Fertility Acupuncture Research: Encouraging Findings and Clinical Context

Sources reviewed October 19, 2026 (review date, not each paper’s publication date).

Research on acupuncture in fertility care includes encouraging findings for pregnancy outcomes and IVF-related anxiety. Results vary with the treatment approach, timing and comparison group. Here we explain the findings and how they can inform a thoughtful, individualized conversation about care.

Three encouraging takeaways

Pregnancy outcomes. A 2024 review of 25 trials by Xu and colleagues found higher pooled clinical pregnancy (43.6% vs 33.2%) and live birth (38.0% vs 28.7%, from 11 trials) with acupuncture during IVF, and the authors concluded it may improve outcomes [source] Xu M, Zhu M, Zheng C. Effects of acupuncture on pregnancy outcomes in women undergoing in vitro fertilization: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2024 (online 2023). doi:10.1007/s00404-023-07142-1. PMID 37436463 (opens in a new tab). These are pooled figures from studies using manual acupuncture, electroacupuncture and TEAS against different controls — not our clinic’s rates or a prediction for any one person.
Timing may matter. Wang and colleagues found the clearest signals when acupuncture was given during stimulation in fresh cycles and, notably, before frozen embryo transfer, where both clinical pregnancy and live birth were higher [source] Wang X, et al. The Timing and Dose Effect of Acupuncture on Pregnancy Outcomes for Infertile Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Integr Complement Med. 2024;30:1031–1046. doi:10.1089/jicm.2023.0478. PMID 38808509 (opens in a new tab).
Comfort during IVF. Pooled trials show a small reduction in IVF-related anxiety [source] Hullender Rubin LE, et al. Effect of acupuncture on IVF-related anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Reprod BioMed Online. 2022;45:69–80. PMID 35570176 (opens in a new tab), alongside pain and anxiety improvements reported in a 2025 review [source] Fu 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. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2025.105097. PMID 40412094 (opens in a new tab).

These findings are promising, but the strength of evidence varies; the study summaries below explain the outcomes and their limitations.

Key studies at a glance

Several reviews draw on many of the same original trials, so their participant numbers overlap and should not be added together as independent evidence. RR compares how often an outcome occurred in the acupuncture group with the control group. Above 1 means that outcome was more frequent: this may favor acupuncture for pregnancy or live birth, but not for miscarriage. The bracketed range is the 95% confidence interval.

Xu et al., 2024 [source] Xu M, Zhu M, Zheng C. Effects of acupuncture on pregnancy outcomes in women undergoing in vitro fertilization: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2024 (online 2023). doi:10.1007/s00404-023-07142-1. PMID 37436463 (opens in a new tab)

Method: Meta-analysis of 25 trials (4,757 participants), searched through July 2022; manual acupuncture, electroacupuncture and TEAS versus various controls.
Finding: Pooled clinical pregnancy 43.6% vs 33.2%; live birth 38.0% vs 28.7% (11 trials). Both differences statistically significant; the authors concluded acupuncture may improve IVF pregnancy outcomes.
Clinical meaning: An encouraging signal that includes live birth. Pooled study figures across varied methods — not this clinic’s rates or a personal forecast.

Wang et al., 2024 [source] Wang X, et al. The Timing and Dose Effect of Acupuncture on Pregnancy Outcomes for Infertile Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Integr Complement Med. 2024;30:1031–1046. doi:10.1089/jicm.2023.0478. PMID 38808509 (opens in a new tab)

Method: Meta-analysis of 38 randomized trials (5,991 participants) grouped by when acupuncture was given.
Finding: During stimulation in fresh cycles: clinical pregnancy RR 1.33 (1.07–1.65). Before frozen embryo transfer: clinical pregnancy RR 1.71 (1.36–2.16) and live birth RR 2.40 (1.20–4.79). Before stimulation or on transfer day alone: no clear benefit.
Clinical meaning: Suggests timing matters, with a notable FET signal. Wide intervals and subgroup analyses mean it guides discussion, not a prescribed session count.

Hullender Rubin et al., 2022 [source] Hullender Rubin LE, et al. Effect of acupuncture on IVF-related anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Reprod BioMed Online. 2022;45:69–80. PMID 35570176 (opens in a new tab)

Method: Meta-analysis of 8 trials (2,253 reviewed; 1,785 completed anxiety assessment) in women having IVF.
Finding: Small, statistically significant reduction in state anxiety (SMD −0.21, 95% CI −0.39 to −0.04); very low certainty due to heterogeneity and performance bias.
Clinical meaning: A modest comfort benefit during a demanding process. It is not evidence that lowering anxiety causes pregnancy.

Wei et al., 2026 [source] Wei et al. Timing and dose of acupuncture as adjuncts to assisted reproduction: a meta-analysis and model-based network meta-analysis. Front Endocrinol. July 8, 2026. doi:10.3389/fendo.2026.1880225 (opens in a new tab)

Method: Meta-analysis and model-based network meta-analysis of 42 trials (9,390 women) in assisted reproduction.
Finding: Clinical pregnancy RR 1.25 (1.14–1.37); live birth RR 1.14 (0.98–1.32), which includes no difference. Major outcomes rated very low certainty.
Clinical meaning: The latest positive clinical-pregnancy signal; the live-birth effect remains uncertain. Timing/dose models are exploratory.

