Specialist Care
Fertility & IVF Acupuncture
Expert Fertility Acupuncture in London & Bexley
Trying to conceive can be an emotional and challenging journey. Whether you are planning for pregnancy naturally, experiencing fertility difficulties, or undergoing IVF, acupuncture is an effective treatment.
At Angelo D’Alberto Acupuncture, fertility treatment is approached with care, experience, and a personalised understanding of each patient’s unique circumstances. Every treatment plan is tailored to your individual health, fertility history, lifestyle, and goals.
Our aim is to optimise your reproductive health and help you feel supported throughout your
fertility journey. This is best done with our 12-week Fertility Preparation Programme.
12-Week Fertility Preparation Programme
Prepare – Support – Progress
The 12-Week Fertility Preparation Programme is a comprehensive, personalised program designed to enhance your fertility in the three months before trying to conceive or beginning IVF and includes:
● an in-depth fertility consultation
● 12 individual acupuncture treatments
● a 12-week personalised course of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine
Together, these treatments provide consistent treatment throughout an important stage ofyour fertility journey, with the programme tailored to your individual health, menstrual cycle,lifestyle and fertility goals.
Rather than a one-off treatment, this structured approach gives you dedicated support over 12 weeks, helping you prioritise your health, and prepare as thoroughly as possible for natural conception or IVF treatment.
12 weeks • 1 comprehensive consultation • 12 acupuncture treatments • 12-week herbal medicine programme
This programme is also available without the herbal medicine component.
How Can Acupuncture Help Fertility?
Regulating Hormones – a regular 28-30 day cycle with good quality fertile cervical mucus, pain free ovulation at midcycle, no premenstrual symptoms and a pain free period with a moderate flow of fresh red blood.
Improving the quality of fertile cervical mucus – this appears several days before ovulation and is needed to nourish the sperm and guide it to the egg.
Promoting an efficient menstruation – the menstrual bleeding reflects the quality of the uterine lining. This is important for implantation because women with a thinner lining have an association with IVF failure or recurrent miscarriages.
Improving egg development – whilst the genetic components for a woman's eggs are composed when the woman herself is an embryo, the process of egg maturation is under the influence of her hormones which can be helped by acupuncture and herbal medicine. It also appears possible to improve the integrity of the eggs released following acupuncture, perhaps by the increased blood supply to the developing follicles, or by the increased nutritional supply to the egg via the fluids that surround and nourish it.
Encouraging movement of the egg/embryo along the tubes.
Promoting implantation and a viable pregnancy.
Fertility Treatment Tailored to You
No two fertility journeys are the same.
During your initial consultation, we take time to understand:
- Your medical and fertility history
- Menstrual cycle patterns
- IVF or assisted reproduction plans
- Your current diet and lifestyle including current supplements and medications
- Any ovulation tracking including basal body temperature (BBT) char
- Sleep patterns, energy levels, digestive and urinary health
- Stress and emotional wellbeing
- Overall health concerns
This detailed assessment allows us to create a personalised treatment strategy designed
around your individual needs.
IVF Acupuncture
Many patients seek acupuncture alongside their IVF treatment and it is often incorporated into fertility treatment plans before, during, and after IVF cycles. At Angelo D’Albertom Acupuncture we recommend you start acupuncture 12 weeks prior to your IVF treatment with our 12-week Fertility Preparation Programme, but even if you are just finding out about the benefits of acupuncture while starting your injections, there will still be value in starting your acupuncture now.
Acupuncture used alongside IVF helps to lower stress, increase blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, and reduce the side effects of the medication. Sessions are tailored to each stage of the cycle to support preparation, the procedure itself, and the post-transfer window.
Before IVF (Preparation Phase)
● Build blood flow to ovaries and uterus
● Support egg quality and follicle growth
● Balance hormones and regulate cycles
During IVF (Stimulation and Transfer)
● Ease side effects like bloating, headaches, and mood swings from drugs
● Relax the uterus right before an embryo transfer
● Support embryo implantation right after the transfer
After IVF (The Two-Week Wait)
● Lower stress and reduce anxiety hormones like cortisol
● Promote deep rest and a calm nervous system
● Offer continuous emotional support during testing windows
Treating Common Fertility Disorders
Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS/PCOS)
Acupuncture can help manage PMOS/PCOS by regulating reproductive hormones, inducing ovulation, and improving metabolic functions. Clinical trials and medical studies suggest acupuncture can support PMOS/PCOS management in several key ways:
Hormonal Regulation
Lowers Testosterone: Research published on PubMed shows that acupuncture can significantly reduce circulating male hormones (androgens) like testosterone. This reduction can potentially help ease symptoms like acne and excessive hair growth (hirsutism). Balances LH and FSH: Studies indicate that acupuncture can decrease abnormally high levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), helping to normalize the LH to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio. Boosts Endorphins: Acupuncture has been shown to increase β-endorphin production, which helps stabilize the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis responsible for reproductive health.
