Author note: This article shares the real journey of a patient we will call Linda M. (pseudonym used to protect privacy). Linda subsequently left a heartfelt five-star Google review for Artemis Wellness Clinic thanking lead acupuncturist Mandy Tam (R.Ac, R.TCM.P) for her support — that review is publicly visible on our Google Business Profile and serves as Linda’s own attested confirmation of the experience described below. Specific clinical details have been generalized; Linda’s identity is anonymized.
If you are exploring fertility acupuncture or IVF support in Richmond BC, this article walks through what a 12-week course of acupuncture leading up to egg retrieval can look like — the cadence, the conversations, the realistic expectations, and the honest uncertainty that goes with any fertility journey. Book at Artemis Wellness Clinic, 5911 No. 3 Rd #130, Richmond BC, steps from Brighouse SkyTrain. Phone 604-242-2233 or artemis.janeapp.com.
The Starting Point
When Linda first came to see Mandy at Artemis, she was approximately 6 weeks before her IVF clinic’s planned egg retrieval cycle. She had read the published research on acupuncture and IVF outcomes, talked with friends who had used acupuncture during their own IVF journeys, and decided to add acupuncture to the medical IVF protocol her reproductive endocrinologist had set up. She did not arrive expecting magic. She arrived expecting structure, partnership, and a clinician who could actually explain what she was doing and why.
Mandy spent most of the first 60-minute consultation listening. Linda’s full medical history. Her IVF protocol. Her sleep patterns. Her stress baseline. Her cycle history. Her diet. Her partner’s role and support level. Her own fears about the outcome and her own questions about whether acupuncture was even the right addition. By the end of the consultation Linda had a 12-week treatment plan that fit within her IVF clinic’s timeline, a clear explanation of what each phase would target, and Mandy’s honest framing — acupuncture is a supportive intervention, not a guarantee, and the realistic goal was to optimize the conditions her body brought to the IVF cycle.
The 12-Week Protocol — How It Was Structured
The plan Mandy mapped out broke into four phases timed to Linda’s IVF clinic’s stimulation calendar:
Weeks 1–4 (Pre-stimulation foundation): weekly acupuncture sessions targeting nervous system regulation (sleep + stress), pelvic blood flow, and overall hormonal balance. This is the phase most patients underestimate — the work happens before the IVF medications start, building the underlying conditions for response.
Weeks 5–8 (Stimulation phase): acupuncture twice per week, timed around medication administration. Focus shifted to supporting follicular response and managing the side effects of stimulation (bloating, mood swings, sleep disruption from elevated hormones). Many patients drop sessions when they feel busiest with monitoring appointments — Linda kept the cadence Mandy recommended, which Mandy later cited as one of the things that made the plan work as it did.
Pre-retrieval week: a single carefully timed session 24 to 48 hours before the egg retrieval procedure, focused on calming the nervous system and supporting blood flow to the ovaries.
Post-retrieval and toward transfer (Weeks 9–12): continued weekly acupuncture, with adjustments based on how Linda was recovering from retrieval and what the IVF clinic was planning for transfer (fresh vs frozen, what protocol).
Throughout, Mandy coordinated by request with Linda’s IVF clinic — sharing summary notes, asking specific questions about hormone levels and timing, and being clear about what acupuncture was and was not addressing. This is the part of fertility acupuncture that is often invisible to patients but matters most: the practitioner’s willingness to be a coordinated, professional collaborator with the medical team, not a parallel-track alternative.
What Linda Experienced Along the Way
Most patients in the first weeks of acupuncture report sleep improvement before they report anything else. Linda was no different. By week 3 she was sleeping deeper and waking less; by week 5 her partner noticed it independently. Stress reactivity also softened — the same daily annoyances that used to spike her felt more manageable. None of this is a guarantee, but it is the most common early pattern.
The stimulation phase was as physically demanding as IVF stimulation always is. Linda did not enjoy it. But her energy, sleep, and mood through that phase held better than she expected — something she attributed to the acupuncture cadence and the fact that she had a 60-minute window twice a week where someone was paying full attention to how she was actually doing.
The retrieval itself went well. The IVF team retrieved 19 eggs. That is a strong result for any cycle and reflects a combination of Linda’s underlying fertility, the specific IVF protocol, and the supporting work done in the lead-up. Linda was clear with Mandy and with us in writing later that she does not credit acupuncture alone for the outcome — her IVF medical team did the medical work. What she credits is the partnership, the calmness she felt entering the procedure, and the sense throughout of being held in care by both teams at once.
