Acupuncture on Embryo Transfer Day

If you have scheduled acupuncture with our office, please arrive at your fertility clinic one hour before your scheduled transfer time.

You will have two acupuncture treatments each lasting 30 - 60 minutes (depending on which protocol is used). One will be done before the transfer and another will be done within 20 minutes after the transfer.

If you are having a fluid ultrasound-guided transfer, you will be able to sip water throughout the first treatment. It may be useful to bring a water bottle and straw for easier access.

Some people find it useful to bring an IPOD or other music device with music they find relaxing. Please bring "earbud" style headphones because some of the acupoints are located on the ears.

Many women receiving acupuncture as an adjunct to IVF tend to think that once the transfer day is over, acupuncture is no longer useful. However, in our experience, women who continue treatments after embryo transfer (preferably throughout the first trimester) have higher ongoing pregnancy rates.

In addition, acupuncture has also been shown to reduce the number of cesarean deliveries (C-sections) and to help prevent or correct a number of other pregnancy related complications such as morning sickness, back pain, pelvic girdle pain, migraines, hypertension and elevated blood sugar levels.

It can also help prevent preterm labor, correct breech presentation and reduce labor pain. We have also found acupuncture to be very effective in facilitating natural labor induction.²

For more information on post-transfer care, click here.

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