Your Questions, Thoughtfully Answered
Everything you need to know about fertility acupuncture, IVF support, PCOS, endometriosis, pregnancy care, and what to expect at Sage.
About Sage Acupuncture
Sage Acupuncture has been Austin’s top-rated fertility acupuncture clinic since 2003. Our board-certified practitioners hold the highest credentials in reproductive acupuncture, licensed by the Texas Medical Board, NCCAOM nationally certified, and ABORM certified in reproductive medicine. Each acupuncturist has 10–20 years of specialized experience. We have two Austin locations: North Austin (Koenig) and South Austin (Zilker), and we work alongside Austin’s leading fertility clinics, including Texas Fertility Center, Aspire Fertility, Fora Fertility, and CCRM.
Getting Started
Acupuncture is part of a medical system used to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness for over 4,000 years. Fine, sterile needles are placed at specific points along pathways in the body to trigger its natural healing mechanisms — reducing inflammation, regulating hormones, improving circulation, and calming the nervous system.
At Sage, we practice Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine, a holistic approach that treats the root cause of your condition, not just the symptoms. This is the same approach we use in our Fertility Acupuncture program and our Comprehensive Fertility Consultation, combining acupuncture, herbal medicine, and nutritional guidance tailored to your individual needs.
Most people are pleasantly surprised that acupuncture is a comfortable, often deeply relaxing experience. We use the finest, gentlest needles available. You may feel mild warmth, a slight tingling, or a sensation of heaviness at the needle site — all signs the treatment is working. Many patients fall asleep on the table.
If you’re new to acupuncture, our New Patients guide walks through exactly what to expect at your first visit, or you can book a free 15-minute inquiry call to ask questions before you come in.
Treatment frequency depends on your individual health goals and diagnosis. For general fertility support, we typically recommend weekly sessions for 3–6 months, though many patients see meaningful changes sooner. For IVF and IUI cycles, we time treatments specifically around your protocol — before retrieval, before and after transfer, and in early pregnancy.
Patients dealing with recurrent pregnancy loss, unexplained infertility, or poor egg quality and advanced maternal age often follow a longer protocol. Your Sage practitioner will build a personalized plan at your first visit.
Yes. All Sage practitioners are licensed by the Texas Medical Board and nationally certified by the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine). Several hold the ABORM credential, the highest specialty certification in reproductive acupuncture, and each brings 10–20 years of dedicated experience in reproductive health.
Meet the full team on our About Us page, or read what patients say on our Reviews page. Sage has been voted Best Acupuncture Clinic by the Austin Chronicle, Austin American-Statesman, and Austin Fit Magazine.
Sage is an out-of-network provider with most insurance companies. However, we can provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement. Many patients also use HSA or FSA funds for acupuncture treatments.
For current pricing and package options, contact our office or find the location nearest you — North Austin (Koenig) or South Austin (Zilker).
Fertility & IVF
Yes. A 2022 clinical study found that adding acupuncture to an IVF transfer cycle resulted in a 55% increase in the odds of live birth and a 42% decrease in the risk of biochemical pregnancy. Acupuncture improves uterine blood flow, reduces stress hormones, supports embryo implantation, and helps manage the physical and emotional demands of an IVF cycle. See more supporting studies on our research page.
Sage works alongside Austin’s top fertility clinics — Aspire Fertility, Texas Fertility Center, Fora Fertility, and CCRM — to coordinate care with your reproductive endocrinologist.
We time your treatments precisely to your IVF or IUI protocol
Yes, and this is one of our most common presentations. “Unexplained infertility” from a Western perspective often has identifiable contributing factors in Chinese medicine — subtle hormonal imbalances, poor circulation to the uterus, stress-related disruption to ovulation, or underlying inflammation. Sage practitioners conduct a thorough intake at your first visit to identify and address these root causes.
Yes. Improving egg quality takes time — typically 3–4 months, which aligns with the full maturation cycle of an egg (folliculogenesis). Acupuncture supports this process by increasing blood flow to the ovaries, reducing oxidative stress, and regulating the hormonal environment that eggs develop in. We recommend starting treatment at least 3 months before a planned IVF retrieval for best results.
Yes. Acupuncture and herbal medicine have been shown in clinical research to improve sperm count, motility, and morphology. Like egg quality, sperm quality responds over a 3-month treatment window aligned with the sperm production cycle. We treat both partners whenever male factor is involved through our comprehensive fertility consultation, as optimizing both sides significantly improves overall outcomes.
Yes. Recurrent pregnancy loss is a heartbreaking experience, and Sage provides compassionate, specialized care for patients navigating this path. We work to identify contributing factors — hormonal imbalances, immune dysregulation, uterine blood flow issues, or clotting tendencies — and address them holistically. We also coordinate care with your OB or reproductive immunologist to ensure an integrated approach.
Fertility declines gradually through your 20s, more noticeably after 35, and again after 40 — it’s a curve, not a cliff. The decline reflects both fewer remaining eggs and a higher rate of chromosomal changes in the eggs that remain. Learn more about supporting fertility at advanced maternal age, or take our fertility quiz to see where you stand.
No treatment can restore egg quantity, since you’re born with all the eggs you’ll ever have. However, supporting egg quality, hormonal balance, blood flow, and stress levels — through nutrition, lifestyle changes, and acupuncture — may meaningfully support the eggs and reproductive environment you currently have. Our poor egg quality and advanced maternal age program is built specifically around this.
