Acupuncture can be started at any point in the menstrual cycle or at any point before a medically administered fertility treatment to enable the body to be as healthy as possible for conception. The more time before ovulation or retrieval, the better, because the benefits of acupuncture are cumulative. So, three treatments to increase blood flow to the uterus and ovaries will be more effective than one treatment, however, acupuncture can always benefit the process, no matter when you start.
Acupuncture treatments for women ideally coincide with the phases of their menstrual cycle, and with their complementary treatment, which can include IUI (Intra-Uterine Insemination) and IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization). Typically, it is normal to expect to receive acupuncture treatment four times during your cycle. Treatments are given during the menses, during follicle and uterine lining development, prior to ovulation, and during the window of embryo implantation.
For those women undergoing IVF, acupuncture treatments are given before egg retrieval and before embryo transfer. If an IVF cycle is more than a month away, acupuncture and some herbs can be used to build up a mother's resources and correct imbalances in preparation for the coming cycle.