Struggling to conceive is one of the most emotionally demanding experiences a woman can face. You deserve care that meets you where you are — knowledgeable, compassionate and genuinely effective.
Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto is a specialist fertility acupuncturist with over 25 years of clinical experience and the author of My Fertility Guide — one of the most comprehensive guides to using TCM to improve fertility available in the UK. He has helped hundreds of women and couples across Surrey and Berkshire on their paths to parenthood, treating the full range of fertility-related conditions with both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine.
Traditional Chinese medicine approaches fertility by addressing the internal environment in which conception, implantation and early pregnancy need to occur. Where a woman's body is under stress, hormonally disrupted, physically depleted or constitutionally imbalanced, the conditions for a successful pregnancy are compromised. Acupuncture works to restore those conditions — gently, naturally and without the side effects associated with fertility medication.
The mechanisms through which acupuncture supports fertility include:
Many fertility clinics actively recommend acupuncture for women undergoing IVF, IUI and ICSI — and with good reason. Research has shown that acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer improves clinical pregnancy rates. Dr D'Alberto has extensive experience working with IVF patients, adapting TCM treatment to complement each stage of the protocol — from the stimulation phase, through egg collection recovery, to the critical post-transfer window.
For women preparing for IVF, a three-month preparation programme before the cycle begins allows time to optimise egg quality, regulate the hormonal environment and strengthen the constitutional foundation for the procedure. This is the period in which acupuncture makes the greatest difference to IVF outcomes.
When investigations draw a blank, TCM's diagnostic depth often reveals the patterns that conventional testing cannot see.
The most common cause of ovulatory infertility. Acupuncture is among the most researched and effective TCM treatments for PCOS.
Reducing the pain, inflammation and hormonal disruption associated with endometriosis while supporting the uterine environment.
Identifying and addressing the immunological, hormonal and constitutional patterns associated with pregnancy loss.
Supporting women with low AMH or poor response to stimulation — improving egg quality and ovarian perfusion.
Improving sperm count, motility, morphology and DNA fragmentation — often treated in parallel with the female partner.
Acupuncture during pregnancy offers safe, drug-free relief from many of the most common pregnancy complaints — morning sickness, pelvic girdle pain, back pain, insomnia, anxiety and breech presentation in the later stages. Dr D'Alberto has extensive experience treating pregnant women safely through all trimesters and is the author of My Pregnancy Guide.
Your first appointment will explore your complete fertility history — investigations, treatment history, menstrual cycle characteristics, lifestyle and emotional experience of the journey so far. Dr D'Alberto will build a TCM diagnosis and a treatment plan aligned to your cycle and your goals. For most women, weekly sessions are recommended during active treatment, with timing adjusted to support the key phases of the cycle. For women undergoing IVF, sessions are timed to complement the protocol.