Clinical Abstracts: Acupuncture and In Vitro Fertilization
July 1, 2002 less than 1 minute read
Clinical Abstracts: Acupuncture and In Vitro Fertilization
Source: Paulus WE, et al. Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy. Fertil Steril 2002;77:721-724.
Design/Setting/Subjects: Prospective randomized study of 160 patients in Ulm, Germany, who were undergoing in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Subjects were randomized to embryo transfer with or without acupuncture. Up to three embryos were transferred on the second or third day after oocyte retrieval.
Intervention: A standardized acupuncture regimen was given 25 minutes before and after embryo transfer.
Outcome Measures: Clinical pregnancy by ultrasound.
Results: Thirty-four of 80 (42.5%) acupuncture-treated patients, compared to 21 of 80 (26.3%) controls, achieved clinical pregnancy. Blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries (pulsatility index) did not differ between groups before or after embryo transfer.
Funding: Not stated.
Comments: The first study to examine this question found a benefit of acupuncture as an adjunct to assisted reproductive therapies in achieving clinical pregnancy. It is unfortunate that no placebo intervention was used; however, the investigators plan a placebo-controlled trial for the future.
Fugh-Berman A. Acupuncture and in vitro fertilization. Altern Ther Women's Health 2002;4:56.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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