Acupuncture may help you Conceive


Acupuncture may improve bloodflow to the uterus and ovaries.

It’s well known that female eggs play a significant role in fertility. What most people don’t know is that the environment occupied by these eggs during their development determines their receptivity to a sperm, and the liklihood of conception. Eggs need to be exposed to an ample supply of energy, the right hormone signals, the right nutrients, and a good supply of blood. This is where acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine come in. A weekly acupuncture session at Centre of Balance and prescribed Chinese herbs for a few months may help to rejuvenate the developing egg and improve its capacity to make energy – necessary for conception. Call Centre of Balance to book an initial exam, or read on to find out how acupuncture may help you conceive.

When is Acupuncture used?

Navel Acupuncture

Acupuncture treatment has the potential to improve women’s fertility.  However, it has higher implications for patients at an advanced age or those burdened with conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Ovaries may be unresponsive to In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) or fail to produce quality eggs due to a variety of reasons such as:

  • Low anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) as follicles reduce or become less active.
  • An increase in the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) as the pituitary gland attempts to stimulate a less responsive ovary.
  • As you get older (40+), it’s normal for the quality of eggs produced by the ovaries to deteriorate.

Please Note: Ovaries age at different rates and the process is irreversible – it’s not possible to change the DNA or increase the number of eggs, even with the help of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine.

But if acupuncture cannot turn back the clock regarding ovaries, how does it improve the chances of conception?

How Acupuncture Influences Egg Quality

To understand how acupuncture may help you conceive, lets first talk about the imbalance in the body that is responsible for the reduced egg quality. As shown in the list below, acupuncture treatment and traditional Chinese medicine may influence egg quality in a variety of ways.

  1. Defence against cellular damage– Oxidative stress causes cellular damage to older follicles which
    may translate into poorer IVF outcomes. However, some Chinese herbs, available
    at Centre of Balance Hamilton, may improve female fertility by enhancing the
    production of ATP (the organic chemical in living cells that provides energy)
    and mitochondrial activity. Researchers and Chinese medicine practitioners agree
    that some of these herbs may improve antioxidant defences at a cellular level.
  • Increased energy– Eggs with an increased concentration of ATP have a better
    chance of successful conception. The amount of energy available has a higher impact
    on the division and implantation of embryos than maternal age. Acupuncture
    treatment enhances the eggs capacity to produce the necessary energy for
    conception.
  • Bloodflow to the follicles– Improved IVF outcomes and higher
    fertilization rates are likely when follicles have ample oxygen content and
    blood supply. However, during the late stages of development, the follicles of
    older ovaries tend to receive a reduced supply of blood. Acupuncture treatment
    involving certain meridian points addresses this imbalance by increasing blood
    flow to the ovaries and promoting the growth of blood vessels. It’s especially
    effective during the development phase of the eggs and follicles, when the
    treatment promotes blood supply through the ovarian and uterine arteries. This
    improves the delivery of oxygen and nutrients, thus enhancing the chances of fertilization
    and implantation.
  • Hormone stimulation– A high FSH environment is detrimental to the quality of
    female eggs. Acupuncture aims to reduce FSH and improve the ovaries receptivity
    to hormone stimulation.

Conclusion

Acupuncture for fertility, frozen embryo transfer, IVF

If you are preparing to conceive, and would like a safe, natural therapy to increase your overall health, traditional Chinese medicine may be just what you are looking for.  Acupuncture has been shown to improve follicular response to hormone stimulation, enhance antioxidant defenses, boost mitochondrial ATP production, and increase blood flow to the follicles. These competencies may be the solution you’ve been looking for to help rejuvenate your eggs and improve your fertility. It all starts with a visit to your favourite acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine clinic. Call Centre of Balance, Hamilton, to find out how acupuncture may help you conceive, or to book an initial exam now.

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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.