Reproductive and Fertility Support
Improves Ovulation and Menstruation: Regular sessions have been shown to increase menstrual frequency and reduce the number of days between periods, encouraging a more regular cycle. Enhances Pregnancy Rates: When used as an adjunct to conventional fertility medications (like letrozole), a clinical trial highlighted by ScienceDirect found that acupuncture significantly increased ovulation and clinical pregnancy rates. Increases Uterine Blood Flow: Acupuncture improves endometrial receptivity by reducing uterine blood flow resistance, which creates a more favorable environment for embryo implantation.
Metabolic and Emotional Management
Supports Insulin Sensitivity: Some trials indicate that acupuncture can help control hyperglycemia by lowering fasting insulin and blood glucose levels. Lowers Sympathetic Nerve Activity: It reduces overactive muscle sympathetic nerve activity, which is frequently elevated in women with PMOS/PCOS. Reduces Stress and Anxiety: By regulating cortisol and promoting relaxation, acupuncture helps mitigate the depression and anxiety often associated with chronic PMOS/PCOS symptoms.
Endometriosis
Acupuncture provides substantial clinical benefits for managing endometriosis by
significantly reducing pelvic pain, lowering systemic inflammation, and balancing hormone
levels. Because medical management often comes with unwanted side effects, many people
turn to acupuncture as a safe, evidence-based complementary therapy.
Pain Relief and Management
● Blocks pain signals: Deactivates specific brain areas responsible for processing and
perceiving chronic pain.
● Releases endorphins: Triggers the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals to act as
internal pain relievers.
● Lowers prostaglandins: Reduces the specific biochemical compounds that cause
painful uterine cramping and dysmenorrhoea.
● Improves pelvic blood flow.
Reduction of Inflammation
● Lowers CA-125 levels: Decreases serum levels of cancer antigen 125, a key protein
marker linked to endometriosis severity and inflammation.
● Calms pelvic lesions: Promotes the release of vascular and immunomodulatory
factors to soothe irritated tissue.
● Limits tissue growth: Regulates matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) to potentially
restrict the anchoring and spreading of ectopic endometrial cells.
Hormonal and Systemic Balance
● Regulates oestrogen levels: Suppresses elevated serum oestradiol levels, helping to
slow down the growth of estrogen-dependent endometrial lesions.
● Eases digestive distress: Alleviates secondary “endo belly” symptoms like bloating,
gas, and irregular bowel movements by balancing the gut-pelvic axis.
● Enhances fertility: Improves uterine lining receptivity and reduces overall stress to
support both natural conception and assisted reproductive treatments like IVF.
Blocked Fallopian Tubes
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine benefit blocked fallopian tubes by reducing local
inflammation, improving pelvic blood circulation, and breaking down scar tissue or fluid buildup.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicines are highly effective for partial blockages, mild fluid accumulation (hydrosalpinx), and structural spasms. However, it cannot repair tubes that are severely scarred or completely fibrotic.
Key Benefits of TCM for Tubal Blockage:
● Reduces pelvic inflammation with anti-inflammatory herbs
● Softens and breaks up scar tissue and adhesions
● Relaxes spasms of the fallopian tubes with localised acupuncture treatment on the lower abdomen
● Drains hydrosalpinx in the tubes with oral and herbal enema decoctions
● Enhances pelvic blood flow so directing oxygen-rich blood flow to the reproductive organs.
Core Treatment Methods:
It’s best to combine acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine over a period of two to three months to achieve optimal results. The herbal medicines are taken orally and also as a retention enema because the large intestine sits adjacent to the uterus. This proximity lets the active herbal components absorb directly through the intestinal wall into the pelvic cavity for best results.
Poor Egg Quality
Acupuncture may help improve egg quality by increasing ovarian blood circulation, balancing key reproductive hormones like FSH and LH, and lowering stress hormones such as cortisol. These physiological effects aim to create a healthier follicular microenvironment during the roughly 90-day egg maturation cycle.
Proposed Benefits for Egg Health:
● Enhanced ovarian blood flow: Stimulates circulation to deliver vital oxygen and nutrients to developing follicles.
● Hormonal regulation: Modulates the endocrine system to support balanced oestrogen, progesterone, and gonadotropins.
● Stress and Inflammation reduction: Lowers sympathetic nervous system activity and systemic inflammation, which can otherwise contribute to cellular oxidative stress.
● Synergy with Fertility Care: Acupuncture is often used alongside lifestyle modifications or assisted reproductive technologies like IVF.
Unexplained Infertility
When no clear medical explanation has been identified, acupuncture can help couples withunexplained infertility by:
● Enhancing pelvic blood flow: Needle insertion stimulates the central nervous system to release endorphins. This dilates blood vessels and increases nutrient-rich blood
flow to the uterus and ovaries. Enhanced blood flow improves the quality of the
uterine lining, which is critical for successful embryo implantation
● Regulating hormone levels: Research indicates that acupuncture can positively
influence gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion. This helps optimize the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle, supporting healthy ovulation and egg quality
● Modulating Immune Function: A hyperactive or imbalanced immune system can sometimes cause the body to reject an embryo. Acupuncture has been shown to regulate immune cell activity, creating a more welcoming environment for early pregnancy.
● Reducing stress: Chronic stress activates the sympathetic nervous system, releasing cortisol and adrenaline that can disrupt reproductive functions. Acupuncture shifts the
body into a parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) state, lowering stress and stabilizing
the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis
Our comprehensive consultation and assessment at your first appointment will allow a diagnosis to be made according to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine and treatment will commence that focuses on optimising overall health and addressing potential contributing factors affecting reproductive health.
Recurrent Miscarriages
Acupuncture can support women with recurrent miscarriage by improving pelvic blood flow, balancing reproductive hormones, regulating the immune response, and drastically reducing stress and anxiety. While it cannot correct chromosomal abnormalities—the most common cause of early pregnancy loss—it is widely used as a supportive, holistic therapy to optimize the uterine environment for implantation and early gestation.
● Enhances uterine blood flow: Acupuncture stimulates blood circulation to the
reproductive organs, promoting a thicker, healthier endometrial lining for successful
embryo implantation.
● Balances reproductive hormones: By stimulating the blood circulation to the ovaries
and corpus luteum, acupuncture can support early pregnancy hormones like
progesterone.
● Modulates immune response: Research indicates it can lower elevated natural killer (NK) cell activity and manage inflammation that might otherwise cause the body to
reject an embryo.
● Reduces uterine cramping: By calming the nervous system, it can mitigate early
pregnancy cramping and physical tension.
● Lowers stress and cortisol: Recurrent miscarriages cause severe emotional trauma;
acupuncture shifts the nervous system into a relaxed parasympathetic state,
reducing stress hormones that disrupt early pregnancy.
● Improves sleep quality: Regular sessions help combat the insomnia and restlessness
commonly triggered by fertility anxiety.
● Post-Miscarriage recovery: Acupuncture can help to clear the retained products of
pregnancy and reduce the need for invasive surgical interventions. It helps to restore the menstrual cycle post-miscarriage, physically preparing your body for a future healthy pregnancy.
Male Factor Infertility
Fertility is not solely a women’s health issue. Male reproductive health plays an important role in conception, and many couples choose acupuncture as part of a joint fertility strategy. Men use fertility acupuncture to improve the sperm count and quality, enhance the blood flow to the testes (particularly useful for a varicocele), balance reproductive hormones, and lower stress. Because it takes roughly 90 days for the body to create and mature sperm, men often start treatments a few months before trying to conceive or undergoing IVF. Benefits include:
● Improving sperm quality
● Boosting sperm count by increasing blood flow and oxygen to the testes to help grow
sperm numbers.
● Aids movement: Helps sperm swim better (motility) by supporting healthy cellular
pathways.
● Fixes shape – encourages normal sperm structure (morphology) and reduces DNA fragmentation.
● Regulates hormones – supports steady levels of testosterone and other key
reproductive hormones.
● Lowers heat – improves local blood flow and temperature control in the scrotal area.
● Reduces inflammation – reduces oxidative stress that can harm sperm cells
● Reduces stress, calms the mind, relieves anxiety thereby lowering stress hormones
that can disrupt reproductive function.
● Supports overall wellness – improves sleep and energy levels to optimise the body for
conception.
Male patients will also benefit from the 12-week Fertility Preparation Programme.
The Role of Stress in Fertility
Chronic stress disrupts the body’s hormonal balance and reproductive signals, which can
make it harder to conceive.
In a pilot study using acupuncture with men that were producing no sperm a course of acupuncture treatment resulted in seven of the fifteen men producing enough sperm to receive IVF treatment without requiring a testicular biopsy. In the control group that received no acupuncture treatment there were no men demonstrating an increase in sperm production.
Andrologia 2000 Jan; 32(1):31-9
Why Patients Choose Angelo D'Alberto?
● Personalised one-to-one care
● Calm and supportive treatment environment
● Extensive experience in fertility acupuncture
● Over 200 5* Google reviews
● Evidence-informed approach
● Holistic focus on long-term wellbeing
● Convenient London & Bexley location
Frequently Asked Questions
Many people choose acupuncture to support reproductive health, hormonal balance,
emotional wellbeing, and overall health while trying to conceive.
Yes. Acupuncture is commonly used alongside IVF treatment and can be incorporated into
different stages of the treatment cycle.
Treatment recommendations vary according to your individual circumstances, fertility history,
and treatment goals. Most patients will benefit from our 12-week Fertility Preparation
Programme.
Male factor infertility contributes to nearly half of all couple infertility cases, primarily involving
low sperm count, poor sperm movement (motility), abnormal shape, or blockages in the
reproductive tract. If tests show that there is a problem in any of these areas then
acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicines can help.
Acupuncture is generally considered safe when provided by a properly qualified practitioner.
Begin Your Fertility Journey
Whether you are preparing for pregnancy, exploring fertility treatment options, or undergoing IVF, personalised acupuncture treatment can provide support throughout the process.
To discuss your fertility goals or arrange an appointment, please get in touch today.