Fu et al., 2025 [source] Fu 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. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2025.105097. PMID 40412094 (opens in a new tab)

Method: Meta-analysis of 42 trials (7,400 participants) in IVF.
Finding: Clinical pregnancy RR 1.19 (1.06–1.34) with improvements in pain and anxiety; the review also reported higher early miscarriage, RR 1.51 (1.10–2.08).
Clinical meaning: Supports benefit for pregnancy and comfort, and raises a signal worth discussing openly. Causation for any particular protocol is not established.

Smith et al., JAMA 2018 [source] Smith CA, 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. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.5336. PMID 29800212 (opens in a new tab)

Method: Randomized trial at 16 IVF centers; a specific three-session protocol (one during stimulation, two around transfer) versus a non-penetrating sham.
Finding: Live birth 18.3% vs 17.8%; not statistically significant.
Clinical meaning: A rigorous test of one short protocol against sham. It does not test a longer individualized program — nor does it show that one works.

Lensen et al., 2026 [source] Lensen et al. Safety and effectiveness of ten common in-vitro fertilisation add-ons: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2026 (opens in a new tab)

Method: Review of ten IVF add-ons using only prospectively registered, trustworthiness-screened RCTs (85 trials in total; 10 for acupuncture).
Finding: For acupuncture, effects were unclear with very low certainty.
Clinical meaning: Shows how study selection and quality standards shape conclusions.

Why studies reach different conclusions

The comparison group. Trials comparing acupuncture with usual care ask whether adding the whole care encounter helps. Sham-controlled trials try to isolate the effect of a specific needling protocol beyond the control. Each has strengths and limits: unblinded comparisons can favor treatment through expectation, attention or other care, while Manheimer argued that some shallow or non-penetrating shams may not be inert and could have physiological or contextual effects, narrowing measured differences [source] Manheimer E. Selecting a control for in vitro fertilization and acupuncture randomized controlled trials (RCTs): how sham controls may unnecessarily complicate the RCT evidence base. Fertil Steril. 2011 (opens in a new tab). That is an ongoing methodological debate, not proof that sham-controlled trials such as Smith’s were wrong [source] Smith CA, 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. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.5336. PMID 29800212 (opens in a new tab).

Timing, dose and population. Protocols range from a few sessions on transfer day to courses across stimulation, and fresh and frozen cycles differ. More sessions are not automatically better, and current timing models are exploratory [source] Wei et al. Timing and dose of acupuncture as adjuncts to assisted reproduction: a meta-analysis and model-based network meta-analysis. Front Endocrinol. July 8, 2026. doi:10.3389/fendo.2026.1880225 (opens in a new tab).

Which outcome. Clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy and live birth are different endpoints; positive pregnancy findings do not always carry through to live birth.

Study size and quality. Small studies, imprecise estimates, risk of bias and publication bias all shape pooled results. When Lensen and colleagues restricted analysis to prospectively registered, trustworthiness-screened trials, acupuncture’s effect was unclear with very low certainty [source] Lensen et al. Safety and effectiveness of ten common in-vitro fertilisation add-ons: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2026 (opens in a new tab) [source] EurekAlert! news release on the IVF add-ons review (2026) (opens in a new tab). Quality standards and study selection matter as much as the headline number.

How we plan care with you

Route A: cycle health and preparing for pregnancy

We talk through cycle tracking, sleep, digestion and comfort. ASRM describes the fertile window as the six days ending on ovulation, with intercourse every one to two days in that window as appropriate [source] ASRM Practice Committee. Optimizing natural fertility: a committee opinion (2022) (opens in a new tab). ASRM advises medical evaluation after 12 months of trying under 35, after 6 months at 35 or older, sooner over 40 or with irregular cycles, and evaluation of both partners where applicable [source] ASRM Practice Committee. Fertility evaluation of infertile women: a committee opinion (2021) (opens in a new tab). The IVF research above does not by itself establish effects on natural conception.

Route B: IVF and FET supportive care

We plan visits around your clinic’s calendar — stimulation, retrieval, or the weeks before a frozen transfer — reflecting where research signals have appeared, while your fertility team directs medications and procedures.

Questions to bring

Where am I in my journey, and has my medical evaluation been completed or scheduled?
How could visits fit my cycle or my IVF/FET calendar?
Which herbs or supplements should I review with my fertility team?
What will we look at during check-ins, and when would we adjust the plan?

At follow-ups we review sleep, comfort, digestion and any changes from your fertility team, then decide together whether to continue, adjust timing or pause. These are individual clinical conversations, not a research study.

Coordination and safety

Your reproductive team directs IVF/FET medications, retrieval, transfer and any urgent symptoms, and we follow their instructions. Herbs and supplements are reviewed individually for interactions and pregnancy suitability rather than added automatically. Because the 2025 review reported a higher early-miscarriage signal alongside its benefits [source] Fu 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. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2025.105097. PMID 40412094 (opens in a new tab), we discuss the research openly so your choices are well informed.

Sources

All sources reviewed October 19, 2026.

Book an appointment Watch the video series

Medical Disclaimer

The information provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before starting any treatment or making changes to your health regimen. Individual results may vary.