Acupuncture and Moxibustion Before Egg Retrieval | Timing and Approaches to Physical Condition Management
Regarding acupuncture and moxibustion before egg retrieval, I will honestly explain the timing to start and the approach to physical condition management.
I will avoid definitive statements such as "it improves egg quality" and instead provide information to help you make your own decisions.
Conclusion
The reality is that even if you start acupuncture and moxibustion just before egg retrieval, it is unlikely, both physiologically and from clinical experience, that the results of the egg retrieval in the following cycle will change immediately. Since it is considered to take several months physiologically for the cells that become eggs to mature, it is generally recommended to manage your physical condition starting several months in advance, rather than just before, if you are preparing for egg retrieval.
In this article, I will explain this perspective and how our clinic handles this.
Who this page is for
Those who are preparing for egg retrieval for IVF and want to know when to start acupuncture and how often to receive it.
Those who have seen claims that it "improves egg quality" and want to verify if it is true.
Those who want to know what to be careful about for physical condition management before egg retrieval.
Please note that this article is not intended for the diagnosis or treatment of specific symptoms or diseases. Please be sure to consult a medical institution regarding judgments about your own condition.
Explanation of Terms
Egg Retrieval: A medical procedure to remove eggs from the ovaries for in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
Follicle: A sac-like structure that encloses an egg. It develops in stages within the ovary from a primordial follicle to a mature follicle.
Examinations and Treatments Generally Performed at Medical Institutions
The schedule and method for egg retrieval (such as the use of ovulation induction drugs) are determined by the doctor at the medical institution according to individual conditions (Must confirm: Please check with your doctor at the clinic you are visiting for details). Acupuncture and moxibustion are not involved in this medical procedure itself, but are chosen in parallel as part of physical condition management.
What is done in acupuncture and moxibustion
Infertility acupuncture and moxibustion are treatments performed with the goal of regulating physical condition. Even when receiving acupuncture and moxibustion before egg retrieval, it is important to consider it with the understanding that it is a "treatment aimed at regulating physical condition," not a "treatment to improve the results of egg retrieval."
Eastern Medicine Perspective: Preparing the Body for Egg Retrieval
In Eastern medicine, the source of reproductive power is called "Kidney Essence (Jinsei)," and its fullness is considered to be influenced by daily sleep, diet, and stress levels. Egg retrieval is a process that places a heavy burden on the body, and Eastern medicine values the approach of supporting the body as it faces this process by regulating the circulation of Qi and Blood (Kiketsu). The reason we recommend visiting the clinic several months in advance is that Kidney Essence is not something that can be suddenly nourished in a short period, but is considered something that is regulated over time.
(The above is a traditional theory and perspective in Eastern medicine and is not a physiologically verified mechanism in modern medicine.)
What is known from research
Regarding the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion used in conjunction with IVF, results in systematic reviews are divided, and there is no consensus among studies. While you may see claims that "receiving acupuncture and moxibustion before egg retrieval improves egg quality," no high-quality research that has rigorously verified this has been confirmed at this time (Must confirm). For more details, please refer to "Is Infertility Acupuncture Effective? What Research Shows and Its Limitations."
Regarding the period of follicular development
Regarding the period from when a follicle (the structure containing the egg) develops until it reaches a size capable of ovulation, different figures such as "about 3 months" or "about 180 days" may be introduced depending on the source. This is because the figures change depending on which stage of follicular development is used as the starting point. It is said that the final stage of follicular development alone (from secondary follicle to ovulation) takes about 3 months (e.g., Tokushima University, "Menstrual Cycle and Mechanism of Pregnancy Establishment"). On the other hand, there is information that introduces a longer period as the entire development period of the follicle, including the preceding stages.We recommend that you do not take a single figure at face value, but rather keep a rough understanding that "it is a physiological process that takes several months."
What is not yet understood
Results vary between studies, and conclusions differ depending on the indicators used.
We have not been able to confirm any strictly verified, high-quality research regarding the mechanism by which "receiving acupuncture and moxibustion before egg retrieval improves egg quality."
Our clinic's approach
Regarding acupuncture and moxibustion before egg retrieval, a common question we receive is, "Is it better to receive acupuncture and moxibustion right before egg retrieval?" Our clinic's perspective is as follows.
Director's Comments (Clinical Perspective) "In my clinical experience, as well as from a physiological standpoint, I have never experienced a case where starting acupuncture and moxibustion immediately before egg retrieval changed the results of the following month's egg retrieval. Since it is said to take about 3 months physiologically for the cells that become eggs to mature, I believe that when working toward egg retrieval, it is important to improve your physical constitution starting about 3 months in advance."
Introduction of a case (as one example)
As one example at our clinic, there is the following case. A patient who was unable to retrieve eggs for in vitro fertilization for one year was able to achieve egg retrieval and freezing after 6 months of treatment at our clinic.
(Important premise for reading this case: This is one individual case at our clinic and does not guarantee similar results. It is possible that the treatment policy or medications used by the medical institution may have changed during these 6 months, and it cannot be concluded that it was due solely to the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion. Since it is not appropriate to generalize a single successful case as a general effect, we are introducing it only as reference information.)
Anonymous cases and in-house data
At our clinic, we have compiled records of 374 people and a total of 425 cases that resulted in pregnancy over the 7 years from 2019 to 2025 (65.6% in vitro fertilization, 27.1% natural pregnancy, 7.3% artificial insemination; details are introduced in the article "To those looking for infertility acupuncture in Tokyo | How to choose an acupuncture clinic you won't regret").
(Important premise for reading this data: This data only aggregates "cases that resulted in pregnancy" and does not include the number of people who did not result in pregnancy. Therefore, it does not indicate pregnancy rates or treatment effectiveness.)
Guidelines for clinic visits
At our clinic, for those who start with physical constitution improvement on the premise of undergoing in vitro fertilization, we recommend visiting about once a week starting from 3 months to half a year in advance. We base our approach on visiting with a sufficient period of time rather than starting visits just before egg retrieval (please refer to "Infertility Acupuncture in Shibuya | Support by Stage: In Vitro Fertilization, Artificial Insemination, and Natural Pregnancy" for details). The actual treatment plan will be proposed individually based on the counseling at the first visit.
Costs
In principle, acupuncture and moxibustion treatments are not covered by health insurance and are entirely at your own expense. Our clinic's costs are as follows (tax included).
Item Cost Initial Consultation Fee 5,500 yen Acupuncture/Manual Therapy/Seitai (1 session) 8,000 yen
Initial Total 13,500 yen From the 2nd session onwards 8,000 yen
We do not offer coupon tickets or package pricing; payment is made each time. Regarding the point that it may be eligible for medical expense deductions,
please refer to "How much does fertility acupuncture cost? Explaining costs, frequency, and medical expense deductions" for details on expenses.
Risks and Precautions
Acupuncture and moxibustion treatments may generally involve the following risks.
Pain: You may feel temporary pain at the acupuncture site
Internal bleeding: Internal bleeding (bruising) may occur at the acupuncture site
Fatigue: Some people may feel temporary lethargy after the treatment
The period around egg retrieval is also a time when your physical condition is prone to changes due to the use of ovulation stimulants, etc. When receiving acupuncture and moxibustion, it is important to share your medical institution's treatment schedule and physical condition with the acupuncture clinic and proceed while consulting with them.
Cases where you should prioritize visiting a medical institution
In the following cases, it is recommended that you consult and visit a medical institution promptly rather than considering acupuncture and moxibustion first.
If you experience severe abdominal pain or sudden changes in physical condition around the time of egg retrieval (as there is a possibility of conditions such as Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome, please consult a medical institution first)
If an egg retrieval schedule has already been set by a medical institution and you should prioritize the doctor's judgment
Acupuncture and moxibustion are not a substitute for examinations, diagnoses, or treatments at medical institutions. Please be sure to consult your doctor at the medical institution regarding decisions about the egg retrieval schedule and methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Will the quality of my eggs improve if I receive acupuncture and moxibustion right before egg retrieval?
It is unlikely, both physiologically and based on our clinic's clinical experience, that starting acupuncture and moxibustion just before egg retrieval will immediately change the results of that cycle. We recommend that you view it as a way to improve your physical condition over a period of several months, rather than thinking that "receiving it right before will improve quality."
Q2. When is a good time to start acupuncture and moxibustion for egg retrieval?
Since it is physiologically considered to take several months for the cells that become eggs to mature, our clinic recommends starting visits about 3 months in advance when preparing for egg retrieval. However, this does not guarantee an improvement in egg quality due to acupuncture and moxibustion.
Q3. Is it safe to receive acupuncture and moxibustion around the time of egg retrieval?
Because the period around egg retrieval is a time when your physical condition is prone to changes, it is important to share your medical institution's treatment schedule and physical condition with the acupuncture clinic and proceed while consulting with them. If you have symptoms such as severe abdominal pain, please consult a medical institution instead of receiving acupuncture and moxibustion.
Q4. Is it true that "receiving acupuncture and moxibustion before egg retrieval increases the implantation rate"?
While such claims can be found in information from other acupuncture clinics, no high-quality research that strictly verifies this has been confirmed. The reality is that results vary between studies.
Q5. How many failed egg retrievals should I have before considering acupuncture and moxibustion?
There is no clear standard regarding the number of attempts. Regarding the results of egg retrieval and future treatment plans, it is essential to first consult with a doctor at a medical institution. With that in mind, some people consider acupuncture and moxibustion as one of the options for managing their physical condition.
Summary
It is important to view acupuncture and moxibustion before egg retrieval not as something that will immediately change results if received right before the procedure, but as a way to improve your physical condition over a period of several months.
We recommend that you approach definitive claims such as "it improves egg quality" by checking whether there is evidence to support them. Always consult with a doctor at a medical institution regarding decisions about your egg retrieval schedule and methods.
References
Tokushima University, Tokushima Reproductive Medicine Laboratory, "Menstrual Cycle and Mechanism of Pregnancy Establishment" https://tokushima-rml.clin.med.tokushima-u.ac.jp/supportive/supportive02
Japan Health Insurance Association, "How to Use Acupuncture, Moxibustion, and Anma Massage Therapy" https://www.kyoukaikenpo.or.jp/g3/sb3080/r140/
*Please be sure to consult a medical institution regarding individual symptoms and treatment policies.
Author/Supervisor/Update Date
Author: Shimpei Fukumoto
Supervisor: Shimpei Fukumoto (Director of Fukumoto Treatment Clinic, Acupuncturist/Moxibustionist)
Update Date: August 12, 2026