Common fertility acupuncture questions

Q: How does acupuncture help fertility?

A: Acupuncture helps the body to help itself by regulating the movement of energy and blood, which thereby helps to regulate hormone movement and the menstrual cycle.

Q: When is it a good time to try and conceive?

A: It's best to try around the time of ovulation. This is generally mid way during the menstrual cycle.

Q: When do i ovulate?

A: Generally, ovulation occurs mid way during the menstrual cycle. Although, it can be early or late, depending on the fertility problem.

Q: Can acupuncture help woman over 40?

A: Yes, it can. Dr D'Alberto has helped many woman over 40 to conceive and maintain a healthy pregnancy. Click here to contact him.

Q: How do i know i'm ovulating?

A: Ovulation symptoms generally include twinges over the ovaries, a change in discharge to 'egg white' and an increase in libido. If you don't have these symptoms, then Dr D'Alberto can help you.

Q: Is the 'egg white' discharge important?

A: Yes, it is. The egg white discharge acts as a ladder to enable the sperm to travel up into the cervix.

Q: What happens if i don't have egg white discharge?

A: This means that the sperm may not be able to enter the cervix and geminate the egg. In that case, treatment if necessary. Contact Dr D'Alberto to discuss your needs.

Q: Do ovulation kits work?

A: Generally, they are not as good as ovulation symptoms.

Q: How can i see how if my menstrual cycle is ok?

A: By recording your body temperature every morning (known as a BBT chart), you can see if there is a problem with the menstrual cycle and when ovulation occurs. If you don't have one, Dr D'Alberto can provide you with one.

Q: When i have an LH surge, is that when i'm ovulating?

A: Yes, when you have an LH surge and your body temperature spikes, that's when you are ovulating.

Q: Should i have intercourse when i have my LH surge?

A: You should try 2 days before, for each day until you have your LH surge.

Q: If i go through IVF, does that mean i am more likely to miscarry?

A: Women entering IVF usually have a deficiency, which makes them susceptible to having a miscarriage. Dr D'Alberto can prescribe an anti-miscarriage herbal formula to help maintain a healthy pregnancy.

Q: Should i have 1 or 2 fertilised embryos reimplanted?

A: General government guidelines specify 1 embryo for woman under 35 and 2 for those over 35, although this can vary from clinic to clinic. These guidelines are in place to reduce the risk of twins and potential miscarriage. In these cases, Dr D'Alberto can provide treatment to minimise the risk of miscarriage.

Q: Does a high FSH affect my fertility?

A: Generally, yes it does. For women aged around 35, the FSH level should be around 7. For those over 35, it should be lower than 11. Most fertility clinics won't allow women to enter IVF if their FSH is higher than 11. Dr D'Alberto can help reduce FSH levels. Contact him for further advice.

Q: Can acupuncture improve my AMH levels?

A: AMH (anti-Mullerian hormone) reflects the size of your ovarian reserve. While acupuncture cannot create new eggs, it can improve blood flow to the ovaries, support hormonal balance and improve the quality of remaining eggs. Many women see improved AMH over a 3- to 6-month course of acupuncture combined with Chinese herbal medicine, particularly when AMH has dropped due to stress, inflammation or recent illness.

Q: What is unexplained infertility, and can acupuncture help?

A: Unexplained infertility means standard tests have not identified an obvious cause. Acupuncture is particularly well suited to this situation because it regulates the body's natural cycle, improves blood flow to the reproductive organs and addresses subtle imbalances that conventional tests do not pick up. A common pattern is conception within 3 to 6 months of starting acupuncture for unexplained infertility.

Q: How long before trying for a baby should I start acupuncture?

A: Ideally three months. This allows time for acupuncture to influence egg and sperm quality (both take roughly 90 days to mature) and to regulate your menstrual cycle. If you are already trying, starting now is still beneficial – treatment can be tailored to your timeline.

Q: When is the best time for acupuncture for fertility?

