IVF is expensive.
Emotional. High-stakes.
Give it every
possible advantage.
You've made the decision to do IVF. Now you want to do everything you can to make it work. Acupuncture is one of the few adjunct therapies with real research behind it — and Katie is Auckland's most experienced practitioner in IVF support.
+15%
IVF SUCCESS RATE IMPROVEMENT
20+
YEARS FERTILITY EXPERIENCE
90
DAYS EGG QUALITY WINDOW
WHAT THE RESEARCH SHOWS
This isn't alternative medicine.
It's evidence-based support.
15% Improvement in IVF success rates when acupuncture is used alongside treatment — particularly around embryo transfer.
Reduced cortisol during the IVF process — stress hormones are directly detrimental to implantation and ovarian response.
Improved endometrial thickness — the uterine lining quality that directly affects whether an embryo implants.
Better ovarian response and follicle quality during stimulation, leading to more viable eggs at retrieval.
ENDORSED BY NEW ZEALAND FERTILITY SPECIALISTS
All major assisted fertility providers in New Zealand endorse acupuncture alongside IVF.
THE HONEST PICTURE
IVF gives you a chance.
Acupuncture improves it.
Here's the truth about IVF: even in the best circumstances, a single cycle doesn't guarantee a baby. The average IVF success rate in New Zealand for women under 35 is around 40% per cycle. For women over 38, it drops significantly.
That's not said to frighten you. It's said because those numbers are exactly why every advantage matters.
Research consistently shows that acupuncture — done correctly, at the right times, by an experienced practitioner — improves those odds. It does this by improving blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, supporting hormonal balance during stimulation, improving the quality of the uterine lining, and reducing the stress response that actively works against implantation.
But here's what most IVF acupuncture misses: egg and sperm quality are determined in the 90 days before retrieval. Coming for acupuncture the week before transfer is better than nothing. Starting three months earlier is transformative.
"The couples who get the best results are the ones who start early — before stimulation, not the week before transfer. Those three months change everything."
Katie has been supporting women through IVF since 2004. She understands the protocol, works around your clinic appointments, and knows exactly which points and which timing produce the best outcomes at each stage.
She also brings something no pure acupuncturist can: naturopathic support alongside the needles. That means nutritional optimisation during stimulation, targeted supplementation for egg quality, and herbal support where appropriate — all coordinated with your IVF medications, not competing with them.
The result is a practitioner who sees the entire picture — not just one piece of it.
WHEN TO START
Acupuncture works at every stage.
Earlier is always better.
This is the question every IVF patient asks. The answer is: as soon as possible — ideally 3 months before your cycle begins. But if you've already started, come now. There is meaningful support available at every stage of the process.
3 MONTHS BEFORE
Egg quality & preparation
The most important window. Acupuncture and nutritional support to optimise egg quality, regulate cycles, and prepare the body for stimulation.
DURING STIMULATION
Ovarian support
Supporting ovarian response, improving blood flow to follicles, and managing the physical and emotional load of the stimulation phase.
EMBRYO TRANSFER
The most critical window
Before and after transfer — this is where the research is strongest. Two sessions around transfer day improves implantation rates significantly.
STRONGEST EVIDENCE
TWO WEEK WAIT
Supporting implantation
Reducing anxiety, supporting uterine blood flow, and helping the body create the right conditions for the embryo to implant.
AFTER A FAILED CYCLE
Understanding & rebuilding
If a cycle hasn't worked, the next step is understanding why — and addressing it before starting again. This is where Katie's combined training is most valuable.
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
SUCCESSFUL IVF TRANSFER AFTER TWO FAILED CYCLES
"After two failed IVF cycles I was ready to give up. My lining had never reached the thickness my clinic wanted, and my response to stimulation was poor. I started seeing Katie three months before my third cycle. She found nutritional deficiencies my clinic hadn't tested for and changed my protocol completely. My third transfer worked. I'm now 16 weeks pregnant. I wish I'd found her before the first cycle."
JENNY, AUCKLAND 2023
HOW IT WORKS
Three steps from first appointment
to a clear plan.
STEP 01
A 90-minute initial consultation
Katie reviews your full history — your cycles, your previous IVF results if applicable, your test results, your lifestyle, and your partner's health. She maps this against your upcoming IVF timeline and identifies exactly where she can have the most impact. You leave with clarity, not just a booking.
STEP 02
A treatment plan built around your IVF schedule
Your plan is timed to your cycle — not a generic weekly schedule. Sessions are placed at the moments that matter most: during stimulation, around egg retrieval, before and after transfer. Naturopathic support runs alongside, coordinated with your clinic medications.
STEP 03
Ongoing support every step of the way
Follow-up appointments are 45–60 minutes, and at a cadence that supports your needs. You won't be left wondering what to do or who to call. This is a partnership through the entire process.
QUESTIONS
The ones every
IVF patient
asks first.
Something not covered here? Email Katie directly — she'll give you a straight answer.
-
Yes — and this is one of the most well-evidenced areas in fertility medicine. Multiple studies show approximately a 15% improvement in IVF success rates when acupuncture is used alongside treatment, particularly around embryo transfer. The mechanism is well understood: improved uterine blood flow, better endometrial receptivity, reduced cortisol, and improved ovarian response. All major IVF clinics in New Zealand endorse it.
-
Ideally, three months before your cycle begins. Egg quality is determined in the 90 days before retrieval — that's the window where naturopathic and acupuncture support makes the biggest difference to the eggs you'll actually be using. That said, starting at any point is better than not starting. Even beginning during stimulation offers real benefit.
-
Yes — acupuncture is safe and beneficial during the stimulation phase. It supports ovarian response and helps manage the physical side effects of the medications. Katie is familiar with all standard IVF protocols and will time your sessions appropriately. She will also advise which herbal supplements are safe to continue and which to pause during stimulation.
-
The most evidenced protocol involves one session before transfer and one after — ideally on the same day. The pre-transfer session focuses on relaxing the uterus, improving blood flow, and reducing the stress response. The post-transfer session supports implantation and calms the nervous system.
-
Absolutely — and Katie strongly encourages it. Sperm quality is determined in the 90 days before retrieval, just like egg quality. Acupuncture and targeted nutritional support can improve sperm count, motility, and morphology — all three metrics your IVF clinic will be measuring.
-
No. Acupuncture does not interfere with IVF medications. On the naturopathic side, Katie will review your full supplement and medication list and advise on anything that should be paused or adjusted during specific phases of your cycle. She's experienced in working alongside all standard IVF protocols.
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Initial consultation (90 min): $185.
Follow-up consultations (45–60 min): $125.
The number of sessions depends on where you are in your IVF journey — Katie will give you a clear recommendation at your first appointment so you can plan accordingly.
READY TO GIVE YOUR IVF THE BEST POSSIBLE CHANCE?
You've already made the
brave decision.
Now let's support it.
IVF is one of the most significant things you'll go through. You deserve a practitioner who understands every stage of it, brings 20 years of experience to it, and is genuinely invested in your outcome. Book a 90-minute initial consultation and leave with a clear plan.