Note: Patient details have been changed to protect privacy. This case is shared with the patient's permission to help others in similar situations understand what acupuncture treatment involves.
The Patient
Sarah was 38 years old when she first came to see Janice. She had been trying to conceive for two years, had completed two IVF cycles — both unsuccessful due to poor egg quality — and was preparing for a third retrieval cycle. Her reproductive endocrinologist had recommended acupuncture as a complementary treatment, and her primary concerns were improving egg quality and managing the enormous stress of the process.
The TCM Assessment
Janice's initial assessment found a pattern of Kidney Yin and Yang deficiency with Liver Qi stagnation — common in women of reproductive age dealing with chronic stress, especially the emotional weight of infertility treatment. Sarah's tongue was pale with a thin coating; her pulse was thin and slightly wiry. She reported poor sleep, irregular cycles prior to IVF medication, cold extremities, and persistent anxiety.
The Treatment Plan
Treatment began 12 weeks before the anticipated retrieval date — the full 90-day window to influence egg quality. Sessions were weekly throughout this period, with specific point prescriptions modified each visit based on where Sarah was in her cycle and how her pulse presentation changed. Points to tonify Kidney Yin (SP6, KD3, REN4) were combined with points to move Liver Qi and reduce stress (LV3, PC6, HT7), and blood-nourishing points (SP10, ST36, BL17) to support the uterine lining.
Janice also prescribed a Chinese herbal formula to support kidney deficiency and blood nourishment, adjusted at each visit. Dietary recommendations included warming foods, reduced cold and raw foods, and eliminating caffeine — known to affect egg quality.
The Outcome
In Sarah's third retrieval cycle, she produced more mature eggs than either previous cycle, and the embryo quality scores were higher. One embryo was transferred successfully, and Sarah delivered a healthy baby 40 weeks later.
It's important to note that acupuncture is not a guarantee of IVF success, and this outcome cannot be attributed to acupuncture alone. What Sarah reported was that the treatment made an extremely stressful process feel manageable, her sleep and emotional resilience improved significantly, and she felt she had done everything within her control to optimize her chances.