Acupuncture for Fertility and IVF: What Trials Show
What large trials and reviews found when acupuncture was compared with sham acupuncture in IVF and polycystic ovary syndrome, and what that means for people trying to conceive.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Where to start
Many people try acupuncture alongside fertility care, hoping it will raise their chances of a baby. This page looks only at what trials measured. It does not replace a fertility assessment. The NHS (UK) says it is a good idea to see a GP if you have not conceived after a year of trying, and that women aged 36 and over, or anyone who already knows they may have fertility problems, should see their GP sooner. [1] If you are in the United States, ask your own doctor how soon to be assessed.Acupuncture itself is explained on What Is Acupuncture?. Here we ask a narrower question: did a baby result more often with acupuncture than without it, and compared with what?
What the research found
Evidence labels: established, promising but limited, mixed, insufficient evidence, no good evidence of benefit.| Question | What the sources found | Label |
|---|---|---|
| IVF: live birth with acupuncture vs sham | In an Australia and New Zealand trial of 848 women, live births occurred in 18.3% with acupuncture and 17.8% with sham (relative risk 1.02, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.38). [2] | No good evidence of benefit |
| IVF: pooled sham-controlled trials | A review of 8 trials (3,607 women) using a non-invasive placebo device found no significant difference in live birth, clinical pregnancy or miscarriage. [3] | No good evidence of benefit |
| IVF: older Cochrane review | 20 trials; no evidence acupuncture improves live birth or pregnancy rates in assisted conception. [4] | No good evidence of benefit |
| PCOS: live birth | In 1,000 women in China, live birth was 21.8% with active vs 22.4% with control acupuncture. [5] | No good evidence of benefit |
| PCOS: cycle regularity | Number of days between periods may have improved with true acupuncture vs sham in one trial of 141 women (low-quality evidence). [6] | Insufficient evidence |
| Male infertility (sperm quality) | A 2020 review of 12 studies found the evidence inadequate for firm conclusions. [7] | Insufficient evidence |
IVF in more detail
The 2018 JAMA trial is among the largest. Women had treatment during ovarian stimulation and around embryo transfer, and the sham used a noninvasive needle placed away from true acupuncture points. The authors concluded the findings do not support acupuncture to improve live birth rates in IVF. [2] A review that pooled sham-controlled trials reported moderate to high certainty that acupuncture around embryo transfer made no significant difference. [3] The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH, US) summarizes a 2021 review of 6 studies (2,507 participants) the same way. [7]The older Cochrane review split trials by timing. Acupuncture around egg retrieval (2 studies, 464 women) and around embryo transfer (8 studies, 2,505 women) showed no overall benefit for live birth, both rated low-quality evidence. [4]
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
In the PCOS trial, women got active or control acupuncture, plus the ovulation drug clomiphene or a placebo. Live births were higher with clomiphene (28.7% vs 15.4%) and about the same with active and control acupuncture. [5] The Cochrane review of 8 trials (1,546 women) found most trials at high risk of bias and could not rule out clinically relevant differences from sham for live birth or ovulation. [6] More on this condition: PCOS.Working with your fertility clinic
Tell your fertility team about any acupuncture. The UK regulator, the HFEA, says it does not regulate complementary therapies and they are not usually offered in an HFEA-licensed clinic, and that they may be suggested for relaxation or general wellbeing. [8] Whether acupuncture helps you feel calmer is a separate question from whether it changes the chance of a baby. The sources read for this page measured pregnancy and birth, not relaxation, so for wellbeing in fertility care: proper evidence not found in the sources read.Checking a practitioner
Be cautious of anyone who promises pregnancy or guarantees results; see Acupuncture Claim Check: Fertility and Weight-Loss Promises. Licensing differs by place, so check your state or country rules at Acupuncture Licensing by US State and ask the questions in Questions to Ask an Acupuncturist Before Starting. For coordination with your doctors, see Coordinating Acupuncture With Your Medical Care.Frequently asked questions
Does acupuncture improve IVF success?
Large sham-controlled trials found no significant difference in live birth rates between acupuncture and sham acupuncture. [2][3]
Can acupuncture help PCOS get pregnant?
In a 1,000-woman trial, live birth rates were about the same with active and control acupuncture, and clomiphene made the difference. [5]
Does acupuncture help male fertility?
A 2020 review of 12 studies on sperm quality found the evidence inadequate for firm conclusions. [7] See also Male Fertility.
Is acupuncture safe during fertility treatment?
Reported effects in trials were mostly mild, such as bruising and discomfort. [3] Serious harms can occur with improper technique. [7] Tell your clinic and your practitioner about each other.
When should I see a doctor about fertility?
The NHS (UK) advises seeing a GP after a year of trying, and sooner at 36 or over or with known fertility problems. [1]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
How to read these trials
The best test is a sham-controlled trial, where the comparison group gets a look-alike treatment (for example, a needle that does not pierce the skin, or needles placed away from traditional points). That separates the needling from the attention, the ritual and the hope that come with any treatment. Trials that compare acupuncture only with no treatment cannot separate those things. See Acupuncture vs Sham: What Comparisons Show for the limits of sham designs too.
Side effects and safety
Reported effects were mostly minor. The IVF review described discomfort and bruising as mild to moderate. [3] In the PCOS trial, diarrhea (5.0% vs 1.6%) and bruising (7.4% vs 1.8%) were more common with active acupuncture. [5] NCCIH notes that when acupuncture is not delivered properly it can cause serious effects, including infections, punctured organs and injury to the central nervous system. [7] Read Acupuncture Side Effects and Precautions and Acupuncture in Pregnancy before treatment if you are pregnant or could be.
References
- NHS (UK), Infertility. Read 2026-10-22.
- Effect of Acupuncture vs Sham Acupuncture on Live Births Among Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2018. Read 2026-10-22.
- Acupuncture versus placebo acupuncture for in vitro fertilisation: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society 2021. Read 2026-10-22.
- Acupuncture and assisted reproductive technology. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews 2013. Read 2026-10-22.
- Effect of Acupuncture and Clomiphene in Chinese Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 2017. Read 2026-10-22.
- Acupuncture for polycystic ovarian syndrome. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews 2019. Read 2026-10-22.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), Acupuncture: What You Need To Know. Read 2026-10-22.
- Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA, UK), Treatment add-ons with limited evidence. Read 2026-10-22.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.