Acupuncture and good prognosis IVF patients: Synergy

Influence of acupuncture stimulation on pregnancy rates for women undergoing embryo transfer

“…Fifty-seven subjects received acupuncture, and 94 received no acupuncture. A significant increase in the pregnancy rate was found for subjects receiving acupuncture (53% vs. 38%, PϽ.01) (8). Methodological limitations, such as selection bias, might have influenced the study findings.…”

“…In two retrospective clinical studies (7,8), Magarelli et al explored the effects of acupuncture on IVF outcomes, using the protocols reported by Sterner-Victorin et al (4) and Paulus et al (5). Magarelli et al (7) reported higher pregnancy rates (51% vs. 36%, PϽ.05) and lower miscarriage rates (8% vs. 20%, PϽ.05) among those subjects receiving acupuncture compared with subjects in the comparison group.…”

Adjuvant acupuncture reduces first trimester pregnancy loss after IVF

“…In a retrospective study by Magarelli et al [6] higher pregnancy rates (51% vs 36%, P < 0.05) as well as lower miscarriage rates (8% vs 20%, P < 0.05) among poor responder women who received acupuncture was reported. In a subsequent study by the same investigators significantly higher pregnancy rates for good prognosis patients receiving acupuncture (53% vs 38%, P < 0.01) was reported [7]. However, in a study conducted by Wang et al [8] where acupuncture treatments were only performed during the follicular and luteal phase but not on the day of embryo transfer no difference in pregnancy rates was found.…”

Changes in serum cortisol and prolactin associated with acupuncture during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in women undergoing in vitro fertilization–embryo transfer treatment

“…In the same year, Stener-Victorin et al (3) demonstrated positive effects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the form of acupuncture (Ac) on the pulsatility indices (PIs) of IVF patients. This was followed by Paulus et al (4), whose pioneering work on the impact of Ac on reproductive outcomes of IVF patients has been verified by numerous large randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (5)(6)(7)(8) and numerous cohort studies (9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). Recently, Manheimer et al (16) demonstrated, in a meta-analysis of the world's literature on Ac and IVF, a 10% improvement in reproductive outcomes when IVF patients added Ac to their treatment regimens.…”

“…When comparing these and other studies, the average improvement in pregnancy outcomes (ongoing or take home babies [THBs]) was 12%-14% for patients treated with IVF plus Ac (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). In the United States, to demonstrate a similar increase in reproductive outcomes with IVF alone, we would have to compare 1986 data with 1996 data (15% improvement) and 1996 data with 2003 data (8% improvement).…”