East Asian Medicine offers a unique approach to health and fertility—focusing on the body’s natural ability to conceive.
Acupuncture can be especially helpful if you’re planning to start a family. Whether you’ve recently stopped using contraception or are experiencing concerns with your menstrual cycle, treatment is tailored to support you at this important stage.
For women, acupuncture may help regulate the menstrual cycle, promote hormonal balance, and support overall wellbeing. The aim is to prepare your body for conception and overall wellbeing.
During your consultation, we take time to understand your individual experience. You’ll be asked detailed questions about your menstrual cycle, general health, and lifestyle. This allows us to identify any underlying imbalances that may be affecting fertility and create a treatment plan specifically for you.
Trying to conceive
For couples who have been trying to conceive for some time, acupuncture can offer valuable support and help improve the chances of natural conception.
Around 30 percent of fertility challenges are described as “unexplained.” From a Chinese medicine perspective, these cases can often be understood and addressed by looking at the body as a whole. Treatment focuses on supporting hormonal balance, improving blood flow to the uterus and pelvic area, and reducing stress—all of which can play an important role in fertility.
Preliminary data on the role of acupuncture in the clinical management of women’s reproductive health suggests that acupuncture may help improve menstrual health and support emotional wellbeing in women experiencing delays in conception.
A review has also found * of 20 research studies * that acupuncture-related therapies may improve pregnancy rates, as well as support metabolic and hormonal balance in patients with conditions such as premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
However, further well-designed clinical research is still needed to better understand how acupuncture may influence female reproductive function and fertility outcomes.
Fertility testing
Where appropriate, fertility screening and hormone or sperm testing can be arranged through your GP or privately via a local fertility clinic. These results can also be useful in guiding your acupuncturist’s diagnosis and treatment plan.
For both men and women, acupuncture can support natural conception and help address specific underlying factors that may affect fertility.
Conditions treated
The following list details the conditions that acupuncture has been used for in our clinics:
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Short/long cycles
- Painful, heavy periods
- Lack of periods
- Spotting or bleeding outside period time
- Ovulation pain
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Fibroids, cysts, polyps
- Endometriosis
- Recurrent miscarriage
- Hormonal imbalances eg: PMS, migraine, skin eruptions, emotional issues
- Immune system issues
- Low libido