There was a recent article published by ABC Health which discussed the research on common IVF ‘add on’s’, where acupuncture was listed as having limited evidence, amongst many other common treatments such as embryo glue or steroids used in an IVF setting. However, the review didn’t distinguish between low dose embryo transfer only acupuncture and higher dose acupuncture performed in the cycles/months leading into embryo transfer.
The key issue here is that most of the trials included in the assessment were based on these very low dose acupuncture protocols, where acupuncture is performed 1-3 times around the embryo transfer only. Over time, studies have shown that this has very limited effects on pregnancy rates and live birth rates vs placebo acupuncture. And as a clinician working in the IVF support space, I agree with this. These protocols were originally designed to replicate the original acupuncture IVF study by Paulus et al (2001) and never represented how acupuncture is practiced in the real world by trained clinicians.
The most recent systematic reviews and meta analysis looking at acupuncture and IVF show that both timing and dosage of acupuncture appear to positively influence IVF outcomes (Wang et al, 2024; Yang et al, 2025). A systematic review and meta analysis is the highest level of evidence available as it looks at all the research to date and pools the data together. In the pooled data:
-
Acupuncture delivered during ovarian stimulation in fresh cycles was associated with higher clinical pregnancy rates.
-
Acupuncture delivered before frozen embryo transfer was associated with higher clinical pregnancy and live birth rates.
-
Higher‑dose treatment courses were more likely to show benefit than single‑session or transfer‑only protocols.
-
Longer treatment durations (≥3 months) and higher session numbers (≥20) yielded superior outcomes.
While the findings above don’t show that acupuncture improves IVF outcomes for everyone, it does show that acupuncture practiced in the real world, well and truly before entering the transfer itself, may indeed improve outcomes. It also showed that acupuncture performed around embryo transfer only has little benefit. When media outlets rely solely on these limited protocols, the public receives an incomplete picture. It is important to understand the difference between:
- Research on embryo transfer only acupuncture as an ‘add on’, and
- Research on acupuncture as a professional structured course of care leading into an IVF cycle
This ultimately leads to a very different outcome and a very different picture than the one presented by the original ABC article and Lancet publication.
References:
Paulus, W., Zhang, M., et al (2001). Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproductive therapy. Fertility & Sterility, 77 (4), 721-4.
Wang, X., Xu, H.M, et al (2024). The timing and dose effect of acupuncture on pregnancy outcomes for infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer: A systematic review and meta analysis. Journal of Integrative & Complementary Medicine, 30 (11), 1031-1046.
Yang, Y.H., Chen, H., Tang, H., Kuang, H.J., Gou, Y. & Zhao, H (2025). Different effectiveness of acupuncture treatment schedule on ART pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review and network meta analysis. Frontiers in Endocrinology, Volume 16 – 2025 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2025.1602710
B.C.M (Hons), C.Clin.Prac (China), C.Toyohari. Registered Acupuncturist and Herbalist. Integrative Natural Medicine Practitioner.
Robert is a passionate and warm practitioner who has an extensive knowledge of integrative and functional natural medicine. He is down to earth and has an interest in organic foods, gardening and sustainable living. With over 17 years of experience, he is renowned for being very thorough by both fellow practitioners and patients alike.