Short answer: acupuncture can support fertility and women’s health by working on cycle regulation, sleep and the stress load of trying to conceive, and it is commonly used alongside IVF as a complementary therapy. It does not replace care from your OB or reproductive endocrinologist, and it cannot promise a pregnancy; at Key Element in Westminster it is used to support the care you already have.
Whether it is period pain that derails a week of every month, hot flashes at 3am, or the quiet strain of trying to get pregnant, this guide explains how acupuncture fits into your care, what treatment looks like, and how long to plan for.
How does acupuncture support fertility?
Acupuncture influences the systems that regulate your cycle: blood flow to the pelvis and uterus, the stress response, and the hormonal signalling between brain and ovaries. Stress can affect hormonal health and show up as PMS, menstrual irregularities or difficulties with fertility, and acupuncture helps support the body’s natural ability to regulate stress.
Treatment aims to regulate cycles, improve sleep, support circulation to the uterus and ovaries, and reduce the stress load of a hard process. It cannot promise you a pregnancy; it is there to support your body so you have the best chances.
Does acupuncture replace my fertility doctor or OB?
No. Acupuncture is a complementary therapy. It supports, and does not replace, care from a reproductive endocrinologist, fertility clinic or OB. Fertility support at Key Element covers both people trying to conceive naturally and people going through assisted treatment, and in both cases it sits alongside your medical care.
Keep your fertility doctor or OB informed, and never stop or change a medical treatment because of acupuncture. You are re-evaluated as you go rather than sold a fixed course, and told plainly if acupuncture is not the right tool.
Can acupuncture be used alongside IVF?
Many fertility doctors recommend acupuncture as a complementary therapy alongside IVF. If you are in a cycle with a fertility clinic, call and speak to Autumn before booking, because timing matters. Talking it through first is especially worthwhile if you are already in treatment.
What women’s health concerns do people come in for?
Acupuncture is used at Key Element for four main areas, often with Chinese herbs alongside, particularly for anything cycle-related:
- PMS and painful periods: cramping, heavy or irregular bleeding, breast tenderness, headaches, bloating and monthly mood shifts.
- Perimenopause and menopause: hot flashes, night sweats, disrupted sleep, irritability and low mood.
- Fertility: support while trying to conceive naturally, and alongside assisted treatment.
- Pregnancy and postpartum: nausea, back and hip pain, sleep, and the exhaustion of the fourth trimester.
Painful periods are one of the better-researched uses of acupuncture; trials have found it reduced the intensity of menstrual cramping for many women. There is also reasonable evidence that it may reduce how often and how severely hot flashes occur, and many women notice better sleep and mood too.
Why does the intake ask so much about my cycle?
In Chinese medicine, the details you have been told not to worry about are part of the diagnosis: the colour and consistency of your flow, where in the cycle the pain lands, whether you run hot or cold. Autumn reads the pulse and asks about all of it, which is why two women with the same diagnosis on paper often get different point prescriptions.
Autumn trained in the Balance Method, which is used for OB/GYN concerns, and studied in the OB/GYN department at the Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine Hospital in Harbin, China.
What is a women’s health treatment like?
- A long first conversation covering your history in detail.
- The treatment: you rest with the needles for 25 to 30 minutes, and many women fall asleep. Wear clothing that pulls up past the elbows and knees.
- A plan you can keep, re-evaluated as your cycle changes.
Because stress and hormones overlap, acupuncture for stress and anxiety is often included in each treatment.
How many treatments will I need for fertility?
For fertility, Autumn generally suggests committing to three to six months of treatments, depending on your personal health history. For anything cycle-related that usually means weekly at first, because you need to see several cycles before you can judge whether it is helping. You discuss the likely number at your first visit and re-evaluate as you go.
Is acupuncture safe during pregnancy?
Yes, with a practitioner trained to treat pregnant patients, because certain points are avoided during pregnancy. Tell Autumn you are pregnant, or trying, before your first treatment and at every visit. If lying on your back is uncomfortable, the zero gravity chairs in the Acu-Lounge let you stay upright.
How much does women’s health acupuncture cost?
A first visit is $145 and includes the full intake. Follow-up treatments are $95, or $110 with cupping. Key Element provides a super-bill with diagnostic codes that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement, so check your coverage before your first visit. Our acupuncture price guide for the Denver area covers insurance, HSA and FSA use, and what a full course costs.
Chinese herbs, when recommended, are charged separately depending on the formula. Read more on the women’s health acupuncture page.
Who will be treating you?
Every treatment is given by Autumn Jensen, L.Ac., MSOM: a licensed acupuncturist in Colorado, a Diplomate of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (NCCAOM), and a Nationally Certified Chinese Herbalist, with a Masters of Oriental Medicine from Southwest Acupuncture College, more than 3,000 hours of education, and over 1,000 hours of clinical practice.
Where is Key Element Acupuncture?
Key Element Acupuncture is at 9035 Wadsworth Pkwy, Suite 3450, Westminster, CO 80021, inside the Silo Office Building at 90th and Wadsworth. It sits just off Highway 36 between Denver and Boulder, and patients come from Westminster, Broomfield, Arvada, Thornton and across the north Denver metro. Hours are Monday 11:00am to 5:00pm, Tuesday 9:00am to 1:00pm, Wednesday 1:00pm to 6:00pm, and Thursday 11:00am to 4:00pm. Call (720) 443-2248 if you cannot find a time online, because Autumn will do her best to fit you in.
Frequently asked questions
Can acupuncture help me get pregnant?
Acupuncture cannot promise you a pregnancy. What it aims to do is support your body: regulating cycles, improving sleep, and reducing the stress load of a hard process. It works alongside, not instead of, care from your OB or reproductive endocrinologist.
Can I have acupuncture during IVF?
Yes, many people use acupuncture as a complementary therapy alongside IVF. If you are in a cycle with a fertility clinic, call and speak to Autumn first, because timing matters, and keep your fertility doctor informed.
How long should I do acupuncture for fertility?
Autumn generally suggests committing to three to six months of treatments, depending on your personal health history. Weekly treatment is the usual rhythm, because you need to see several cycles before you can judge.
Is acupuncture safe during pregnancy?
Yes, with a practitioner trained to treat pregnant patients, because certain points are avoided during pregnancy. Tell Autumn you are pregnant, or might be, before your first treatment and at every visit after.
Can acupuncture help with painful periods or hot flashes?
It may. Trials have found acupuncture reduced the intensity of menstrual cramping for many women, and there is reasonable evidence it may reduce how often and how severe hot flashes are.
How much does women’s health acupuncture cost in Westminster?
A first visit is $145 including the full intake. Follow-ups are $95, or $110 with cupping. Chinese herbs are charged separately depending on the formula.
This article is general educational information, not medical advice. It does not replace an evaluation by your own health care provider. If you have a medical emergency, call 911.