Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto is a specialist fertility acupuncturist with over 25 years of clinical experience and the author of My Fertility Guide. He has helped hundreds of couples across Berkshire on their journey to parenthood.
One in seven couples in the UK experiences fertility problems. Traditional Chinese medicine offers a comprehensive and evidence-informed approach to improving fertility — addressing the hormonal, physical and emotional factors that affect the ability to conceive. Dr D'Alberto provides specialist fertility acupuncture at his Berkshire clinic, treating both female and male fertility conditions and supporting patients through IVF and other assisted conception programmes.
Research into acupuncture and fertility — including studies by Stener-Victorin (2000, 2008, 2010) and a landmark 2011 review of complementary medicine and fertility — demonstrates that TCM acupuncture can meaningfully improve fertility outcomes through several mechanisms:
Unexplained infertility, irregular cycles, poor ovarian reserve, luteal phase defect and hormonal imbalances.
Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most common cause of female infertility. Acupuncture is one of the most researched treatments for PCOS.
Reducing pain, inflammation and adhesion formation while supporting the uterine environment for conception.
Acupuncture timed to key stages of IVF — stimulation, egg collection and embryo transfer — to improve outcomes.
Low sperm count, poor motility, abnormal morphology, high DNA fragmentation and unexplained male factor.
Addressing the underlying patterns — immunological, hormonal and constitutional — associated with recurrent pregnancy loss.
Acupuncture is widely used by women undergoing IVF, IUI and ICSI in the UK and internationally. Dr D'Alberto works alongside IVF patients throughout their treatment cycle, timing sessions to complement the stimulation phase, support egg collection recovery and optimise conditions around embryo transfer. Many fertility clinics actively recommend acupuncture alongside IVF treatment.
Male factor infertility accounts for approximately 40–50% of all fertility problems in couples, yet it is frequently undertreated. Dr D'Alberto treats male fertility using acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, targeting improvements in sperm count, motility, morphology and DNA fragmentation. Sperm matures over approximately 90 days, so a minimum of three months of treatment is recommended to see meaningful improvement in semen analysis results.
Your first appointment begins with a thorough consultation covering your fertility history, menstrual cycle, lifestyle and diet, as well as any test results from your GP or fertility clinic. Dr D'Alberto will perform a full TCM assessment using tongue and pulse diagnosis, and build a personalised treatment plan aligned to your cycle and fertility goals.
For best results, a minimum of three months of treatment is recommended prior to a natural conception attempt or IVF cycle — the length of one complete egg maturation cycle. Weekly sessions are typical during active treatment.