A: The best time for acupuncture for fertility depends on what you are treating, but as a guide most fertility patients are seen weekly throughout the menstrual cycle, with at least one session timed around ovulation and another in the luteal phase (the two weeks after ovulation). For couples trying to conceive naturally, the most important sessions fall in the follicular phase (days 5–13, building egg quality and uterine lining), at ovulation (day 14 or thereabouts, to support egg release and timing of intercourse), and during the luteal phase (days 15–28, to support implantation and progesterone levels). For IVF patients, the most influential windows are the weeks of stimulation, the day of embryo transfer (before and after, following the Paulus protocol), and the first 12 days after transfer. Starting acupuncture three months before trying to conceive gives time for it to influence egg and sperm quality, both of which take roughly 90 days to mature.

Q: Can acupuncture help with ovulation?

A: Yes – acupuncture for ovulation is one of the most well-studied applications of fertility acupuncture. Acupuncture has been shown in research to regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis, encourage regular ovulation in women with anovulatory cycles, support follicular development, improve uterine blood flow and help restore a normal luteinising hormone (LH) surge. It is particularly effective for women with PCOS, hypothalamic amenorrhoea, irregular cycles or unexplained infertility. Treatment typically focuses on the follicular phase to support follicle maturation and on the days around ovulation to support egg release.

Q: Can acupuncture be used for ovulation induction?

A: Yes. Acupuncture for ovulation induction can be used on its own for women with mild ovulatory disorders or alongside medical ovulation induction (clomiphene, letrozole or gonadotropin injections) to improve outcomes. Studies have shown that acupuncture can increase ovulation rates in women with PCOS, reduce the dose of medication needed and improve endometrial thickness and uterine blood flow during stimulated cycles. When combined with medical ovulation induction, acupuncture is typically given two to three times per week during the stimulation phase, with a session timed close to the trigger injection or natural LH surge.

Q: Which acupuncture points are used for fertility and ovulation?

A: A skilled fertility acupuncturist will tailor points to your individual cycle, diagnosis and stage of treatment, but commonly used points include Spleen 6 (SP6) and Spleen 10 (SP10) for blood and menstrual regulation, Stomach 29 (ST29) and the Zigong (extra) point over the ovaries for follicular support and ovulation, Kidney 3 (KI3) and Conception Vessel 4 (CV4) to nourish reproductive Qi, and Liver 3 (LR3) for hormonal regulation. During the luteal phase, points are chosen to support progesterone and implantation. The selection changes through the cycle, which is why timing of treatment matters.

Q: Does my partner need acupuncture too?

A: If there is no known male factor, a single session for the male partner shortly before egg collection or attempted conception is often recommended to reduce stress and support sperm quality. Where there is a male factor (low count, motility or morphology), a 3-month course of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for the male partner significantly improves sperm parameters in most cases.

Q: I have PCOS – can acupuncture help?

A: Yes. Research has consistently shown acupuncture can help regulate the menstrual cycle, improve ovulation, reduce androgen levels and improve insulin sensitivity in women with PCOS. Combined with dietary and lifestyle changes, it is one of the most effective non-medication approaches for restoring fertility in PCOS.

Q: Can acupuncture help with recurrent miscarriage?

A: Yes. Recurrent miscarriage often has multiple contributing factors. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can help by improving uterine blood flow, supporting hormonal balance, reducing inflammation and improving the receptivity of the uterine lining. Treatment ideally begins before the next pregnancy and continues through the first trimester.

Q: Are the Chinese herbs safe in pregnancy?

A: When prescribed by a qualified Chinese herbalist who is also trained in pregnancy care, specific herbal formulas are safe and beneficial during pregnancy. Dr D'Alberto uses pharmaceutical-grade Sun Ten herbal granules and only prescribes formulas appropriate for the specific stage of pregnancy.

Our fertility acupuncturist

Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto BM (Beijing), BSc (Hons) TCM, MBAcC, MRCHM

Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto has practised acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine for over 25 years, with a specialist focus on fertility, IVF support and pregnancy. He has helped many couples in Wokingham, Reading, Berkshire and across the south of England conceive after struggling, and holds a 5.0-star Google rating from over 230 reviews. He is the published author of My Fertility Guide, My Pregnancy Guide and My IVF Guide.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine (BM) from Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine – a full-time, five-year medical degree including clinical internships at two of the largest hospitals in Beijing. He is a registered member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) and the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine.

What patients say – Google reviews