title: Acupuncture performed before and after embryo transfer: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the clinical pregnancy rates in women who underwent fresh embryo transfer (ET) with and without one acupuncture session before and after the transfer using a modified Paulus protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prospective, physician-blinded study randomized 113 women to either no intervention (n = 56) or acupuncture performed off-site (n = 57). Secondary outcomes were positive pregnancy test and live birth rates. Intent-to-treat analysis and per protocol analysis were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No difference in age and in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) parameters were detected. Compared to the control group, the treatment group had a lower pregnancy rate (43.6% vs. 64.8%, p = 0.045). More women in the control group had live births than did those in the acupuncture group (56.0% vs. 36.0%, respectively, p = 0.033). Generalized mixed models revealed that patients who received acupuncture had lower odds of clinical pregnancy than those who did not undergo acupuncture treatment (OR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.19-0.93).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study found that acupuncture performed off-site on the day of ET was detrimental to the success of the transfer. More research is needed with a greater number of subjects to elucidate the role of acupuncture before and after ET, ideal treatment frequency, and to further explore the role of individualized acupuncture treatment on IVF-ET pregnancy rates.
authors.forename: LaTasha B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Lee E Hullender
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: Jennifer D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Peck
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Lorna A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Soules
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D050498:Live Birth; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome