Does Acupuncture Work?
If you’re on a fertility journey—or even just vaguely interested in boosting your egg quality—you’ve probably heard someone mention acupuncture. Maybe it came up in a podcast, or your friend swore by it after her IVF cycle, or you saw someone on TikTok getting tiny needles stuck in their face and somehow looking really relaxed. And now you’re wondering… does acupuncture actually do anything?
Honestly, same.
I started acupuncture in the months leading up to my egg freezing cycle. I’d read all the articles and scrolled all the Reddit threads. I knew there wasn’t a clear scientific consensus, but I figured if there was even a chance it could help my egg quality—and also my anxiety—I was game.
So here’s what happened. No sugarcoating. Just one woman’s real experience trying to make sense of something that’s part ancient medicine, part modern wellness trend, and 100% mysterious.
Why I Gave It a Go
At some point, my Google search history looked like this:
“how to improve egg quality naturally”
“best supplements for egg freezing”
“should I give up caffeine before IVF”
“does acupuncture help fertility or is it nonsense”
Spoiler: it’s not nonsense. But it is hard to measure.
I ended up finding E5 Acupuncture in East London. And let me tell you—they were amazing. The vibe was calm, unpretentious, and (bless them) affordable. I didn’t feel like I had to fully buy into the idea of energy meridians or ancient qi to get something out of it. They were just kind, supportive people offering a space to breathe. And in the middle of hormone tests, supplement spreadsheets, and constant overthinking, that felt like a gift.
What It’s Actually Like
So, what does a session look like? You walk in, take off your shoes, have a quick chat about how you’re feeling (physically and emotionally), and then lie down while they gently place a bunch of teeny-tiny needles on your legs, arms, belly, sometimes even your forehead.
It doesn’t really hurt—it’s more like an odd little tingle—and then... you just lie there. For like 30-45 minutes. Doing nothing.
And that’s the best part.
Because once those needles are in, you literally can’t move. You’re not checking your phone. You’re not replying to emails or doomscrolling fertility forums. You’re just... still. Honestly, it became the one moment in my week where I could fully switch off.
Sometimes I fell asleep. Sometimes I stared at the ceiling and let my brain float. Every time, I left feeling lighter. Calmer. Like I'd just given my nervous system a warm hug.
Did It Help My Egg Quality?
Here’s the honest answer: I don’t know. That’s the weird, frustrating part. This isn’t like a skincare product where you can see a glow the next day. You can’t peek inside your ovaries and see blood flow magically improving. You can’t directly measure what’s working.
I was going weekly for a few months, and I did end up freezing 14 mature eggs over the course of two cycles , which was a good number for my age and AMH level. Did acupuncture help with that? Maybe. Maybe not.
But I know it helped me mentally and emotionally—and that alone made it worth it.
What I Do Know
Here’s what I can say for sure:
Acupuncture became my weekly reset button (more on that here).
It helped me create space to breathe, slow down, and tune in, instead of always trying to “fix” something.
It gave me something to do during a time when everything felt out of my control.
It felt like self-care, but the kind that doesn’t involve spending £60 on a candle.
Even if it didn’t directly improve my egg quality (which, who knows, maybe it did), it helped me feel more grounded during a chapter that can be really, really overwhelming.
Is It Worth the Money?
I get it—it adds up. Even with E5’s fair prices, going every week is an investment. But when I think about how much I was spending on supplements, organic food, skincare, and random “fertility hacks” (anyone else try castor oil packs while watching Love Is Blind?)—this felt like money well spent.
Also: therapy is expensive. And sometimes, lying still in a quiet room where no one can reach you? That’s therapy.
Final Thoughts
So… does acupuncture work?
If you’re looking for a guaranteed boost to your egg count, I can’t promise anything. But if you’re craving calm in the chaos, if you want a regular moment to reconnect with your body, if you’re curious and open to trying something that feels ancient and oddly magical—then yes. It works.
For me, it was less about needles and more about nourishment. Less about outcomes, and more about presence. And honestly, in the middle of a fertility journey, that might be the thing we need most.
If you’re thinking of trying it, I say go for it. Especially if you can find a warm, supportive space like E5. You might not walk away with hard proof, but you might walk away feeling just a little more like you. And sometimes, that’s everything.
