Acupuncture and IVF – the day of embryo transfer.

Acupuncture can be a great support for couples going through IVF. Although we strongly suggest regular weekly treatments in the period leading up to the IVF cycle, one of the most important parts of the treatment protocol is having acupuncture on the day of the embryo transfer.

What happens during an IVF cycle?

A typical IVF cycle involves stimulating a woman’s ovaries to produce multiple eggs, retrieving those eggs, which are then fertilised in the laboratory to create embryos. One of these embryos is transferred into the woman’s uterus 3 or 5 days after fertilisation. Extra embryos are frozen and if necessary thawed and transferred in a subsequent cycle.

Acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re doing a fresh or a frozen cycle, or a day 3 or day 5 transfer, acupuncture on the day of your embryo transfer is very important. We call it the ‘before and after treatments’ because it is best to come in for your acupuncture sessions before you go in to get your embryo transferred and as soon as possible afterwards. Each treatment will be slightly different as we target different outcomes. Before your embryo transfer we aim to improve the blood flow in the uterus so that when the embryo is put in, the uterine lining is optimally circulated. After you had your transfer, we aim to improve implantation of the embryo. In this way we support your body during this critical time of your IVF cycle.

I haven’t had acupuncture but have an embryo transfer planned.

Even if you haven’t had regular appointments before your embryo transfer it is still worth it to have before and after treatments on the day itself. Get in touch as soon as possible.

How can I make an appointment for my before and after acupuncture sessions?

Generally you will know the day of the procedure 3-5 days before but you won’t find out the actual timing until the day before your embryo transfer. We encourage you to get in touch with us as soon as you can in your IVF cycle to allow us to plan for your treatments. As timing is critical we always try and prioritise treatments for woman that have their embryo transfer. It’s best to give us a call on 0414 067 874 to plan your treatments.

Can I claim acupuncture on my private health insurance?

It depends on your level of cover, please check your policy or speak to your provider. Please note that most health funds only provide a refund for 1 treatment a day.