Fertility Acupuncture in Brighton & Hove

Gentle, evidence-informed care to support your fertility journey

Trying to conceive can be one of the most emotionally and physically demanding times in life. Whether you’re preparing for pregnancy, exploring IVF, or navigating unexplained infertility, acupuncture offers gentle, holistic support for your body, mind, and reproductive health.

At my Brighton & Hove acupuncture clinic, I provide personalised treatments that focus on balance, relaxation, and overall wellbeing — creating the best possible internal environment for conception.

Acupuncture is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which sees fertility as a reflection of overall balance — in hormones, energy, and emotional health. Treatments can:

• Encourage healthy blood flow to the uterus and ovaries

• Support hormone regulation and menstrual cycle rhythm

• Reduce stress and anxiety associated with trying to conceive

• Improve sleep and energy levels

• Promote relaxation and emotional stability

Research suggests that acupuncture may positively influence the body’s natural fertility processes, particularly when used alongside medical care. Many people describe feeling calmer, more balanced, and better supported through their fertility journey.

Acupuncture can help support people experiencing:

• Irregular or absent periods

• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

• Endometriosis

• Unexplained infertility

• Hormonal imbalance

• Stress, anxiety, or emotional strain affecting cycles

• Low energy and disrupted sleep

Treatments are always tailored to your individual needs and can work safely alongside medical or complementary fertility treatments.

The fertility journey isn’t only physical; it’s deeply emotional. Acupuncture offers space to breathe, rest, and release tension — a time just for you. Many of my patients say they sleep better, feel calmer, and reconnect with a sense of trust in their body, whatever the outcome of their journey.

Read more about how acupuncture can help with fertility here.

Acupuncture is often used in the lead-up to and during IVF to help manage stress and support the body through each stage of treatment. Sessions can be timed to align with:

• Pre-IVF preparation (regulating cycles, reducing stress)

• Ovarian stimulation and egg collection

• Embryo transfer (before and after sessions are most studied)

• The two-week wait — promoting calm and relaxation

My approach integrates evidence-informed acupuncture with emotional support and self-care tools, helping you feel grounded and cared for through the entire process.

My own research into acupuncture as an adjunct to IVF was published in the Journal of Chinese Medicine, demonstrating the potential benefits of using the right acupuncture protocol to support pregnancy outcomes. This experience informs the way I work today — combining evidence-based principles with personalised care to enhance wellbeing throughout fertility treatment.

Your first fertility acupuncture session begins with a detailed consultation. We’ll take time to talk through your health, menstrual cycle, lifestyle, emotional wellbeing, and any previous fertility investigations or treatments. This helps me understand the bigger picture and design a plan that supports you as a whole person — not just your symptoms.

Once you’re settled, fine sterile needles are placed gently at specific acupuncture points to restore balance, improve circulation, and calm the nervous system. Most people find the experience deeply relaxing and describe feeling lighter, calmer, and more centred afterwards.

Each treatment lasts around 60 minutes, allowing time for rest and integration. Many of my patients say their acupuncture appointments become a peaceful pause in their week — a chance to breathe and reconnect with their body.

To support the benefits between sessions, I may suggest simple self-care tools such as:

• Gentle acupressure techniques you can use at home

• Breathing or mindfulness practices to regulate stress

• Nourishing lifestyle or diet guidance rooted in Chinese medicine principles

For best results, fertility acupuncture is usually weekly or fortnightly for a few months, though every plan is tailored to your unique timeline and goals. Whether you’re preparing for natural conception or IVF, we’ll work together to create a calm, supportive rhythm that feels right for you.

Read more about how acupuncture can help with fertility here.

With over 15 years’ clinical experience, I specialise in women’s health, fertility, and IVF support. I hold a BSc (Hons) in Acupuncture, am a member of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC), and continue postgraduate training in reproductive and cancer support.

My approach blends traditional Chinese medicine with modern research to provide safe, evidence-informed care — helping you feel balanced, nurtured, and supported through every step of your fertility journey.

If you’d like to talk things through first, I’m always happy to discuss how acupuncture might support you. You can book a new patient appointment or schedule a free 15-minute consultation to see if it feels right for you.

Book your session here. 

Jo is Wonder Woman! I’ve been seeing her for 18 months, she has “fixed” so many things for me through Acupuncture and reflexology; thanks to Jo I now have regular cycles, I don’t have to take antihistamines for my hayfever, she has sorted out back aches, colds…the list goes on! It is not only the the physical symptoms she can help but the mental ones too, whenever I’m stressed I feel my worries melt away after one of her sessions. Thank you Jo! Rachel, Hove

I found Jo when I started IVF and acupuncture was recommended. It was a daunting time but right from our first contact, where Jo moved things around to see me, I knew I was in good hands.

As an older patient, the success rates were slim, however Jo provided confidence, care, balance and stability during a sometimes difficult and emotional journey.

She inspired me to hand myself over to her and her practise, which eventually resulted in a positive pregnancy.

I continued with acupuncture throughout the pregnancy and found it immensely nurturing and effective, especially in the first 12 weeks and the latter 4.

When plans of a home birth were replaced with a stay in the hospital, I called upon Jo and her magic needles. With a western medicine clock ticking in the background, Jo’s session miraculously induced labour and within 24 hours I gave birth naturally to a beautiful baby girl.

That’s my personal experience and I encourage anyone searching for support with fertility treatment to also hand themselves over to the talented, caring and brilliant Jo Darling.

Forever indebted. Amanda, Hove

Jo has supported me over the years with various health situations including IVF and pregnancy, back pain and more recently menopausal symptoms. I can’t recommend her highly enough. She is incredibly kind in nature and a very talented Acupuncturist. Ruth, Brighton

FAQs – Fertility Acupuncture in Brighton & Hove

When should I start acupuncture for fertility?
Ideally, begin three to six months before trying to conceive or starting IVF. This allows time to support egg and sperm quality, regulate hormones, and build your body’s natural strength. But it’s never too late — acupuncture can be beneficial at any stage of your fertility journey.

How often should I come for treatment?
Most people begin with weekly sessions, moving to fortnightly once cycles regulate or stress levels ease. I’ll always tailor your plan to your needs and timeline — whether that’s pre-conception support, regulating periods, or preparing for IVF.

Is acupuncture safe when trying to conceive or during IVF?
Yes. Acupuncture is considered safe when performed by a qualified practitioner using sterile, single-use needles. Treatments are always gentle, adapted to your cycle, and complementary to any medical treatment you may be receiving.

Can acupuncture really help with fertility?
Acupuncture isn’t a magic fix, but it can help restore balance to your body and mind. Research suggests it may support hormonal regulation, reduce stress, and improve blood flow to the uterus and ovaries — creating an optimal environment for conception.

Can my partner have treatment too?
Yes — and it’s often very beneficial. Acupuncture can support sperm health, energy levels, and stress management, helping couples approach conception as a shared journey.

If you’re ready to explore how acupuncture can support your fertility journey, I’d love to help.
You can book a new patient appointment online or start with a free 15-minute consultation to talk things through.

Together, we’ll create a calm, supportive space where you can rest, rebalance, and reconnect with your body — wherever you are on your path to parenthood.