For decades, acupuncture has been used as a supplement or replacement of standard medical treatment. The effect of this type of treatment is substantiated and well-documented, and it has therefore been natural to include acupuncture as yet another type of infertility treatment.
In the case of IVF/ICSI, acupuncture is given after embryo transfer, in order to enhance the chance of implantation in the endometrium. The theory behind this is that the stimulation of specific acupuncture points will increase the blood supply to the uterus. Another theory is that acupuncture will avoid contractions in the uterus and thereby enhance the chance for achieving pregnancy.