Austin Fertility Acupuncture:

Holistic Reproductive Health Treatment

Acupuncture for Fertility

If you're trying to conceive, you may be taking every possible step to increase your chances.  If you want to conceive and haven't been able to, acupuncture may help.


What exactly is the connection between acupuncture and improved fertility? Acupuncture plays a vital role in enhancing fertility by effectively regulating fertility hormones. Moreover, this practice improves the overall quality of eggs, optimizes the uterine environment, and lowers stress and anxiety levels. In the case of male fertility, acupuncture contributes to an increase in both the quantity and quality of sperm.


Acupuncture for fertility has emerged as a proven, effective, and safe approach to assist couples in enhancing their natural chances of conceiving.

What is Acupuncture for Infertility?

Acupuncture is an ancient form of complementary and alternative medicine. It involves inserting thin, sterile needles into specific acupuncture points. Acupuncture helps to treat a wide variety of health conditions, helping to relieve symptoms and trigger your body's natural healing processes. 


According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), infertility is believed to result from imbalances in vital energy (Qi) and blood circulation. When the flow of energy is hindered, it can lead to deficiency, stagnation, or heat syndrome, affecting both men and women's sexual and reproductive functions.


Deficiency syndrome disrupts the normal functioning of sexual and reproductive organs, while stagnancy syndrome restricts the flow of energy and blood to the reproductive tissues. Heat syndrome, on the other hand, is associated with inflammation processes that impact semen quality and gynecological infections.


TCM offers effective treatment for these syndromes using acupuncture and herbal remedies. By identifying the specific syndrome and addressing the underlying problem, the body can regain its health, potentially leading to natural conception. TCM recognizes each patient as unique, and treatment is tailored to their individual condition and constitution. With a history spanning over 5000 years, TCM has proven highly effective without any side effects.


Acupuncture, a key component of TCM, has long been used as a treatment for pregnancy & infertility. By inserting fine sterile needles into specific acupoints on the body, acupuncture helps regulate bodily functions and addresses fertility issues. It can balance hormones, strengthen the immune system, regulate energy and blood flow, remove stasis and phlegm, and stimulate the nervous system. Combining acupuncture with herbal remedies can further improve ovarian and follicular function and increase blood flow to the endometrium.

Causes of Infertility

Approximately one in six couples face challenges when trying to conceive naturally. Several factors can contribute to this, including:

  • Inhospitable cervical mucus: Infections or yeast overgrowth can lead to cervical mucus that is not conducive to sperm movement. Fertile cervical mucus should be thin and watery, allowing sperm to easily swim up to the egg.
  • Ovulatory complications: These may involve cysts on the ovary or premature ovarian failure, which occurs when the ovaries stop functioning before the age of forty.
  • Dietary and lifestyle factors: Obesity, chronic stress, poor sleep or insomnia, smoking, drug/medication use, excessive alcohol consumption, high caffeine intake, an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, and exposure to toxins, chemicals, radiation, or heavy metals can all have an impact on fertility.
  • Damage to the uterus or fallopian tubes: When the uterus or fallopian tubes are damaged, it can hinder the fertilization and implantation of an embryo.
  • Sperm anomalies: Low sperm count, issues with sperm morphology (shape) and motility (ability to move properly), and sperm DNA damage can all impact fertility.
  • Immunological issues: Autoimmune disorders, sperm antibodies (when the woman's immune system attacks sperm cells), and tissue type compatibility can all affect fertility.
  • Hormonal disorders: Irregular cycles, loss of periods, PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), an overactive or underactive thyroid, diabetes, and endometriosis can all contribute to fertility issues.

It's important to address these factors and make necessary lifestyle changes to improve the chances of conception.

How Does Acupuncture Work for Infertility?

Acupuncture is a safe ancient practice that is overwhelmingly that can be combined with conventional therapies. In traditional Chinese medicine, it aims to restore the balance of qi, the energy force believed to flow through meridians in the body. By inserting sterile steel needles into specific acupoints, your acupuncturist stimulates your body's healing response. When it comes to fertility, these acupoints typically target the reproductive organs in the abdomen. Here are some of the benefits of acupuncture: 

  • Increased Blood Flow to the Reproductive Organs

    Ovarian follicles and their eggs undergo growth in response to hormones and nutrients supplied through the ovarian blood circulation. Efficient blood flow is associated with the production of higher quality eggs. However, compromised blood flow can result in inadequate delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the follicles and eggs, leading to a reduced number of high-quality eggs during assisted fertility treatments.