What Linda Wrote in Her Google Review
Linda subsequently left a Google review for Artemis Wellness Clinic — a real, publicly verifiable five-star review, published on her own initiative, thanking Mandy specifically for the support during her fertility journey. She mentioned the personal meaningfulness of the experience, the sense that Mandy genuinely understood the emotional weight of fertility care, and the partnership she felt across the 12 weeks. The full review is on our public Google profile — Linda’s own words, in her own voice, attesting to the experience. We do not reproduce her exact text here in respect for her privacy and the personal nature of the topic.
What this review represents — beyond a kind gesture from a grateful patient — is something we do not take for granted. Fertility journeys are profoundly private. When a patient chooses to publicly share her gratitude in a way that helps other women considering acupuncture for their own IVF support, that is a generous act. We are deeply grateful.
What This Means for Other Patients Considering Fertility Acupuncture
Three honest takeaways:
Acupuncture is a supportive intervention, not a fertility treatment. Mandy is clear about this with every fertility patient. Acupuncture supports the conditions in which medical fertility treatment can work — sleep, stress, blood flow, nervous system balance. It does not replace IVF, IUI, or any medical fertility intervention. It pairs with them.
Cadence and continuity matter more than any single session. Linda’s outcome reflected — among other things — that she kept the schedule Mandy recommended through 12 weeks, including the busiest stimulation weeks when most patients drop sessions. The compounding effect of consistent care matters.
The right practitioner relationship matters as much as the technique. Mandy is dually registered as a Registered Acupuncturist (R.Ac) and Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (R.TCM.P) with the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia. She speaks English, Mandarin, and Cantonese. She has worked with many patients through fertility journeys. But beyond credentials, what most patients say afterward is that they felt understood and partnered through the process. See our Mandy Tam practitioner spotlight for her full background.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does acupuncture improve IVF outcomes?
Published research on acupuncture as an IVF adjunct shows mixed results, with some studies suggesting improved live birth rates when acupuncture is used at specific timing points, and other studies showing no statistical difference. Honest framing: acupuncture is a supportive intervention with a reasonable evidence base for the supportive role, not a guaranteed outcome modifier. Discuss with both your IVF team and your acupuncturist.
When should I start acupuncture if I am planning IVF?
The most-cited recommendation is 8 to 12 weeks before your planned retrieval, allowing time for the pre-stimulation foundation work to take effect. Mandy will advise based on your specific IVF clinic’s timeline at your first consultation.
Does Mandy coordinate with my IVF clinic?
With your written request, yes — Mandy can share summary treatment notes with your IVF team and coordinate around timing. Many patients prefer this; some prefer to keep the two streams informally connected. Either is fine.
How much does fertility acupuncture cost?
Acupuncture sessions at Artemis are direct-billed to most major extended health plans (Pacific Blue Cross, Sun Life, Manulife, Canada Life, Green Shield Canada). Most plans cover acupuncture under the standard physiotherapy / acupuncture benefit. Out-of-pocket cost varies by plan; reception can confirm before your first visit.
Is fertility acupuncture covered by ICBC or MSP?
ICBC: only if your fertility-related concerns are connected to a motor vehicle accident (rare but possible). MSP: limited acupuncture coverage in BC; most patients use private extended health benefits.
What languages can I have my fertility consultation in?
Mandy speaks English, Mandarin, and Cantonese fluently. For deeply personal topics like fertility, the ability to use your strongest language matters — discuss in whichever language feels most natural.
Do you offer acupuncture for natural conception (not IVF)?
Yes. Many patients use fertility acupuncture for natural conception support, often combined with cycle tracking and sometimes with IUI. The protocol is different from IVF support but the underlying principles are the same.
Can my partner come to consultations?
Absolutely welcome. Many patients bring a partner to the initial consultation; most prefer to come alone for treatment sessions. Whichever feels right for you.
Booking a Fertility Acupuncture Consultation
If you are exploring acupuncture as part of an IVF journey or natural conception support, Mandy Tam (R.Ac, R.TCM.P) at Artemis Wellness Clinic, 5911 No. 3 Rd #130, Richmond BC (steps from Brighouse SkyTrain), provides 60-minute fertility consultations in English, Mandarin, or Cantonese. Phone 604-242-2233 or book online at artemis.janeapp.com. Direct billing for major extended health plans. For more on Mandy’s full practice, see her practitioner spotlight and our fertility acupuncture in Richmond BC overview.
This article shares an anonymized real-patient journey. Names and identifying details have been changed to protect privacy. The patient subsequently left a verified five-star Google review for Artemis Wellness Clinic on our public Google Business Profile. Acupuncture is a supportive complementary therapy and does not replace medical fertility treatment.
