Acupuncture significantly reduces stress, pain, and anxiety for patients undergoing IVF, suggests study

A recent study published by researchers at University Hospitals Connor Whole Health and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine revealed that Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine (WS-TCM), when integrated with in vitro fertilization (IVF), significantly improves patient-reported levels of stress, pain, and anxiety within a single treatment session. The researchers are also among the first to describe the real-world integration of WS-TCM treatments such as acupuncture within a fertility clinic at a U.S. academic medical center.

The retrospective study, conducted at UH Connor Whole Health and the UH Fertility Center, analyzed 1896 WS-TCM treatments provided during 202 embryo transfers for 146 patients from 2019 to 2022. Patients undergoing IVF who received WS-TCM treatments, including acupuncture, lifestyle and dietary guidance, and herbal medicine, experienced measurable symptom relief. The study found clinically meaningful improvements following a single-treatment with average reductions of 2.2 units in anxiety, 2.1 in stress, and 1.4 in pain on a 10-unit numeric rating scale.

Findings support the use of WS-TCM for providing symptom relief for patients navigating the heavy emotional and physical challenges of IVF. Over 25 percent of patients in the study sample had documented mental health diagnoses, with anxiety being the most common. Thus, integrative treatments like WS-TCM may enhance patient experience during IVF treatment. This evidence adds to a growing body of research supporting the efficacy of acupuncture and other WS-TCM modalities for improving IVF success rates.

Researchers found that 88.6 percent of IVF cycles included WS-TCM treatment on the day of embryo transfer. Additionally, 64.9 percent of cycles featured treatments in the weeks leading up to embryo transfer. As WS-TCM practitioners continue to be integrated within U.S. fertility centers, this study provides comprehensive data on when treatments occurred, how many treatments were provided, and what specific acupuncture points were utilized to address the needs of women undergoing IVF.

The UH Fertility Center is among a growing number of academic medical centers nationwide implementing integrative therapies into reproductive health services. This collaborative care model enables personalized, whole-person support for every step throughout fertility treatment.

“During the IVF journey, patients seek the best possible clinical outcomes, but also comprehensive support to help manage the stress and anxiety that often accompany treatment. Our study demonstrates that acupuncture and whole-systems TCM can serve as a valuable tool to decrease pain, stress and anxiety – ultimately contributing to both improved outcomes and a more positive, holistic patient experience,” said Dr. Christine Kaiser, DACM, Lac, Principal Investigator of the Study and the Connor Endowed Director of Reproductive Well-being at UH Connor Whole Health.

“Our patients often ask how complementary therapies impact IVF outcomes, and this study is a critical step toward providing high-quality data to guide those decisions,” added Dr. Rebecca Flyckt, MD, co-author of the study and Division Director of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at UH. “Collaborative research like this helps us to better support patients not only medically, but emotionally and physically throughout their fertility treatments.”

Reference:

Lu R, Rodgers-Melnick SN, Flyckt R, et al. Clinical Delivery of Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine and Impacts Upon Patient Reported Outcomes During IVF. Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health. 2025;14. doi:10.1177/27536130251349116