Fertility & IVF

Treatment may help support:

• Preparing for pregnancy
• Irregular or absent ovulation
• Unexplained infertility
• PCOS/PMOS
• Endometriosis and adenomyosis
• Painful or irregular menstrual cycles
• Hormonal imbalances
• Stress related to fertility
• Recurrent pregnancy loss (alongside medical care)
• Egg quality and ovarian health
• Male fertility support
• IUI and IVF treatment cycles

Whether you're trying to conceive naturally or pursuing assisted reproductive care, our goal is to optimize your health while supporting your body's natural fertility.  While acupuncture cannot guarantee pregnancy, but it may help create the healthiest environment possible for conception by supporting hormonal balance, improving circulation to the uterus and ovaries, regulating menstrual cycles, reducing stress and promoting overall reproductive wellness.

Rather than treating fertility as an isolated reproductive issue, we take a whole-body approach that recognizes the interconnected relationship between the brain, hormones, metabolism, immune function and nervous system.

Chronic stress can keep the body in a prolonged fight-or-flight state, where elevated stress hormones may disrupt the delicate neuroendocrine communication that supports ovulation, menstrual cycles and reproductive function. Acupuncture helps shift the body into the parasympathetic "rest, digest, and restore" state, encouraging healthy hormonal communication, improving circulation to the uterus and ovaries and promoting the body's natural ability to maintain homeostasis.

Whether you're hoping to conceive naturally or pursuing IUI or IVF, we'll create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs and timed to your menstrual cycle. Each phase has distinct physiological requirements, and by working with both your circadian and infradian rhythms, acupuncture works with your body's natural cycles to optimize reproductive health.

Our goal is not only to optimize your chances of conception, but also to ensure you feel informed and supported throughout every stage of your fertility journey.

Absolutely. Acupuncture is designed to complement the care you receive from your healthcare team, including:

• Fertility specialists
• Reproductive endocrinologists
• Gynecologists
• Family physicians
• Naturopathic physicians
• Counsellors and mental health professionals
• Registered dietitians

We believe collaborative care provides the best support throughout your fertility journey.

Your initial visit includes a comprehensive health consultation where we'll discuss:

• Menstrual history
• Previous pregnancies
• Fertility investigations
• Laboratory findings
• Medical history
• Lifestyle
• Nutrition
• Sleep
• Stress
• Fertility goals

Treatment may include:

• Acupuncture
• Traditional Chinese Medicine assessment
• Dietary therapy
• Lifestyle recommendations
• Customized herbal medicine when appropriate

Every treatment plan is tailored to your individual health needs and evolves as your body responds.

Traditional Chinese Medicine views fertility as a reflection of whole-body health. When appropriate, acupuncture may be combined with customized herbal medicine and individualized dietary therapy to support your reproductive goals.

Depending on your unique presentation, treatment may help support:

• Healthy ovulation
• Hormonal balance
• Blood sugar regulation
• Healthy metabolism
• Stress resilience and nervous system regulation
• Sleep quality and circadian rhythms
• Digestive health
• Healthy egg and sperm development through whole-body wellness
• Preparation for pregnancy

Our dietary recommendations are individualized to your constitution, lifestyle, and fertility goals. Rather than restrictive dieting, we focus on nourishing your body with foods that support reproductive health, hormone balance and healthy metabolic function.

Chinese Herbal Medicine is best applied during certain stages of IVF treatment and will always be coordinated with your fertility physician's recommendations.

Yes. Acupuncture is commonly integrated alongside assisted reproductive treatments and is designed to complement—not replace—the care provided by your fertility clinic.

Treatment may be scheduled throughout your treatment cycle, including:

• Before ovarian stimulation
• During stimulation
• Around egg retrieval
• Preparing the uterine lining
• Before and after embryo transfer
• During the two-week wait

Many patients also find acupuncture provides a calming space to reduce stress and reconnect with themselves throughout what can often be an emotionally demanding experience.

The Paulus Protocol is a specialized acupuncture treatment performed immediately before and after embryo transfer during an IVF cycle. Originally developed by German physician Dr. Wolfgang Paulus, the protocol is designed to support uterine blood flow, promote deep relaxation, regulate the nervous system, and complement your fertility clinic's treatment plan during this important stage of treatment.

On embryo transfer day, acupuncture is intended to help:

• Support healthy blood flow to the uterus
• Encourage relaxation and reduce stress
• Shift the body into a parasympathetic ("rest and receive") state
• Support optimal uterine receptivity
• Complement your IVF treatment plan

Original Paulus Study (2002)

• 160 women undergoing IVF with good-quality embryos
• 80 received acupuncture immediately before and after embryo transfer
• 80 received standard care (rest only)

Clinical pregnancy rate (fetal heartbeat at 6 weeks):

• Acupuncture: 42.5% (34/80)
• Control: 26.3% (21/80)

This represented an absolute increase of 16.2 percentage points and was statistically significant (P = 0.03).

While acupuncture can be beneficial throughout your fertility journey, many patients choose to receive treatment in the weeks leading up to IVF to support overall reproductive health and reduce stress. On embryo transfer day, we offer the Paulus Protocol, with treatments immediately before and after your transfer. This approach is intended to help you feel calm, supported and relaxed while complementing your IVF care. We are happy to coordinate treatment timing with your fertility clinic whenever possible.

Every fertility journey is unique. Your treatment plan depends on your health history, diagnosis, fertility goals, age and whether you're trying to conceive naturally or through assisted reproductive treatment.

For natural conception, we often recommend beginning acupuncture approximately three months before trying to conceive, allowing time to support healthy egg development, optimize ovulation and regulate the menstrual cycle.

If you're preparing for IUI or IVF, treatments are timed around your clinic's protocol and scheduled to support each stage of your fertility treatment.

We'll review your progress regularly and adjust your treatment plan based on how your body responds, ensuring your care remains personalized throughout your journey.