title: Effect of acupuncture on the outcome of in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a randomized, prospective, controlled clinical study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of luteal-phase acupuncture on the outcome of IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, prospective, controlled clinical study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University IVF center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred twenty-five infertile patients undergoing IVF/ICSI.
  
  
  METHODS
  In group I, 116 patients received luteal-phase acupuncture according to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine. In group II, 109 patients received placebo acupuncture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In group I, the clinical pregnancy rate and ongoing pregnancy rate (33.6% and 28.4%, respectively) were significantly higher than in group II (15.6% and 13.8%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Luteal-phase acupuncture has a positive effect on the outcome of IVF/ICSI.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Witten/Herdecke, Dortmund, Germany. Dieterle@IVF-Dortmund.de
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dieterle
authors.forename: Gao
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ying
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hatzmann
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Neuer
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome