How Acupuncture Improves the Success Rate of Assisted Reproduction (ART)

In modern city life, more and more couples face fertility challenges. Worldwide, more than 8 million babies have been born through assisted reproductive technology (ART) such as IVF. Yet the journey is not easy: treatment is expensive and success is limited, with a global clinical pregnancy rate of about 29%–35% and a live birth rate of around 30%. In Hong Kong, many families carry heavy financial and emotional pressure along the way.

As a complementary therapy, acupuncture has been shown in international research to improve ART outcomes, bringing new hope to couples trying to conceive.

How does acupuncture support assisted reproduction?

A systematic review published in Frontiers in Endocrinology in 2025 found that combining acupuncture with ART treatment can:

1. Increase the clinical pregnancy rate
2. Increase the live birth rate
3. Improve embryo quality
4. Improve the fertilisation rate

When is it most effective? Timing and "dose" are key

The study stressed that acupuncture's effect is closely linked to when treatment starts, how long it lasts and how many sessions are given. A few needles on transfer day alone may have limited benefit.

Best timing

Ranking analysis in the study found the most effective windows for acupuncture were, in order:

• The embryo culture stage (after egg retrieval, before transfer)
• The ovarian stimulation stage
• The ART preparation stage (conditioning the body before treatment begins)

The conclusion: starting acupuncture earlier works better than treatment on embryo transfer day only. Early care helps create the best environment for implantation.

Best "dose"

• Duration: long-term treatment (3 months or more) was clearly more effective than medium or short courses.
• Number of sessions: groups with 20 or more sessions showed the greatest improvement in clinical pregnancy rate.

In other words, acupuncture works best as a course of treatment, not a one-off add-on.

Common acupoints and how they work

In clinic, we choose acupoint combinations according to your constitution and your current ART stage, with the aims of:

• Regulating menstruation: establishing a regular cycle as a foundation for pregnancy.
• Nourishing the Kidney: in Chinese medicine the Kidney governs reproduction; supporting it helps egg and sperm quality.
• Soothing the Liver: easing the stress and anxiety of trying to conceive and steadying the nervous system.
• Strengthening the Spleen: supporting digestion and nourishing qi and blood, so the uterine lining has a good environment to grow.

Commonly used acupoints include:

• Guanyuan (CV4): replenishes vital energy and warms the uterus.
• Zigong (EX-CA1): as its name ("uterus") suggests, regulates the uterus directly.
• Sanyinjiao (SP6): supports the Liver, Spleen and Kidney channels; a key point in gynaecology.
• Xuehai (SP10): regulates qi and blood.
• Taichong (LR3): relieves Liver qi stagnation and helps you relax.

Conclusion

Assisted reproduction is a demanding journey, and you don't have to face it alone. With a personalised acupuncture plan that works closely alongside your ART treatment, we can support you on every front — conditioning your body, improving the uterine environment and easing stress — to give you the best possible chance of success.

If you are planning or have already started ART, contact us early so we can design an acupuncture fertility plan that fits you and support you on the way to a healthy pregnancy.

References

1. De Geyter C. Assisted reproductive technology: Impact on society and need for surveillance. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2019.
2. Calhaz-Jorge C, et al. Assisted reproductive technology in Europe, 2013: results generated from European registers by ESHRE. Hum Reprod. 2017.
3. Gunby J, et al. Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in Canada: 2007 results from the Canadian ART Register. Fertil Steril. 2011.
4. Yang Y, et al. Different effectiveness of acupuncture treatment schedule on ART pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Front. Endocrinol. 2025;16:1602710.

Note: The figures and conclusions in this article are drawn from the international studies above and are for reference only. Please consult a registered Chinese medicine practitioner before treatment, and work closely with your Western medical fertility team.