Auricular acupressure reduces anxiety levels and improves outcomes of in vitro fertilization: a prospective, randomized and controlled study.
The study was to explore whether auricular acupressure (AA) can relieve anxiety during the period from trans-vaginal oocyte retrieval to the embryo transfer in IVF treatment and whether AA can improve the outcomes of IVF. 305 infertile patients with tubal blockage who were referred for IVF were included. The women were randomized into a control group with 102 cases, a Sham-AA group with 102 cases and an AA group with 101 cases. The anxiety levels were rated with Spielberger's State Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale. Data of clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), implantation rate (IR) and live birth rate (LBR) were obtained. The levels of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) in the follicular fluids were detected with ELISA. After treatment, in AA group, the levels of state anxiety, preoperative anxiety and need-for-information were significantly lower, whereas CPR, IR, LBR and NPY levels in the follicular fluids were markedly higher than Sham-AA group and control group. We concluded that AA could help to reduce anxiety levels associated with IVF and improves the outcomes of IVF partly through increasing the levels of NPY in the follicular fluids.
1] Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China. 310006 [2] Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education of China, and Key Laboratory of Women's Reproductive Health of Zhejiang Province, China. 310006 [3].
Fan
F
Qu
1] Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China. 310006 [2] Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education of China, and Key Laboratory of Women's Reproductive Health of Zhejiang Province, China. 310006 [3].
Dan
D
Zhang
Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China. 310006.
Lu-Ting
LT
Chen
1] Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China. 310006 [2] Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education of China, and Key Laboratory of Women's Reproductive Health of Zhejiang Province, China. 310006.
Fang-Fang
FF
Wang
Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China. 310006.
Jie-Xue
JX
Pan
1] Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China. 310006 [2] Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education of China, and Key Laboratory of Women's Reproductive Health of Zhejiang Province, China. 310006.
Yi-Min
YM
Zhu
Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China. 310006.
Chun-Mei
CM
Ma
Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China. 310006.
Yi-Ting
YT
Huang
Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China. 310006.
Xiao-Qun
XQ
Ye
Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China. 310006.
Sai-Jun
SJ
Sun
Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China. 310006.
Wen-Jun
WJ
Zheng
1] Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China. 310006 [2] Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education of China, and Key Laboratory of Women's Reproductive Health of Zhejiang Province, China. 310006.
Run-Ju
RJ
Zhang
1] Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China. 310006 [2] Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education of China, and Key Laboratory of Women's Reproductive Health of Zhejiang Province, China. 310006.
Jian
J
Xu
1] Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China. 310006 [2] Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education of China, and Key Laboratory of Women's Reproductive Health of Zhejiang Province, China. 310006.
Lan-Feng
LF
Xing
1] Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China. 310006 [2] Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics, Ministry of Education of China, and Key Laboratory of Women's Reproductive Health of Zhejiang Province, China. 310006.
He-Feng
HF
Huang
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001723:Birth Rate; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies