Is Acupuncture Safe During Ovarian Stimulation?

Ovarian stimulation can make an already demanding IVF cycle feel even busier. Your medication, monitoring appointments and response can change quickly, so any complementary care needs to fit around the plan set by your fertility clinic. Acupuncture can usually be adapted to this stage, provided your practitioner knows where you are in the cycle, what you are taking and how you are feeling.

How does acupuncture fit alongside ovarian stimulation?

Your fertility specialist remains responsible for your IVF treatment. Acupuncture is complementary care: it should work around monitoring, medication, egg collection and transfer rather than change any part of them. The HFEA advises patients considering a complementary therapy to check with their clinician in case it could affect fertility treatment.

At Rozelle, IVF support appointments are adjusted as your cycle unfolds. If your specialist asks you to pause acupuncture, or if a symptom needs medical review, their advice takes priority. You can also choose a small number of appointments around the stages you find most demanding rather than committing to a fixed program.

What side effects can occur?

Most reported effects are mild and short-lived. The Australian-led JAMA trial published in 2018 began acupuncture on days 6 to 8 of follicle stimulation and assessed adverse events in 301 women receiving acupuncture and 307 receiving sham treatment.

A separate 1,000-woman PCOS trial also recorded more bruising with acupuncture than with its shallow-needling control. Across these trials, tiredness, temporary discomfort and a small bruise were the effects patients were most likely to notice. Tell your practitioner if anything feels unusually painful, if bleeding does not stop quickly or if you feel unwell during or after treatment.

What should I tell my acupuncturist?

Bring your current medication and supplement list and update it when your protocol changes. During a stimulation cycle, your practitioner should know:

• Every medication and supplement you take, including stimulation medication, your trigger injection and any blood-thinning or anticoagulant medicine
• Any bleeding disorder or tendency to bruise easily
• Where you are in the cycle, including expected egg collection and transfer dates
• Whether pregnancy is possible, including during the two-week wait
• Any new symptom or monitoring concern, even if you are unsure whether it is important

Blood-thinning medication is particularly important to disclose because it can affect bruising and bleeding. This information helps your practitioner adjust point selection and needling, or refer you back to your fertility clinic when acupuncture is not the right next step.

What is OHSS, and when should I contact my fertility clinic?

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is an exaggerated response to stimulation medication. It is a medical complication of IVF and can range from uncomfortable to serious. Symptoms can include worsening abdominal pain or bloating, nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath, reduced urine output and rapid weight gain.

Acupuncture is not a treatment for OHSS. The 2013 Cochrane review of 20 assisted-conception trials did not report OHSS as an outcome, so those trials do not tell us that acupuncture prevents or treats it.

What does the research say about miscarriage?

The evidence is conflicting, and it does not establish that acupuncture causes miscarriage. A 2025 systematic review of 42 trials and 7,400 women reported a higher rate of early miscarriage in its pooled acupuncture groups, RR 1.51 (95% CI 1.10 to 2.08), and its authors recommended caution.

That signal is not consistent with two Cochrane reviews. The 2013 assisted-conception review reported OR 1.10 (95% CI 0.73 to 1.67), while the 2025 PCOS review reported RR 1.10 (95% CI 0.77 to 1.56); neither found a statistically significant increase. The reviews also combine different patient groups, treatment schedules and comparison groups, which limits how confidently the results can be applied to one person's cycle.

What changes after embryo transfer?

Once an embryo has been transferred, or whenever pregnancy is possible, point selection and the purpose of treatment need to reflect that. HFEA states that acupuncture is generally safe in pregnancy when provided by a qualified practitioner, while noting that certain points should be avoided.

The available early-pregnancy evidence is limited, so ongoing communication matters. Tell the practitioner before each treatment, report bleeding or pain to your fertility clinic, and follow your clinic's instructions about medications, activity and monitoring.

What about Chinese herbal medicine during IVF?

Chinese herbal medicine is a separate decision from acupuncture. The HFEA notes that herbal medicines may interact with prescribed medicines or may not be suitable in pregnancy. During stimulation, share the exact name and dose of every herb or supplement with both your fertility clinic and the practitioner who prescribed it before taking it.

If your fertility specialist advises against a herb or supplement, follow that advice. Acupuncture appointments do not require you to take herbal medicine, and you should feel comfortable declining or asking for more information.

How can I check that my practitioner is registered?

In Australia, acupuncturists are registered health practitioners regulated by the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia under AHPRA. You can verify a practitioner before booking:

• Search their name on the AHPRA register of practitioners
• Confirm that Chinese medicine is listed and check the divisions in which they are registered
• Check that registration is current and review any conditions shown
• Ask for their registration number if you cannot find them by name

Our practitioners and credentials are listed on the team page. A first consultation should also give you space to discuss your IVF protocol, symptoms, preferences and any concerns before treatment begins.