Acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer significantly improves the reproductive outcome in infertile women: a prospective, randomized trial.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of acupuncture on reproductive outcome in patients treated with IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). One group of patients received acupuncture on the day of ET, another group on ET day and again 2 days later (i.e., closer to implantation day), and both groups were compared with a control group that did not receive acupuncture.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized trial.


METHODS
Private fertility center.


METHODS
During the study period all patients receiving IVF or ICSI treatment were offered participation in the study. On the day of oocyte retrieval, patients were randomly allocated (with sealed envelopes) to receive acupuncture on the day of ET (ACU 1 group, n = 95), on that day and again 2 days later (ACU 2 group, n = 91), or no acupuncture (control group, n = 87).


METHODS
Acupuncture was performed immediately before and after ET (ACU 1 and 2 groups), with each session lasting 25 minutes; and one 25-minute session was performed 2 days later in the ACU 2 group.


METHODS
Clinical pregnancy and ongoing pregnancy rates in the three groups.


RESULTS
Clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates were significantly higher in the ACU 1 group as compared with controls (37 of 95 [39%] vs. 21 of 87 [26%] and 34 of 95 [36%] vs. 19 of 87 [22%]). The clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates in the ACU 2 group (36% and 26%) were higher than in controls, but the difference did not reach statistical difference.


CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture on the day of ET significantly improves the reproductive outcome of IVF/ICSI, compared with no acupuncture. Repeating acupuncture on ET day +2 provided no additional beneficial effect.
Westergaard
Lars G
LG
Fertility Clinic Trianglen, Hellerup, Denmark. l.g.westergaard@dadlnet.dk
Mao
Qunhui
Q
Krogslund
Marianne
M
Sandrini
Steen
S
Lenz
Suzan
S
Grinsted
Jørgen
J
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome