A Note from Patchula on Her Fertility Journey and the Role of Acupuncture

My own fertility journey was not an easy one. Over five years, I experienced multiple IVF cycles and several heartbreaking miscarriages. I know firsthand the emotional toll, the strain on relationships, and the overwhelming weight of hope and disappointment that can come with trying to conceive. During that time, I leaned on a strong support system—people who truly understood and held space for me. One of those people was my acupuncturist, who walked beside me every step of the way.

Acupuncture has been used for centuries to support reproductive health, and it's reassuring to see modern research validating its benefits. A 2024 systematic review published in the Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics found that acupuncture can significantly improve clinical pregnancy and live birth rates for women undergoing IVF. Research also suggests its benefits for ovulation (Johansson et al., 2013) and its effectiveness as a safe treatment for endometriosis-related pain (Li et al., 2023).

Along with acupuncture, other practices that I incorporated into my daily routine was cycle phase specific reproductive massage, regular shiatsu sessions, meditation, visualisation and breath work. Many of these practices are available within our Regain Your Fertile Power course.

If you’re navigating fertility challenges, please know you’re not alone and that there are ways to support your body and mind through the process. I hope that I can play a supportive role for you.

References

Johansson, J., Redman, L., Veldhuis, P. P., Sazonova, A., Labrie, F., Holm, G., Johannsson, G., & Stener-Victorin, E. (2013). Acupuncture for ovulation induction in polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, 304(9), E934-E943. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00039.2013

Li, P. S., Peng, X. M., Niu, X. X., Xu, L., Hung Yu Ng, E., Wang, C. C., Dai, J. F., Lu, J., & Liang, R. N. (2023). Efficacy of acupuncture for endometriosis-associated pain: A multicenter randomized single-blind placebo-controlled trial. Fertility and Sterility, 119(5), 815-823. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.01.034

Xu, M., Zhu, M., & Zheng, C. (2023). Effects of acupuncture on pregnancy outcomes in women undergoing in vitro fertilization: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 309(3), 775-788. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-023-07142-1