain and bloating, one treatment the day before your embryo transfer, one treatment the same day as the transfer and weekly treatments during your two-week wait. This is to support implantation and calm the mind.
It is recommended that your partner/husband/wife have regular acupuncture treatments too.
Chinse herbs, dietary therapy, stress-relieving strategies and supplementation are important ways to support fertility.
References:
Smith, C.A., Armour, M., Shewamene, Z., Tan, H.Y., Norman, R.J., Johnson, N.P., 2019, Acupuncture Performed Around the Time of Embryo Transfer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Reproductive Medicine Online, vol. 38, no. 3.