Licensed Acupuncturists are not provided comprehensive education to evaluate, or treat infertility while integrating with assisted reproductive medicine (IVF) during their formal education.  Some choose to spend a lot of money on obtaining additional education, others don’t but claim to be infertility specialist, fertility specialist, or reproductive acupuncturists, these terms may imply they have an interest in infertility.   I have categorized acupuncturists who may treat infertile patients into 4 categories. 

1- General Acupuncturists
– These acupuncturists are generalists who provide treatment for a variety of health issues but have not pursued specialized education or training specifically in infertility or ART.
– They may still refer to themselves as reproductive acupuncturists or state that they specialize in infertility.
– Typically, they will provide acupuncture as the patient desires for any infertility diagnosis but do not conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the patient’s infertility testing or IVF treatment.  This lack of education may lead to infertile patients who are not good candidates for alternative infertility treatments to waste money and time on ineffective treatments.  To avoid this situations, patients are recommended to obtain an evaluation and consultation from those listed under #4.
– Their treatments may not address specific challenges during IVF, as they have not received education about the IVF process, drug protocols, or how acupuncture may alter these protocols and outcomes.
– They may work within IVF centers and provide acupuncture, but their role is generally supportive rather than integrated with the IVF process.
– They are a good fit to provide acupuncture on the day of the embryo transfer, as it does not require evaluation and management of an infertile patient beyond providing acupuncture.

2. Acupuncturists with Specialized Training in Reproductive Medicine
– These practitioners have voluntarily completed substantial additional education related to reproductive medicine and infertility.
– They may have met the ABORM requirements for testing but may not be able to travel to Los Angeles or Germany for the examination or may not be interested in the claims made by ABORM.
– They may have completed hundreds of additional education hours beyond the 45 CEUs required for ABORM.
– They may not evaluate and treat overall infertility or provide acupuncture on the day of the embryo transfer.
– They may have very specific protocols tailored for specific IVF failures.
– They provide more comprehensive care and can address various challenges in ART with acupuncture, herbal medicine, and lifestyle recommendations.
– Their advanced training enables them to better support patients undergoing fertility treatments. They may be members of the ASRM.

3. ABORM-Certified Acupuncturists
– These acupuncturists hold certification from the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (ABORM).
– They have completed all required ABORM-approved CEUs and passed the ABORM examination, proving their advanced skills in ART.
– They treat both men and women with any infertility diagnosis and provide support at any stage of the ART process, offering comprehensive care that includes acupuncture, herbal treatments, and lifestyle counseling.

4. ABORM-Certified (or not) Acupuncturists;  with a Focus on Specific Infertility Diagnoses
– These practitioners are ABORM-certified, having completed the necessary CEUs and passed the examination.
– In addition to their certification, they have pursued additional specialized education on their own initiative.  They are capable of advising patients if acupuncturists may be able to provide assistance to aid conception, or not.  They have the expertise to advise patients if what they are receiving from acupuncturists (treatment, herbal medicine) in conjunction with IVF are appropriate.
– They limit their practice to treating specific types of infertility diagnoses, focusing their expertise on particular reproductive challenges rather than general infertility treatment.

Medical doctors are not educated during medical school or their residency appropriately to integrate with acupuncturist, and are not capable of vetting acupuncturists to integrate with this vulnerable population.

At this time due to published studies, patients may engage in “their own research” and utilize acupuncture inappropriately.  They often believe they can “just try acupuncture for fertility”, or that  “my cousin got pregnant with acupuncture”.  They and general acupuncturists are unaware that diagnosis and other factors of are utmost importance and that acupuncture is not a good option for those attempting to utilize it to increase their chances of conception.