Start Early. Think Long-Term.

Egg retrieval may be a short procedure, but it comes at the end of a much longer biological and medical process. The months leading up to your cycle can be an important time to support your overall health and prepare for treatment.

Why We Recommend Starting Early

When it comes to egg freezing, quality matters—not only quantity.

The follicles involved in a retrieval cycle develop through multiple stages over time. For this reason, we generally recommend beginning acupuncture three to six months before ovarian stimulation when your schedule allows.

Starting early gives us time to provide consistent, individualized support focused on:

• Sleep and stress management
• Nervous system regulation
• Menstrual and reproductive wellness
• Healthy circulation
• Lifestyle preparation
• Overall physical and emotional well-being

Your care is coordinated with your fertility treatment plan and adapted as your retrieval cycle approaches.

If You Have Less Time

Many patients first contact us after their retrieval has already been scheduled. We can still work with your timeline.

When treatment begins closer to your cycle, care may focus on sleep, stress, relaxation, circulation, and physical comfort during ovarian stimulation.

You do not need a perfect timeline to begin. Starting later can still provide meaningful support.

Quality Over Quantity

East Asian medicine traditionally takes a long-term, whole-body view of health. The goal is not to push the body or promise a particular outcome. It is to support the conditions in which the body can function at its best while you receive medical care from your fertility team.

A Plan Built Around Your Timeline

Your care may be shaped by:

• Your expected stimulation date
• Your menstrual cycle
• Your fertility clinic’s protocol
• Previous retrieval experiences
• Current symptoms and health history
• Medications and supplements
• Your personal goals

There is no universal treatment schedule. Dr. Michiko develops each plan individually and adjusts it as your cycle progresses.

Preparing for an Upcoming Retrieval?

Whether your cycle is six months away or begins next week, we will meet you where you are.