Acupuncture for Infertility

Infertility takes a physical and emotional toll on the couple trying to conceive. Some people may not be able to afford IVF or other western treatments. These treatments are often expensive and risky with nasty side effects.

Some couples experiencing infertility may turn to complementary or alternative treatments to help them conceive. One such treatment is acupuncture, which is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine. Acupuncture involves the insertion of tiny sterile needles (do not worry, they barely hurt) into specific body parts (acupoints) to stimulate optimal body function.

Read on for more on acupuncture treatment for infertility offered at Centre of Balance Hamilton.

Acupuncture may help with IVF treatment. fertility and stress

Here’s How Acupuncture for Infertility Works

The first thing you need to know is that acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) restore organ function rather than replacing the body function. The treatment places emphasis on harmonising the body and restoring balance. The idea is to make you and your partner’s bodies as welcoming for a baby as possible.

Acupuncture treatment is based on several TCM theories that have been observed for thousands of years. They include: 

  • Theory of the Five Zhang Organs: This theory states that all organs in a person are connected. Acupuncture treatment targets acupoints that are directly related to the affected organ. For example, the Kidney 9, Liver 3, Ren 3/4, and Zi Gong acupoints are often targeted for fertility. 
  • Syndrome Differentiation: Imbalances in TCM are as a result of deficiencies or excesses in heat, cold, yin, or yang. Therefore, treatment aims to either nourish deficiencies or purge excesses.
  • Blood and Qi (life energy) are Connected: According to TCM, blockages and disruptions in blood circulation flow or Qi energy cause infertility. Treatment attempts to restore harmony by removing these blockages. There are 14 major Qi pathways (meridians) that are accessible via over 2,000 acupuncture points on different parts of the body.
  • Fertility Diet: The portion, temperature, and kind of food you eat has a very important role in Traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture. You must care for your body and nourish it. Practitioners at Centre of Balance Hamilton, recommend  eating seasonal vegetables and fruits – i.e., when they are fresh and not preserved from previous seasons.
acupuncture for infertility

Scientifically, acupuncture improves the chances of pregnancy by reducing stress, restoring hormonal balance, strengthening the immune system, and stimulating effective blood flow in the reproductive organs. Acupuncture has also been shown to improve ovulation and menstruation in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome, which may cause infertility.

In addition to the benefits of restoring organ function, acupuncture for infertility treatment is safe with little-to-no side effects. Some patients may report slight skin irritation but it wears off quickly. 

Practitioners at Centre of Balance Hamilton are experienced in treating fertility patients. All treatments plans are individualised to your unique needs after a comprehensive initial exam. 

Call us today at 07 846 7956 or visit one of our clinics for more information on how we can help you conceive. 

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References

  1. Zhu, J., Arsovska, B., & Kozovska, K. (2018). Acupuncture treatment for fertility. Open access Macedonian journal of medical sciences, 6(9), 1685.
  2. Jo, J., Lee, Y. J., & Lee, H. (2017). Acupuncture for polycystic ovarian syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine, 96(23).

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Monica

I am originally from Hebei province in China. I hold a NZ bachelor’s degree of health and science with a major in acupuncture. I am honoured to be an acupuncturist at Centre of Balance. Helping patients to alleviate their pain brings me the greatest joy. Chinese medicine emphasises the unity of human beings and nature. During the treatment, I hope to not only relieve your pain but also help you to understand the principles behind acupuncture’s effectiveness, as well as the significant impact of diet, emotions, lifestyle habits, and living environments on disease recovery. Self-healing is an ability that our bodies are naturally endowed with.

I studied acupuncture in New Zealand and completed one and a half years of supervised clinical internship before graduating. In the early stage of my training, I mainly worked with patients experiencing neck, shoulder, and lower back pain. Under the guidance of senior clinical tutors, I gradually developed hands-on experience and confidence in treating musculoskeletal pain conditions.
As my clinical exposure expanded, I began treating a wider range of internal conditions. Alongside traditional acupuncture, I was introduced to Umbilical Acupuncture and Tungs-acupuncture Points. What interested me most about these approaches is that they often do not require needling directly at the painful area, yet can still achieve very effective results.
I was especially inspired by observing my supervisor use Umbilical Acupuncture to treat common conditions such as insomnia, menstrual irregularities, and even rheumatoid arthritis, with very positive outcomes. Another supervisor was highly skilled in Tungs-acupuncture Points and achieved excellent results in treating pain, infertility, menstrual disorders, and a variety of women’s health conditions. After completing my studies and entering clinical practice, once I observed Dr. Szenan Phua using Tungs-acupuncture points to help cancer patients relieve pain, which further strengthened my trust in this treatment method.
I later completed training in Dr. Tan Balance Acupuncture, which had a strong influence on the way I approach treatment. One of the most noticeable features of this method is how quickly patients often feel improvement, especially with pain conditions. Dr. Szenan Phua’s New Balance Acupuncture combines meridian regulation with structural adjustment and internal organ balancing, including techniques such as pulse balancing and spinal adjustment.
From my clinical experience, pain is rarely just a local issue. It often involves underlying organ weakness or structural imbalance. When these aspects are addressed together, treatment can be more thorough and longer-lasting. I also apply this approach to internal conditions, particularly in fertility and women’s health. This includes supporting natural conception, IVF preparation and embryo transfer, pregnancy support, early-pregnancy nausea, and late-pregnancy labour induction. I combine these treatments with concepts learned from a few additional fertility training, which has given me a broader and more flexible clinical perspective. This has reinforced my belief that acupuncture should be adapted to each individual rather than applied through fixed formulas.
Two other areas of study that have been very helpful in my clinical work are Tongue Diagnosis and Dr. Zhu’s Scalp Acupuncture. Although tongue diagnosis is taught in my standard Chinese medicine training, further study allowed me to deepen and refine my diagnostic skills.
My first formal training was in Li’s Tongue Diagnosis, which looks not only at organ patterns, but also at how different areas of the tongue reflect the body’s structure. This system also explores personality traits and changes during pregnancy, making it both clinically useful and engaging. I later attended online lectures on Yin’s Tongue Diagnosis and studied the related materials independently. this learning has helped me make clearer and more accurate pattern differentiation, allowing my acupuncture treatments to be more targeted. It covers a wide range of conditions, including skin disorders, oncology-related presentations, mental health patterns, and joint or limb problems. In practice, tongue observation often provides valuable insight even before a patient begins describing their symptoms.
In addition to the methods above, I regularly use local bloodletting techniques, which can be very effective for improving circulation, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. I also incorporate auricular (ear) acupressure and stimulation, which I commonly use for allergies, insomnia, headaches, stress management, and various internal conditions.
In my clinical work, I value taking the time to listen carefully to each patient and to understand their overall health, lifestyle, and concerns. Based on each individual’s condition, I also provide personalised dietary guidance and lifestyle or wellness advice to support overall health and long-term wellbeing. I commonly support patients with musculoskeletal pain, such as neck, shoulder, knee, and back pain, as well as stress-related conditions, sleep issues, migraines, digestive concerns, and women’s health and fertility-related conditions.