Plug & Play is my online fertility strategy option, while fertility acupuncture is in person at my Prestwich studio.

With Plug & Play, we focus on the strategy side of your fertility - your cycle, testing, history, partner (where relevant) where to start or what to do next - followed by a personalised written plan. It can work really well as a one-off session, although follow-ups are available if you want them.

With fertility acupuncture, you still get that same fertility strategy and written plan but we then continue with regular in-person acupuncture as part of a treatment package. The acupuncture itself is where the Chinese medicine side comes in, alongside the Western fertility knowledge we’ve already used to build your plan.

So it’s less about one being ‘better’ than the other and more about whether you want strategy only, or strategy plus ongoing hands-on acupuncture treatment.

Not sure which one’s right for you? Book a free 15-minute chat and we’ll work it out.

Plug & Play is a good fit if you want the fertility strategy without committing to regular in-person acupuncture treatment.

Maybe you don’t live near Manchester, weekly appointments don’t fit your life, you’re not keen on needles, you can’t commit to the cost of a larger package or you simply just want someone to properly go through your fertility and give you a clear plan.

It can also work really well if you’re earlier in your TTC journey and want to get ahead. The sooner you understand your fertility, the more time you have to make meaningful changes and put the right things in place. This approach is about not wasting the wait, prepping now to avoid delays later.

You still get the deep dive into your cycle, testing, history and partner where relevant — just without the ongoing acupuncture treatment.

Yep! Plug & Play is completely online, so you can work with me wherever you are. We’ll do the full fertility strategy session remotely and you’ll still get your personalised written plan afterwards.

Acupuncture is the in-person option and takes place at my studio in Prestwich, Manchester.

Not at all. In fact, getting support before you start is gold-standard fertility prep.

If you’re thinking about TTC in the near future, we can look at your cycle, testing and fertility education, get your male partner involved where relevant and make sure the right things are in place before you even start trying.

That way, when you do start TTC, you understand what you’re doing and you’re not waiting for a problem before you start paying attention.

Yes! Acupuncture is generally considered a safe and gentle treatment when carried out by a properly trained practitioner. It can be used whether you’re trying naturally or going through fertility treatment such as IVF.

At Prep & Poke, I only use high-quality, ultra-fine, sterile, single-use needles (because, obviously) which are immediately disposed of in a sharps box. I’m fully insured and a member of the  British Acupuncture Council following strict codes of safety and conduct.

Nope - they’re thinner than a strand of hair. You might feel a dull ache, warmth, or tingling, but it shouldn’t hurt. If anything feels off, I’ll adjust it straight away.

Occasionally, someone might feel a little dizzy, floaty or sleepy after treatment or notice a small bruise near a needle point. These are usually mild and short-lived. For more information about side effects you can check out The British Acupuncture Council website.

Yes! Period sessions can actually be extra helpful. Your treatment will just be adapted depending on where you are in your cycle - and yes, my studio is stocked for all your period needs.

Anything comfy that lets me reach your legs, arms, and abdomen. Think loose trousers or anything that rolls up easily. If I can’t reach a point, you might be asked to remove your bottoms but don’t worry, plenty of blankets are provided for cover-up. No fancy outfit needed - though bonus points for elastic waistbands.

After your initial consultation, I usually recommend one session a week for around 12 weeks. Fertility and menstrual health can be complex, so this gives us time to properly investigate, test where needed, make changes and give the acupuncture time to do its thing.

Most clients start noticing changes within that timeframe. As the overall aim is to support your fertility and get you as well prepared for conception and pregnancy as possible, we’ll be looking for signs that your reproductive health is moving in the right direction - things like better periods, more regular cycles, clearer ovulation patterns, deeper sleep or simply feeling calmer and more in control.

After 12 weeks, we’ll review your progress and decide the next steps together. Some people continue weekly for a little longer, while others move to fortnightly or monthly top-ups, it really depends on your body, your goals and where you’re at.

But you’ll never be tied into endless sessions. The aim is to give you clarity, confidence and fertility knowledge you can keep using long after our time together.

Because fertility changes don’t happen overnight.

Around 12 weeks gives us enough time to properly understand what’s going on, make any changes that are actually worth making and give your body time to respond.

It also lines up nicely with the kind of timeframes we’re working with in fertility - from cycle regulation and hormone patterns to egg and sperm development - so it gives us a proper window to prepare rather than trying to cram everything into a couple of weeks.

That doesn’t mean everyone magically gets pregnant at week 12 - obviously not. It just means we’ve given ourselves a decent amount of time to do the prep properly instead of winging it.

True to Prep & Poke’s ‘no beating around the bush’ promise, the short answer is: NO. I wish! But no.

Fertility has far too many variables for anyone to guarantee pregnancy — and honestly, if someone is promising you that, run for the hills.

What I can do is help you understand your fertility better, look properly at your options and give you a clear plan for what to focus on next. You’ll also come away with knowledge you can keep using long after our time together.

So no, I can’t promise pregnancy at week 12. What I can promise is that we won’t spend those 12 weeks wasting the wait.

Well, it would be odd if I said no, right?

The truth is, when you work with me, you’re not just paying for someone to stick a few needles in you once a week.

You’re getting my BSc (Hons) acupuncture training, advanced expert led fertility training and continued specialist education in areas including IVF and assisted fertility, male fertility, reproductive immunology, pregnancy and blood test interpretation.