If you’re under 35, allopathic guidelines recommend evaluation after 12 months of unsuccessful attempts. If you’re 35 or older, that window shortens to 6 months. We recommend being proactive with a baseline evaluation before you start trying; there’s no “too early.” You can also book a free 15-minute inquiry call to talk through your options first.
Conditions We Treat
Yes. Acupuncture is an effective complementary treatment for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). It helps regulate hormonal imbalances — particularly elevated androgens and LH — improve ovarian function, reduce insulin resistance, and calm the nervous system response that can disrupt ovulation. Many of our PCOS patients achieve regular cycles and improved fertility outcomes through consistent acupuncture care combined with herbal medicine and targeted nutrition.
PCOS affects 5–10% of women of reproductive age — we specialize in this condition
Yes. Acupuncture is a well-established complementary treatment for endometriosis. It helps reduce pelvic pain and inflammation, regulate the immune response that drives endometrial tissue growth, improve uterine blood flow, and bring hormonal balance — all of which support both quality of life and fertility. Sage practitioners have extensive experience managing endometriosis as part of a comprehensive fertility and wellness plan.
Yes. Thyroid function is closely linked to fertility — unoptimized thyroid levels can prevent conception or increase miscarriage risk. Sage treats Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism with acupuncture and herbal medicine to reduce autoimmune inflammation, support thyroid function, and optimize the hormonal environment for conception. We coordinate care with your physician to ensure your thyroid levels are within fertility-optimal ranges.
Yes. Irregular cycles, whether too short, too long, unpredictable, or absent, are often a sign of hormonal imbalance or underlying conditions like PCOS. Acupuncture is highly effective at regulating cycle length and timing by supporting the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, the hormonal feedback system that controls ovulation. Most patients see meaningful cycle regulation within 2–3 months of consistent treatment.
Yes. Acupuncture is one of the most effective natural approaches for managing perimenopause and menopause symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, sleep disruption, and irregular cycles. Sage practitioners create individualized treatment plans that address both the physical and emotional aspects of this transition, often combining acupuncture with targeted herbal medicine.
Pregnancy & Labor
Yes, when performed by a licensed practitioner trained in prenatal care. Sage practitioners are specialists in pregnancy acupuncture and safely treat a wide range of pregnancy discomforts — including morning sickness, fatigue, back and pelvic pain, anxiety, heartburn, and swelling — throughout all trimesters. We use only pregnancy-appropriate points and adjust treatment for each stage.
Yes. Labor preparation acupuncture is typically done in the final 4–5 weeks of pregnancy. It helps ripen the cervix, encourage the baby into optimal position, reduce anxiety, and support an efficient labor. Many of our patients report shorter labors and more positive birth experiences. We work closely with your OB or midwife throughout this process.
A technique called moxibustion, the gentle warming of an acupuncture point near the pinky toe, has been shown in clinical research to encourage breech babies to turn to the head-down position. It is most effective when started around 34–36 weeks, before the baby has less room to turn. Sage practitioners are experienced with this technique — read more on our breech presentation page — and work in conjunction with your care provider.
Yes. Acupuncture supports the body through every stage of C-section recovery — reducing post-surgical pain and inflammation, supporting incision healing, easing scar tissue formation, and helping restore energy and mobility. Many patients also find it helpful for managing the fatigue and hormonal shifts of early postpartum recovery.
Most patients can safely begin gentle acupuncture within the first few weeks postpartum, once cleared by their OB, though timing depends on individual healing. Sage practitioners tailor your postpartum treatment plan to where you are in recovery, adjusting point selection as your incision heals.
Yes. Scar tissue and adhesions can affect circulation, sensation, and comfort in the area long after the incision has closed. Acupuncture around and along the scar helps improve local blood flow, soften restricted tissue, and reduce lingering numbness or discomfort. This is often addressed as part of a broader surgical care recovery plan.
About Sage
Sage Acupuncture has been Austin’s top-rated fertility acupuncture clinic since 2003. We have been voted Best Acupuncture Clinic by the Austin Chronicle, Austin American-Statesman, Austin Fit Magazine, Tribeza Magazine, and the Austin Birth Awards. Our practitioners hold the highest credentials available in reproductive acupuncture and have treated thousands of patients on their fertility journeys over more than 20 years. See what patients say in our reviews.
Two Austin locations: Koenig (North) · Zilker (South)
Sage works collaboratively alongside Austin’s leading reproductive medicine practices, including Texas Fertility Center, Aspire Fertility, Fora Fertility, and CCRM. Our practitioners coordinate directly with your reproductive endocrinologist to align acupuncture treatments with your IVF or IUI protocol for the best possible outcomes. This coordinated approach starts with a comprehensive fertility consultation.
Sage has two Austin locations for your convenience:
North Austin — Koenig
1707 W. Koenig Lane
Austin, TX 78756
(512) 968-2605
South Austin — Zilker
2525 Wallingwood Drive
Bldg 7A, Suite 700
Austin, TX 78746
(512) 621-9008
Still have questions?
Our practitioners offer a free 15-minute phone consultation. A great place to start if you have questions before booking.
Up to half of IVF patients nationally have discovered the benefits of adding acupuncture to their fertility treatments
Have Questions?
Infertility
Endometriosis
Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (PMOS)
Diminished ovarian reserve
Premature ovarian failure
Repeated pregnancy loss and Miscarriage recovery
Low progesterone
Irregular menstrual cycles
PMS and painful periods
Interstitial cystitis
Pregnancy-related concerns
Labor Preparation