For some people, it seems to happen effortlessly: getting pregnant. But when we truly listen and ask more, we often hear that the process is much less straightforward than it appears from the outside. Trying to conceive involves a lot, and you are not the only one experiencing this.

According to the Dutch patient association Freya, approximately 1 in 6 people in the Netherlands face fertility issues (Freya.nl , 2026). Every year, an increasing number of women, as well as single individuals and LGBTQIA+ couples, start a fertility journey to fulfill their desire to have a child. Sometimes they do this at a hospital clinic, but some also travel to clinics abroad for this purpose. It involves a lot of effort and physical and mental stress.

Over the past few years, I have guided various clients during their fertility journeys in my clinic in Amsterdam East. Whether you are navigating this alone with the help of a donor, together with your partner through an IUI, IVF, or ICSI treatment, or if you are freezing your eggs for the future (social freezing): acupuncture is a complementary tool that can support you, and potentially your partner as well.

Acupuncture When Trying to Conceive

First and foremost, what we do with acupuncture is look at your health as holistic system. A delayed pregnancy can have various underlying causes. On top of that, a fertility journey itself is both physically and emotionally intensive. You often receive the necessary medical support from your doctor or gynecologist, but as an acupuncturist, we can provide complementary care to ensure this process goes as smoothly and optimally as possible.

Personally, I advise my clients to visit me before they even step into the trying to conceive (TTC) journey. This allows us to prepare the body and get all factors stable. In reality, my clients often come to me when they are already in the midst of their fertility journey. But even then, acupuncture can be effectively used as a complementary treatment to get your body in the right state for a successful pregnancy.

Below, I briefly explain what acupuncture can do for you during your specific trajectory.

1. Acupuncture when conceiving naturally

Also when conceiving naturally your body needs to be in the optimal state in order to conceive.

• What we do: We focus on improving the blood flow to the uterus and ovaries and ensuring the there is good circulation and enough warmth. We also ensure your nervous system is calmed down.

• Hormone balance: We use specific acupuncture points to regulate your hormone balance during this time. We also want your period to be balance and healthy.

• How often should I come in? Ideally, we start ideally before you are trying to conceive. Ideally treatments are monthly.

2. Acupuncture During Egg Freezing (Social Freezing)

Increasingly more women are choosing to freeze their eggs. This also demands a lot from your body due to the hormone stimulation.

• What we do: We focus on improving the blood flow to the ovaries and ensuring the egg retrieval process goes smoothly. We also ensure your nervous system is calmed down.

• Hormone balance: We use specific acupuncture points to regulate your hormone balance and alleviate the side effects of hormone injections (such as bloating, mood swings, and fatigue).

• How often should I come in? Ideally, we start weekly treatments 2 to 3 months before the scheduled retrieval, and we plan sessions just before and after the retrieval for proper physical recovery.

3. Acupuncture During IUI

One of the most common treatments people start with when trying to conceive is the IUI (Intrauterine Insemination) treatment.

• What we do: Timing is crucial during an IUI trajectory. With specific acupuncture points, we stimulate healthy blood flow to the uterus and ovaries around the time of ovulation. Additionally, we focus on creating an optimal environment for implantation.

• Hormone balance: Medication or stress can also cause various complaints during an IUI cycle. We use acupuncture to provide relief from these symptoms.

• How often should I come in? We often schedule a treatment prior to ovulation, and another treatment shortly around the day of the IUI procedure.

4. Acupuncture During IVF and ICSI

IVF and ICSI are intensive trajectories. Acupuncture can offer significant relief during this process.

• What we do: Throughout the various stages of the trajectory, acupuncture focuses on improving the blood flow to the uterus and calming the nervous system.

• During the different stages: During the stimulation phase, we use specific acupoints to support your body by alleviating side effects. Around the embryo transfer, we focus entirely on relaxing the uterus and stimulating blood flow to the uterine lining.

• How often should I come in? Weekly during the preparatory stimulation phase. After that, it is highly recommended to schedule an acupuncture session just before and immediately after the embryo transfer.

Fertility is a Shared Journey

In many cases, the focus during a fertility trajectory lies entirely on the person who is getting pregnant. But it is important to involve, and where possible, treat the partner in this process as well. For them, acupuncture can help lower stress, improve sleep, and reduce worrying, allowing them to support you better. Additionally, acupuncture can stimulate blood flow, which can have a positive impact on sperm quality. This helps both of you to stand stronger in this journey, physically as well as mentally.

Are you curious about how acupuncture can support you in your TTC journey? Book your consult at the clinic today

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X Kim