IVF Acupuncture Success Rates

In vitro fertilization (IVF) has helped countless couples overcome their fertility struggles and finally expand their families. With the rise in popularity of IVF, more and more people are turning to acupuncture to support them throughout their fertility treatments. Acupuncture has many benefits to offer men and women undergoing assisted reproductive therapies. It reduces stress, balances hormones, and, for women, helps prepare the body for implantation. If you’re still on the fence about using acupuncture during IVF, prepare to be won over — IVF acupuncture success rates are nothing short of impressive.

Research shows that acupuncture increases pregnancy success rates in women who receive IVF treatments by 65% compared to women who do not receive acupuncture. Furthermore, acupuncture can be used to support a healthy pregnancy and delivery.

Acupuncture prepares the body for pregnancy

Let’s face it, IVF treatments are expensive. You can expect to pay anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 for a single round of IVF treatments. If you are considering IVF, it only makes sense to do everything you can to increase your chance of a successful and healthy pregnancy. Acupuncture can help you improve your odds of IVF success so that you do face multiple IVF cycles.

In a systematic review, acupuncture was found to increase the chances of clinical pregnancy by 65%. Given that the success rates of IVF treatments alone are between roughly 20% and 35%, acupuncture treatments have the potential to boost those odds significantly. Scheduling acupuncture appointments before and after your embryo transfer is a great way to maximize your chances of success.

Acupuncture before IVF prepares the body for implantation. Acupuncture increases circulation to the uterus, reducing tension and improving tone. This makes the uterus more receptive to the embryo. Good blood flow to the uterus is so critical for successful IVF that it can be used to predict the outcome of IVF treatments.

Acupuncture is just as critical after IVF and for the same reasons. Good circulation nourishes the uterus and signals to the body that it has the resources it needs to sustain a pregnancy. Once an embryo has been transferred, an acupuncture session within 24 hours will ensure a steady flow of blood to the uterus, increasing the odds of implantation.

Acupuncture reduces stress and balances hormones

Fertility struggles are one of the most stressful experiences, and when you raise the stakes by spending thousands of dollars on IVF treatments, the stress can become overwhelming. And that’s a huge problem because stress can make it incredibly difficult, and in some cases impossible, to get pregnant.

If there’s one thing acupuncture is excellent at, is regulating the nervous system and relieving stress. Acupuncture modulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, regulating cortisol levels and triggering the release of endorphins, serotonin, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), three neurotransmitters that play a significant role in enhancing your sense of well-being and reducing anxiety. 

At Integrative Healing Arts, we often recommend our clients begin weekly acupuncture treatments 2 to 3 months before IVF. This gives the body a chance to reset the nervous system and reduce inflammation and stress levels so you feel more prepared for your treatments. Regular acupuncture sessions also help balance sex hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, and luteinizing hormone (LH), which are critical for fertility. 

Acupuncture is believed to support the body’s ability to auto-regulate the production of hormones needed during pregnancy. So getting acupuncture several months in advance of your IVF treatments is a fantastic way to enhance your fertility naturally, and boost your chances of a successful transfer even more.

Acupuncture supports a healthy pregnancy and delivery

Acupuncture plays a key role in stress management, which is essential during IVF treatments. But acupuncture can be just as useful throughout pregnancy. Acupuncture can be used to alleviate the many symptoms of pregnancy, all while supporting a healthy pregnancy, and preparing your body and your baby for delivery.

For many women, especially those who have undergone IVF treatments, pregnancy is a special time. But it can come with a variety of unpleasant symptoms. Acupuncture is great for reducing the muscle and nerve pain expecting mothers often develop as they progress through their pregnancies. It can even be used to treat morning sickness, and, of course, it’s very helpful for promoting sleep — which can be hard to come by when you’re pregnant.

In addition to treating the symptoms associated with pregnancy, acupuncture supports healthy muscle function, keeping your uterus toned and in tip-top shape. A healthy uterus can cut down on time spent in labor. It also makes it easier when it comes to delivering the placenta and returning to its original size after pregnancy.

Interestingly, acupuncture can influence your baby’s position, as well. Getting acupuncture as you near your due date gently stimulates the uterus, enabling it to turn your baby into the correct position, with its head facing down. Acupuncture has even been used to successfully turn Breech-positioned babies to get them ready for delivery. 

Acupuncture can play a crucial role in postpartum care, too!

The stress-fighting and hormone-balancing effects of acupuncture are just as beneficial after labor. Being a new mom can be stressful. Couple this with the dramatic shift in hormones that naturally follows pregnancy, and it can feel like you’re riding an emotional roller coaster. Acupuncture gently supports the body to re-balance your stress and sex hormones so you feel better and can enjoy your time with your newborn more fully.

It’s worth noting, too, that acupuncture can help restore healthy pelvic floor function. During pregnancy, the muscles in the pelvic floor stretch with the weight and development of your growing baby. This can lead to problems with bladder and/or bowel incontinence later on. Acupuncture helps keep these muscles strong and flexible during pregnancy, and supports healthy muscle function postpartum to promote optimal pelvic floor function.

Let’s talk about weight loss, too. For some women, the pounds seem to melt away after childbirth. But for others, losing the baby weight is more of a struggle. Acupuncture enhances postpartum weight loss by boosting the metabolism, making it easier to return to a healthy weight after pregnancy. 

Contact our office to learn more

Fertility treatments can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to go through them alone.

At Integrative Healing Arts, we’ve seen countless women deliver healthy, happy babies with the help of IVF treatments and acupuncture. Let our 21+ years’ worth of knowledge and expertise guide you through this important time of your life.

Contact our office today to learn more about the benefits of using acupuncture for fertility, and to schedule your first appointment. We’ll create a customized acupuncture protocol that supports your body throughout your IVF treatment journey.