Author: Dr. Brigitte Sacco, LAc, DACM, MS – Reproductive Acupuncturist | Natural Harmony Reproductive Health
If you are preparing for an IVF cycle, you have probably already done a lot of research. You know what your protocol looks like, when your monitoring appointments are, and roughly what to expect on retrieval and transfer day. What you might be less sure about is where acupuncture fits in, and whether it is worth adding to an already full schedule.
As a reproductive acupuncturist who works alongside IVF patients every day, I want to give you a clear, honest picture of how acupuncture can support you at each stage of the process. Not as a miracle fix, but as a genuinely useful tool for optimizing your body’s environment and supporting your nervous system through one of the most demanding experiences there is.
Before Your Transfer: Building the Foundation
The weeks leading up to an embryo transfer are some of the most important for acupuncture support. Ideally, we like to begin working with IVF patients at least 8 to 12 weeks before a planned retrieval or transfer, because this gives us time to meaningfully influence the factors that matter most.
During this phase, acupuncture focuses on improving uterine blood flow, supporting follicular development and egg quality, regulating the stress response, and bringing the nervous system into a more parasympathetic state. Research suggests that acupuncture can improve uterine artery blood flow indices, which directly supports endometrial receptivity — the uterus’s ability to receive and sustain an embryo.
For patients on stimulation medications, we also support the body in tolerating the hormonal shifts of a stim cycle, which can bring fatigue, bloating, emotional swings, and disrupted sleep. Acupuncture does not interfere with your medications. It works alongside them.
If you are working with a reproductive endocrinologist, we will coordinate our timing with your protocol. We are fluent in fertility medicine and deeply familiar with how IVF cycles are structured, so you never have to translate between your RE and our team.
The Day of Transfer: What the Research Says
You may have heard about acupuncture on transfer day, and there is a reason this has gotten so much attention. Several studies have examined whether acupuncture administered shortly before and after embryo transfer improves implantation and pregnancy rates, and while results across the literature are mixed, some trials have shown meaningful improvement in clinical pregnancy rates when acupuncture was used on transfer day.
The mechanism most often cited is the reduction of uterine contractility. In the hours surrounding transfer, uterine contractions can interfere with embryo placement. Acupuncture appears to help calm uterine activity and reduce smooth muscle tension, creating a more receptive environment for the embryo.
At Natural Harmony, we offer transfer-day acupuncture sessions designed to be done as close to your transfer time as possible, ideally one session within the hour before, and one within a few hours after. We work closely with your clinic’s schedule to make this as seamless as possible.
Even if same-day acupuncture is not logistically possible for you, the work we have done in the weeks leading up to transfer still matters enormously. Transfer-day acupuncture is an add-on, not a prerequisite.
After Your Transfer: Supporting the Two-Week Wait
The two-week wait is, for many patients, the hardest part of an IVF cycle. The uncertainty is real, the anxiety can be intense, and there is very little you feel like you can do. This is where acupuncture continues to play an important role.
In the days following transfer, we focus on supporting progesterone production and luteal phase health, continuing to optimize uterine blood flow, and — perhaps most importantly — helping you regulate your nervous system. Chronic stress elevates cortisol, which can suppress progesterone and create an inflammatory environment that is not ideal for early implantation.
Acupuncture activates the parasympathetic nervous system, sometimes called the rest-and-digest state, which directly counteracts the cortisol response. Patients often describe leaving sessions feeling calmer and more grounded, which has real physiological value during this phase.
We typically recommend one to two sessions during the two-week wait, spaced to support the early stages of implantation and give you touchpoints of care during what can feel like a very long stretch of waiting.
After a Positive Test: Continued Support in Early Pregnancy
If your transfer results in a positive beta, congratulations — and know that our support does not stop there. Many of our IVF patients continue acupuncture through the first trimester to support progesterone levels, manage early pregnancy symptoms like nausea and fatigue, and maintain the nervous system regulation that supports a healthy pregnancy environment.
We follow your RE’s guidelines and stay in close communication with your care team throughout.
A Word on Realistic Expectations
Acupuncture is not a guarantee of IVF success. No honest practitioner will tell you otherwise. What we can offer is a genuinely supportive environment for your body — better circulation, a calmer nervous system, and a care team that is walking beside you at every step. Whether this cycle results in your baby or becomes part of a longer journey, we want you to feel as supported and as well as possible throughout.
If you are preparing for an IVF cycle and curious about how acupuncture might fit into your plan, we invite you to book a complimentary 10-minute consultation with our team. We would love to help you think through the timing and put together a plan that makes sense for you.
About the Author
Dr. Brigitte Sacco, LAc, DACM, MS – Reproductive Acupuncturist | Natural Harmony Reproductive Health
Dr. Brigitte is a California-licensed acupuncturist and herbalist with a doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. She specializes in reproductive health and integrative wellness, with additional certifications in cosmetic acupuncture, microneedling, and Reiki.
This article was written and is reviewed annually by the author. Last reviewed: February 2026