Clinic Update: True Fortune Wellness is relocating. Existing patient appointments continue as planned, but we’re not accepting new patients at this time while we prepare for our move.
Acupuncture can offer support for those trying to conceive without assistance, and can also support those preparing for IVF/ART.Â
According to The British Acupuncture Council a 2018 systematic review and meta-analysis found acupuncture to have a significant treatment effect in improving the birth rates of sub-fertile women undergoing IVF or ICSI. They also note that a summary of previous reviews from 2009 to 2017 found that acupuncture had a beneficial treatment effect on clinical pregnancy rates. The BAcC further notes that acupuncture may be a suitable treatment option to help reduce stress and anxiety levels for women suffering with subfertility.
Many menstrual disorders can cause difficulties in conception: long or short cycles may cause problems with ovulation and implantation, painful and/or heavy periods may cause problems with implantation, Endometriosis and PCOS may have a big impact on the regularity of your cycle. Traditional Acupuncture has its own methods for diagnosing menstrual irregularities and infertility, so we can offer support even in cases of unexplained infertility.
Read the most up to date evidence on acupuncture for Infertility.
Natural Fertility: Given that it takes roughly 100 days for an egg to fully mature, I generally recommend a minimum of 3 months treatment to allow for this development. In addition to nourishing your body, this will also allow time to work on regulating any issues you may have with your menstrual cycle.
IVF/ART: It is helpful to start treatment at least one month before a planned IVF cycle as this allows time to work on nourishing your body before the process starts. Treatments are then planned throughout the various stages of your IVF cycle, and carry on until you have taken a pregnancy test. This generally involves 10-12 appointments.
Andrew has undertaken sustained further training in the treatment of women’s health issues with acupuncture. He is experienced in supporting infertility issues, disorders of the menstrual cycle, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and recurrent miscarriage. He is also experienced in supporting women going through IVF, and is well versed in the diagnosis and support of male infertility issues. Clients at our clinic can be sure that they are receiving the most up to date and complete treatment with regards to all aspects of women’s health.
Many menstrual disorders will cause issues with fertility, and we can therefore use acupuncture and acupressure to support issues you may have with long or short cycles, painful or heavy periods, and endometriosis or PCOS. Treatment is based around where you are in your menstrual cycle, and also on any medical tests that you may have had. Treating in this way, it is helpful to take into account the changes that occur throughout your cycle by tracking basal body temperature, fertile mucus and other signs of ovulation. In addition to your acupuncture sessions, it will also be important to take on board dietary and lifestyle changes that will support your goals.
Roughly 20% of infertility cases are related to male factor infertility, and the 10-20% of unexplained infertility cases are as likely to encompass male factor issues as anything else. Therefore, in any instance of difficulty conceiving or recurrent miscarriage it is important to consider the quality of male sperm. Here, the aim of acupuncture is to improve sperm count, vitality, morphology, and also libido. Please note that we will generally use acu-points on your abdomen, lower back and legs. Changes to lifestyle and diet will also help to improve sperm quality.
Acupuncture can support you at each stage of the IVF cycle. Our aim is to help with any stress you might be feeling, and to prepare your body for a healthy implantation. Acupuncture supports the IVF process, and helps with any feelings of discomfort you may have. In the case of male clients, acupuncture benefits sperm quality before collection. Acupuncture is used to support you during the stressful wait for a pregnancy result, then treatment in the first weeks of pregnancy can help to reduce stress and support pregnancy.
I am always happy to call you back for a complementary consultation over the phone. If you’re in Bristol and not sure whether acupuncture is right for you, I am here to answer any and all of your questions.
I highly recommend this BBC podcast as an introduction to all aspects of the menstrual cycle as they relate to fertility. It will be a great aid on your fertility journey to understand more about this fascinating topic.
This 2015 article from the journal Reproductive Biomedicine Online (RBMO) discusses research into acupuncture’s impact on IVF reproductive outcomes. The ‘Discussion’ section on page 609 summarises their findings.
This article from Pub Med compares the effect of acupuncture combined with medication and medication alone on pregnancy outcome in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) of thin endometrium type.
Dr Paul Magarelli and Dr. Lorne Brown discuss the ways in which Chinese medicine can lead to increased pregnancy rates.
Andrew was really helpful and reassuring from start to finish, detailing the acupuncture process and how it supports fertility treatment. The acupuncture was beneficial to not only the success of the fertility treatment, but also helping me cope mentally with what was a challenging time. I would recommend True Fortune Acupuncture to anyone seeking extra support during this treatment.
My husband and I had been trying for a baby for over 6 years and had tried everything the NHS would offer us. In January 2022 I started acupuncture with Andrew.
Andrew was ALWAYS very sensitive, professional yet flexible at every appointment. I had a session every week for 4 months when we finally got our positive pregnancy test! I then continued to have a weekly appointment to help ease symptoms and more importantly help keep me relaxed in my first trimester! Then in January 2023 my beautiful baby girl was born! I cannot thank Andrew enough and have since been recommending him to everyone!
Andy is great! He took a 360 view of treatment and care, and I felt like I was in really good hands. He has lots of interesting resources at his fingertips and as my circumstances changed we agreed on a new direction for our sessions. I would highly recommend him.
I came across True Fortune Acupuncture while on the hunt for an acupuncturist that could support our fertility journey. We were going through IVF (with a failed transfer) and I had benefited from acupuncture for other health issues in the past so felt confident that the right person could help me. I felt like I was in good hands with Andrew  – he was knowledgeable in the field of acupuncture for fertility, calm, attentive and professional. He made himself available for all the crucial dates around our IVF despite the birth of his daughter, which I really really appreciate. I do believe the acupuncture helped with minimising any pregnancy symptoms in the first trimester and helped me manage my anxiety, giving me plenty of time to pinch myself in disbelief of my pregnancy! I really can’t thank Andrew enough and would highly recommend True Fortune Acupuncture.
Andrew at True Fortune was fantastic. I’d never had acupuncture before, and went as it had been recommended to me to do alongside IVF. Andrew held the space with sensitivity and expertise – always taking the time to explain what he was doing and why. His knowledge in this area was extensive and I really appreciated his calm, kind approach, tailored to my particular situation. And I’m now 37 weeks pregnant 🙂 I’d strongly recommend him to anyone considering acupuncture, and particularly for fertility/IVF issues.