IVF acupuncture San Diego: Holistic support at every stage
Improve your chances of pregnancy via IUI or IVF with individualized, evidence-informed acupuncture care — from ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, embryo transfer, and beyond. With 20+ years of experience supporting San Diego families to deliver healthy babies, we work alongside your fertility team to holistically support your body at every stage.
We can help if you are:
Preparing for IVF or IUI and want integrated support to improve your chances of success.
Navigating failed IVF cycles or recurrent implantation failure.
Facing diminished ovarian reserve, unexplained infertility, or the heartache of repeated miscarriages.
Feeling discouraged after being told by fertility doctors and IVF specialists that your chances of conceiving are very low.
Over 40, a single mom by choice, or part of an LGBTQ+ family — you belong here.
Feeling the pressure of age or other biological factors impacting your fertility.
Improve success rates with targeted treatment
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IUI acupuncture
San Diego IUI patients typically start 1-3 months before IUI to support egg quality plus regulate your cycle and balance your hormones. Treatments are coordinated with your medication protocol to optimize pelvic blood flow, reduce stress and support endometrial receptivity during your “two-week wait” after insemination.
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IVF fertility acupuncture
A personalized approach, ideally beginning 12 weeks before retrieval, to help optimize egg quality, improve pelvic blood flow and lower stress and cortisol levels. Once you begin ovarian stimulation (the injections phase), sessions can increase to support follicle growth and ease bloating, headaches and other medication side-effects. We also offer treatments carefully timed to support egg retrieval.
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Embryo transfer (fresh or frozen)
A specific protocol leading up to your transfer date to prepare your body and uterus for the procedure. On the day, our specialist team can come to your treating IVF clinic and offer acupuncture immediately before and after embryo transfer — increasing uterine blood flow, supporting implantation, and helping you feel calmer during one of IVF’s most high-stakes moments.
Evidence-informed acupuncture to support your IVF journey
Our approach integrates the most effective medical practices from the East to the West, setting you up for a successful IUI or IVF cycle by addressing your physical, mental and emotional health. We combine Traditional Chinese Medicine with modern reproductive medicine, working closely alongside your reproductive endocrinologist throughout your Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) journey.
Kind Words
Acupuncture for IVF: What the research shows
Combining acupuncture and IVF is highly recommended, as it is proven to:
Increase blood flow to the ovaries
Improve egg quality
Enrich the endometrium
Mitigate the uncomfortable and unpleasant side effects of drugs and hormones used in IVF cycles
Support your body through a physically and emotionally demanding process
Improve overall success rates
Research has shown that women receiving acupuncture alongside IVF are about 27% more likely to have a live birth. The best IVF acupuncture results were seen in patients receiving at least 10–12 treatments across the IVF cycle, rather than just on embryo transfer day only.
In reality, there’s no ‘magic number’ of treatments. And we can't promise a pregnancy. No ethical practitioner can.
But we can promise that you'll never be treated like a diagnosis or another name on the schedule.
We believe fertility can't be reduced to a lab value or a one-size-fits-all protocol. Before we ever place a needle, we’ll take the time to understand your full story and the many factors that may be influencing your reproductive health. Then we build a thoughtful, individualized plan together.
Whatever the outcome of your IVF acupuncture San Diego journey, you'll be cared for thoughtfully, honestly, and with the same level of attention we would provide to our dearest friends or family.
What to expect when beginning IVF fertility acupuncture or IUI acupuncture
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Initial consultation
Your initial consultation begins with a comprehensive health history review. This includes your medical records, IUI and IVF history, and any relevant labs or imaging; your diet and lifestyle; and an assessment of your tongue and pulse. We may recommend additional testing and can order labs if needed.
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Personalized treatment plan
Next, we build your personalized treatment plan, timing your acupuncture appointments strategically around your IUI or IVF cycle to support you at each key stage.
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Acupuncture with lifestyle and nutrition guidance
Treatment itself includes acupuncture, combined with a personalized mix (as required) of lifestyle and nutrition guidance, herbal formulas and supplements, massage therapy, detoxification plans, moxibustion, cupping, Gua Sha, and electro-stimulation.
Trusted IVF acupuncture San Diego since 2004
Over the past two decades, we've helped thousands of San Diego families become pregnant and deliver healthy babies using holistic acupuncture and functional medicine techniques.
Our clinic founder, Dr Tamara Roe, is among the few ABORM Fellows in San Diego, reflecting advanced training in fertility-focused Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Our four licensed acupuncturists offer:
40 years combined experience, specializing almost exclusively in fertility acupuncture.
Extensive experience supporting patients through IVF, including stimulation, egg retrieval, embryo transfer, and early pregnancy.
Close collaboration with local reproductive endocrinologists and fertility clinics.
Individualized treatment plans rather than a one-size-fits-all protocol.
We focus on improving your overall reproductive health, rather than simply treating on embryo transfer day, and provide a kind, calm and evidence-informed approach to ensure you feel truly supported throughout this emotionally and physically difficult process.