I’m also part of the Don’t Tell Me To Relax Team, which gives me access to a wider network of fertility professionals when we need another pair of expert eyes. That ongoing training and professional support is something I invest heavily in because, ultimately, it benefits you.

Then there’s the full fertility consultation, personalised written plan, all the work that goes on between your sessions and, of course, the ongoing acupuncture treatment itself. So yes, it’s an investment - but it’s an investment in properly understanding and preparing your fertility rather than just waiting and hoping for the best.

And if IVF is on the horizon, you’ll already know fertility treatment is bloody expensive. I want you going into it feeling as informed, prepared and supported as possible.

Nope. If you already have blood results, scans, semen analysis or fertility reports, I’ll take a proper look at what has already been done. If you haven’t had any testing yet, that’s absolutely fine too.

Part of my job is helping you work out what’s actually useful for you. I’ll always look at what you may be able to access through your GP first and if there are any gaps, I can suggest further testing where it makes sense.

So please don’t delay booking because you think you need to have everything done first - we can work that out together.

Sometimes, depending on your situation. Testing can help us understand what’s actually going on rather than guessing. I’ll always look at what you may be able to access through your GP first, and if something useful isn’t available there, I can recommend reputable private testing options where needed.

Nothing is compulsory. I’ll make suggestions, explain why they might be useful and you decide what feels right for you.

Absolutely - because it takes two to tango.

If you have a male partner, he’ll be included in the fertility picture from the start through a separate questionnaire, and I’ll factor his history, semen testing, lifestyle and anything else relevant into your overall plan and report.

There’s no obligation for your male partner to have acupuncture but if there’s a reason it could be useful, I can treat him too.

So even if he never has a single needle, he’s still part of the plan because ignoring 50% of the equation makes no sense.

Almost always! I take a 360° approach - from nutrition and stress to sleep, exercise and the boring but important everyday stuff. You’ll get realistic advice you can actually live with - no juice cleanses, impossible routines or a cupboard full of weird supplements.

And if you need more specialist nutrition or supplement support, I can refer you to a fertility nutritionist, Kirsty Harrison, or another trusted practitioner through the Don’t Tell Me To Relax network rather than pretending I’m an expert in everything.

Hopefully not. It really depends on where you’re at in your journey and how much you want to work on, but generally: small tweaks = big wins.

I’ll help you make smart, sustainable changes that fit into your actual life - not some Pinterest version of it.

The best time to start was three months ago. The second best time? Right now!

But seriously - it’s never too early or too late to start.

Ideally, starting around three months before trying naturally or beginning IVF is best - because that’s how long it takes to influence egg (and sperm) quality and the uterine environment. Some people even start up to a year ahead, just to get prepared and fast-track their way to pregnancy.

If you’re already mid-cycle or heading into IVF soon, acupuncture can still help - it’ll calm your nervous system, support blood flow and keep you feeling grounded.

Yes, you can but ideally, it wouldn’t be your first ever acupuncture session.

If you’ve never had acupuncture before, a treatment ahead of transfer can help calm your nervous system and support blood flow. Then having acupuncture the day before and after transfer is usually more realistic (and effective) than squeezing it in on the same day.

That said, the real benefits come from preparing your body in the weeks and months leading up to transfer but if you’re short on time for whatever reason, I can still tailor these one-off sessions around your transfer to help put your body into rest and digest mode.

The truth is - neither acupuncture nor anything else can change egg quality itself. That’s mostly down to genetics and age.

What acupuncture can do is improve the environment eggs develop in by supporting circulation, hormone balance and stress response - all of which help them grow in better conditions. As always, starting around three months before trying is best.

Sperm quality, can also absolutely benefit from acupuncture - especially if there’s already a known issue. Sperm also responds very quickly to positive changes in lifestyle and diet which is why all heterosexual couples receive a male partner questionnaire and tailored advice in their consultation write-up. To find out more about sperm health, check out Test Him.  (Eggs and sperm both take time to mature - teamwork makes the dream work.)

Not at all. You can pay as you poke, or grab a package if you’re ready to commit and want a few perks in your final month. 

Packages are best for consistency, accountability and securing your preferred appointment slots - I only work with a limited number of clients at a time to make sure everyone gets proper support. But there’s no pressure, it’s whatever works best for you.

Life happens but please give me as much notice as you can.

All cancellations require at least 48 hours’ notice; anything shorter is fully chargeable or deducted from your package.

If you’re on a package, your 12 sessions are designed to be used within 14 weeks to keep momentum and get the best results. You’ve got a two-week grace period built in for holidays, illness, or unexpected life stuff - after that, any unused sessions expire.

I know things don’t always go to plan, so if something big comes up, just reach out and we’ll find a way to keep you on track.

Any leftover sessions from pregnancy packages can roll over for postnatal care within 10 weeks of birth. So nothing goes to waste - we just switch focus from bump to recovery.

Yes! Lots of private health insurers cover acupuncture. The British Acupuncture Council keeps an up-to date list of providers and their levels of cover. However, please note, all payments must come from you and you must reclaim the payment back of your insurer.

There’s no strict age limit - fertility support can benefit women at any stage of their journey. Prep & Poke is all about proactive fertility support, helping women get clued up, confident and optimised earlier, rather than waiting until things feel super urgent.

I work with women across different ages and stages, but those between 23 and 38 tend to see the highest success rates. That said, whether you’re planning ahead or already in the thick of it, you’re in the right place - there’s always something we can do to support your body and fertility health.