Written by Dr. Merritt Jones, DAIM, LAc, FABORM, MS, CNC | Founder & Clinic Director | Natural Harmony Reproductive Health, March 1st, 2026
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month — a time to amplify the voices of the millions of people living with this condition, and to talk openly about something that is still too often dismissed or misdiagnosed: the very real impact endometriosis has on fertility. At Natural Harmony, this is not just a clinical topic for us. It is personal.
Endometriosis is one of the most common diagnoses I see in our clinic, and it is also one of the most misunderstood — both by patients and, sometimes, by the broader healthcare system. If you have been told you have endometriosis and you are trying to conceive, you may have received a range of messages about what that means for your fertility, from reassuring to alarming. I want to offer you something more useful: a clear, grounded picture of how endometriosis affects fertility and how integrative care, including acupuncture, can genuinely support your path to pregnancy.
I also want to be transparent: I live with endometriosis myself. This is not just a clinical area of focus for me. It is personal, and it shapes the way I approach this work with every patient.
How Endometriosis Affects Fertility
Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus — on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, pelvic lining, and sometimes beyond. This tissue responds to hormonal cycles the same way the uterine lining does, which means it swells and bleeds each month with no exit point, creating inflammation, scar tissue, and adhesions over time.
The relationship between endometriosis and fertility is real but nuanced. Not everyone with endometriosis has difficulty conceiving — in fact, some people with the diagnosis conceive without any intervention at all. But for others, endometriosis creates specific obstacles that are worth understanding and addressing.
These can include reduced egg quality due to chronic oxidative stress and inflammation in the pelvic environment, compromised fallopian tube function in cases where adhesions are present, diminished ovarian reserve if endometriomas (ovarian cysts caused by endometriosis) have affected ovarian tissue, a less hospitable uterine environment due to chronic inflammation, and hormonal and immune dysregulation that can interfere with implantation.
The good news is that many of these factors are addressable. Not always fully reversible, but meaningfully improvable — and that is where integrative care comes in.
What Integrative Care Actually Means for Endometriosis
At Natural Harmony, integrative care means we are not choosing between Eastern and Western medicine. We are using both, deliberately and collaboratively, to support your body from multiple directions at once.
Here is what that typically looks like for a patient with endometriosis who is trying to conceive.
Acupuncture for inflammation and pain
Chronic inflammation is central to how endometriosis affects fertility, and it is one of the things acupuncture is best positioned to address. Acupuncture has been shown to modulate inflammatory markers and support immune regulation, which matters both for pelvic health and for creating a more receptive environment for conception.
For patients with significant pelvic pain, acupuncture also provides meaningful symptom relief — often the most consistent and drug-free option available. Reducing pain load also reduces the chronic stress response that can further disrupt hormonal balance.
Nutrition and anti-inflammatory support
Diet plays a genuinely important role in endometriosis management, particularly for fertility. An anti-inflammatory nutrition approach, emphasizing omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidant-rich foods, and reduced inflammatory triggers like refined sugars and certain fats, can help reduce systemic inflammation and support hormone metabolism.
As a certified nutrition consultant, I work with patients to build a practical, realistic nutrition plan that fits their life. We also look at targeted supplementation — things like omega-3s, NAC, vitamin D, and CoQ10 — based on individual needs and lab work.
Hormone and cycle regulation
Many patients with endometriosis have associated hormonal imbalances — low progesterone, estrogen dominance, or disrupted luteal phase function. Acupuncture supports regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, which can improve ovulation quality and luteal phase health. We track your cycles carefully and adjust treatment accordingly.
Collaboration with your medical team
If you are working with a reproductive endocrinologist, OB/GYN, or surgeon, we coordinate closely with your care team. Many of our endometriosis patients have had surgical treatment and are using acupuncture and integrative care to optimize their fertility in the months following excision. This is one of the most evidence-informed approaches available for endometriosis-associated infertility, and we are experienced in supporting patients through this exact sequence.
What the Research Says
The research on acupuncture and endometriosis-associated infertility is still growing, but existing studies are encouraging. Research has found that acupuncture can reduce endometriosis-related pain, lower inflammatory cytokine levels, and improve ovarian blood flow in affected patients. Several studies have also examined acupuncture as an adjunct to IVF in endometriosis patients, with promising findings around implantation and clinical pregnancy rates.
We are careful to present this evidence accurately and without overpromising. Acupuncture is not a cure for endometriosis, and it does not remove lesions or adhesions. But as part of a comprehensive, individualized plan, it can meaningfully shift the conditions that influence fertility.
A Note on Timeline and Expectations
Endometriosis-related fertility challenges often require a longer treatment window than straightforward cycle optimization. We typically recommend beginning integrative support at least three months before a planned conception attempt or IVF cycle, and in some cases longer, depending on the severity of the diagnosis and your history.
This is not meant to discourage you. It is meant to give you a realistic picture so that you can plan accordingly and feel genuinely supported rather than rushed.
If you are navigating endometriosis and fertility and want to talk through your options, please reach out. This is one of the areas I care most deeply about, and our team is here to walk beside you — for as long as you need.
About the Author
Dr. Merritt Jones, DAIM, LAc, FABORM, MS, CNC – Founder & Clinic Director | Natural Harmony Reproductive Health
Dr. Merritt Jones is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine, blending Traditional Chinese Medicine with functional and integrative approaches to reproductive health. She is board-certified in reproductive acupuncture (FABORM), serves on the Board of Advisors for the iCareBetter Endometriosis Specialist Directory, and founded Natural Harmony to offer whole-person fertility care in San Diego.
Medically reviewed by the author. Last reviewed: March 2026.