Our location
Our integrative wellness clinic is conveniently located in Mission Valley, San Diego, right off the 8 freeway and Texas Street. On-site parking is available.
2525 Camino Del Rio S #225 San Diego, CA 92108
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Pricing
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Initial consultation + IUI or IVF acupuncture treatment
2 hours — $189
Includes detailed health history assessment, development of your personalized treatment plan and an acupuncture treatment, plus additional holistic health therapies, nutritional recommendations and lifestyle advice as needed.
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Follow-up IUI or IVF acupuncture treatment
1 hour — $100
Includes customized acupuncture treatment, plus additional holistic health therapies as needed, such as infrared light therapy, cupping, electro-stim, moxibustion, and massage therapy.
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IUI and IVF acupuncture packages
5 treatment package — $475 (save $94)
10 treatment package — $940 (save $129)Many patients benefit from regular treatments throughout the course of an IUI or IVF cycle. Our packages help make ongoing care more affordable and support you in staying consistent with your treatment plan.
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Pre- and post-embryo transfer treatment (off-site)
3-hour block of time is reserved — $450
Get acupuncture at your reproductive endocrinologist's clinic before and after your embryo transfer, helping improve success rates. Please note: this service cannot be booked online. Call us on 619-324-3666 to book.
Frequently asked questions
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Yes, IVF acupuncture in San Diego is backed by studies showing acupuncture can improve fertility outcomes by reducing stress, regulating cycles, and enhancing blood flow to reproductive organs.
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Research has shown women receiving acupuncture alongside IVF are about 27% more likely to have a live birth. The strongest results were seen in patients receiving an average 10–12 treatments across the IVF cycle, rather than just on embryo transfer day only.
For more information, read our Acupuncture & IVF Success Rates blog.
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When performed by a licensed acupuncturist with experience treating fertility patients, acupuncture is generally considered very safe during IVF.
We've built strong relationships with San Diego's leading reproductive endocrinologists and fertility clinics over many years, and a large share of our patients come to us on referral from their RE. We know each clinic's protocols well, so we can tailor your treatment to support (but never interfere with) your IVF care at every stage.
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If possible, I recommend beginning about three months before egg retrieval. Eggs take approximately 90 days to mature, so this allows time to support the entire process of follicular development before stimulation begins.
That said, it's never "too late" — we believe you walk through our door whenever the time is right for you. Even starting during stimulation or before embryo transfer can still provide meaningful benefits.
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There isn't one magic number. The research showing the greatest benefit often involved 10 or more treatments over the course of an IVF cycle rather than one or two treatments around embryo transfer. In my practice, treatment frequency changes depending on where someone is in their IVF cycle and their individual needs.
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Your treatment is tailored to exactly where you are in your IVF journey — from supporting egg quality in the months leading up to IVF, to optimizing ovarian response during stimulation, preparing for retrieval, and supporting your body before and after embryo transfer.
Fine, sterile needles are placed at specific points and left in for about 30–40 minutes, often alongside other supportive therapies such as nutrition guidance, herbal formulas, or gentle bodywork. Sessions are calm and restful — many patients use the time to close their eyes, breathe, and simply switch off from the intensity of IVF for a while. All needles are single-use and disposed of safely afterwards.
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Yes. During stimulation, your body is doing a lot of work, and acupuncture 1–2 times a week can help support blood flow to the ovaries, which delivers oxygen and nutrients to your developing follicles. We also guide you on nutrition, blood sugar stability, and calming the nervous system during this often stressful window.
Ideally, we like to start around three months before retrieval, since research shows at least 10 acupuncture treatments beforehand is linked to significantly higher live birth rates — but it's never too late to begin, even once you're already in stimulation.
For more tips, see our Supporting Follicle Growth During IVF Stimulation blog.
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Ideally, yes. This is one of the most well-researched parts of fertility acupuncture. We offer on-site treatment at your fertility clinic before your transfer, plus a further session while you rest afterwards. This protocol is specifically timed to support blood flow to your uterine lining, and to help calm the stress and anxiety that often comes with transfer day.
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Many of the same principles apply to frozen embryo transfers (FET’s). Acupuncture may help support uterine blood flow, reduce stress, and prepare the body for implantation. While the evidence is still evolving, fertility specialists and acupuncturists often include acupuncture as part of FET cycles to increase the chance of success.
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Yes. We look at the whole picture rather than any single lab value, combining weekly acupuncture with nutritional and supplement support to help address the factors that may be affecting your outcomes. We can help you prepare for another IVF cycle or simply offer support processing an incredibly difficult experience.
You know that if you’ve ever tried researching acupuncture and IVF success rates yourself, it’s easy to come away feeling more confused than when you started.
One article says acupuncture improves pregnancy rates. Another says it doesn't. One fertility clinic recommends it. Another says there isn't enough evidence.
So what are you supposed to believe?