  • Reduced Stress and Anxiety

    Stress can affect your fertility by disrupting hormonal balance, impairing ovulation, and diminishing libido. Fortunately, acupuncture offers a viable solution by promoting stress reduction through the release of endorphins. Moreover, it possesses the ability to soothe the nervous system and regulate blood pressure, thereby enhancing overall health and well-being.


    When you experience stress, your body engages the sympathetic nervous system, triggering the fight or flight response. This can have an impact on the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, which is closely linked to reproductive health. Additionally, stress can lead to constriction of the ovarian arteries, resulting in reduced blood flow to the ovaries.

  • Improved Sperm Quality and Motility

    Research shows that up to 40% of infertility cases can be attributed, at least in part, to male fertility issues. Acupuncture has been found to have a positive influence on various sperm parameters, including concentration, motility, vitality, and count. There is also evidence suggesting that acupuncture treatment for male partners can increase IVF fertilization rates, potentially providing couples with a greater number of viable embryos. Additionally, acupuncture may have the ability to regulate testosterone levels. Maintaining optimal testosterone levels in the male body is crucial for adequate sperm production. 

  • Female Hormone Balance

    Research has found that acupuncture positively influences the secretion of reproductive hormones. This, enhances women's responsiveness to ovarian stimulation medication or natural stimulation by the brain. Balancing female reproductive hormones is crucial for optimal fertility. One such hormone is Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), which plays a vital role in the growth and maturation of ovarian follicles. Excessively high FSH levels may suggest ovarian dysfunction. In assisted fertility treatments, women with elevated FSH levels often have poor responses to ovarian stimulation medication, resulting in fewer or no eggs being produced.

  • Enhancement of Embryo Implantation

    Successful embryo implantation relies on various factors, including optimal blood supply to the uterus. A well-established blood flow to the uterus prior to egg retrieval is associated with improved IVF conception or pregnancy rates. As mentioned earlier, acupuncture has been shown to effectively enhance blood circulation to the reproductive organs. Moreover, a properly functioning immune system is crucial for implantation. In some cases, immune system dysregulation can hinder embryo implantation. Extensive research in humans and animals has demonstrated the ability of acupuncture to regulate immune function.

Acupuncture has shown promising results as a treatment for infertility in both men and women. It can be considered an effective approach for restoring fertility by enhancing sperm quality, improving ovarian function, and balancing the endocrine system and hormones. If you are considering acupuncture for fertility, Speak with one of our highly skilled fertility acupuncturists today and enhance your prospects of achieving a healthy conception.

Fertility Acupuncture FAQs

  • Does acupuncture hurt?

    Acupuncture is generally painless. The needles used are incredibly thin, much finer than hypodermic needles, which makes the process relatively comfortable for most patients. Sensations felt during acupuncture are usually minor, akin to a brief pinch or tingling, and any discomfort is momentary.

  • How often should I receive acupuncture treatment?

    The frequency depends on the individual's health condition and its severity. In the beginning, patients often have weekly sessions to address the issue effectively. As progress is made, the sessions can be spaced out, sometimes to bi-weekly or even monthly, aligning with the patient's improvement.

  • When is the best time to get acupuncture for fertility?

    For fertility concerns, the timing of acupuncture sessions is crucial. Women often schedule treatments based on their menstrual cycle, typically focusing on specific days before and after ovulation. These strategic sessions aim to enhance reproductive health and increase the chances of conception.

  • What happens in a typical acupuncture session?

    In a standard acupuncture session, the practitioner begins by discussing the patient's health concerns and goals. The insertion of fine, sterile needles into specific acupuncture points follows. Patients then relax with the needles in place for about 20-30 minutes. During this time, many people experience a deep sense of relaxation. After the allotted time, the needles are gently removed, completing the session. The process is calming, non-invasive, and designed to promote overall well-being.