Support for your IVF journey
Starting IVF can bring so many different emotions. There may be excitement and hope, but also uncertainty, anxiety and sometimes a feeling that so much is out of your control.
Perhaps you're preparing for your first cycle, you've already been through treatment or you're simply exploring your options and wondering what you can do to feel more prepared.
Whatever has brought you here, I understand that IVF can be physically and emotionally demanding, and that everyone's experience is different.
My aim is to offer a calm, supportive space where you can take a little time for yourself, ask questions and feel listened to throughout your fertility journey.
Your IVF care at a glance
PREPARATION
Foundational Care
We focus on regulating your natural cycle and supporting blood flow to the ovaries, creating a healthy foundation before your medical cycle begins.
STIMULATION
Managing the Cycle
Acupuncture helps to manage common side effects of stimulation drugs while supporting your body's response and keeping stress levels low.
TRANSFER
Implantation Focus
Dedicated support during the transfer window to encourage uterine relaxation and provide a calm space for the following two-week wait.
Acupuncture - your IVF support
Whenever possible, I recommend starting acupuncture around three months before your IVF cycle begins.
Egg development takes place over several months, and this gives us time to look at your menstrual cycle, general health and any symptoms or concerns you may have before treatment starts.
We'll talk about your sleep, stress levels, energy, lifestyle and fertility history, as well as any investigations or previous treatment you've had.
PREPARATION PHASE
STIMULATION
During your cycle, we focus on blood flow and calming the nervous system. We schedule sessions around your key clinic dates, including specific support before and after your embryo transfer.
Once your IVF cycle begins, things can suddenly feel very busy. There are injections, scans, blood tests and appointments to fit around everyday life, often alongside the emotional ups and downs of treatment.
During ovarian stimulation, your fertility medication encourages several follicles to develop, rather than the single follicle that would usually mature during a natural cycle.
Some women feel relatively comfortable during this stage, while others experience bloating, pelvic heaviness, headaches, fatigue or changes in mood.
I usually recommend continuing acupuncture throughout stimulation, so we can focus on blood flow, helping to improve pelvic circulation and to calm any treatment-related symptoms. I adapt each treatment to how you're feeling and where you are in your IVF cycle.
My focus is on helping you manage the demands of treatment, providing a little time to relax and supporting your overall wellbeing as your cycle progresses.
As egg collection approaches, it's natural to feel a mixture of anticipation and nerves. By this stage, your ovaries may feel enlarged or uncomfortable, and you may be feeling tired from the medication and monitoring appointments.
Acupuncture appointments can be adapted around your egg collection, taking into account how you're feeling and any advice from your fertility clinic.
There's no need to squeeze in an appointment if you're uncomfortable or need time to rest. Your wellbeing always comes first.
EGG COLLECTION
EMBRYO TRANSFER
Embryo transfer can feel like such an important moment in your IVF journey. After weeks or sometimes months of preparation, it's understandable to want everything to go as smoothly as possible.
Some women choose to have acupuncture in the days leading up to embryo transfer, or around the time of transfer itself.
Research into acupuncture around embryo transfer has shown some encouraging results, with studies such as those using the well-known Paulus protocol exploring its potential role in supporting IVF outcomes.
My approach is to use this research alongside my clinical experience, tailoring treatment to help you feel calm, comfortable and supported at this important stage of your journey.
THE TWO-WEEK WAIT
For many women, the wait between embryo transfer and the pregnancy test can be one of the hardest parts of IVF.
After weeks of appointments, medication and monitoring, suddenly there's very little to do but wait.
It's completely understandable to find yourself noticing every little symptom, wondering what it might mean and trying to balance hope with protecting yourself emotionally.
Acupuncture during this time is focused on relaxation and general wellbeing, with treatment adapted to the possibility of an early pregnancy.
Whether you'd like some quiet time to switch off or simply somewhere to talk through how you're feeling, I'm here to support you.
IVF Doesn't Look the Same for Everyone
There are so many different paths to becoming a parent.
You may be having IVF with your own eggs and sperm, using donor eggs or sperm, going through treatment with a partner, or pursuing parenthood on your own.
I also welcome same-sex couples and solo parents, and understand that fertility treatment can bring different questions and challenges depending on your circumstances.
Some people come to me before their very first IVF cycle, while others have experienced unsuccessful treatment or pregnancy loss and are finding the courage to try again.
Whatever your journey looks like, you'll always be welcomed with warmth and understanding.
Common Questions
When should I book?
Ideally, I recommend we start 3 months before your IVF cycle to support egg and sperm quality. However, starting anytime during your treatment offers significant stress-reduction benefits.
Can you have acupuncture during IVF?
Yes. We use specific, gentle Five Element protocols tailored to each stage of your cycle, from stimulation through to embryo transfer, following British Acupuncture Council safe-practice standards.
How often are appointments?
Most clients attend weekly leading up to their cycle. We then plan more frequent sessions around egg collection and embryo transfer to provide focused support.
Does the treatment hurt?
Five Element acupuncture is exceptionally gentle. Most people feel a mild, brief sensation followed by a period of deep relaxation, often falling asleep during the session.