SAN DIEGO -- More women are having babies later in life than ever before, which also means more women are having trouble getting pregnant.

Many of them turn to modern medicine, but they're also turning to the ancient technique of acupuncture.

Once a week, Kira Ramirez goes under the needle in hopes of having a baby. She's preparing herself for in vitro Fertilization later this fall.

"We're working on regulating my cycle, regulating my periods, and increasing my egg quality," Ramirez said.

She has been working with licensed acupuncturist Julie Chang for six months. Chang specializes in fertility treatments and claims she has a 60 percent success rate with her patients.

"Acupuncture works by increasing the blood flow to the reproductive organ, providing nutrients and oxygen and balanced hormones," Chang said.

Another benefit to acupuncture is that it reduces stress.

"With the acupuncture and the fact that I have 45 minutes of quiet time to myself and knowing I'm healing my body during that time, is really wonderful," Ramirez said.

Millions of dollars are spent in the U.S on the pursuit of pregnancy. An estimated one in six couples experience fertility problems. Many over the age of 35 undergo insemination and in vitro fertilization, which could cost up to $15,000 a procedure.

And the tide of medical opinion is changing in favor of acupunture as a frontline therapy for infertility.

"The data that's coming in now is very promising. And I think the risk from acupuncture is so low and the benefit is there, that for most patients, the risk-benerit ratio warrants trying it," reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Seth Katz said.

And trying it is not cheap. But Chang puts it into perspective.

"The entire treatment to really improve the odds of conceiving is $1,000 to $2,000 for three to six months of treatment, which is a drop in the bucket compared to many medical procedures," Chang said.

For more information about acupuncture and infertility, click here.