Acupuncture performed before and after embryo transfer: a randomized controlled trial
Item
Title
Acupuncture performed before and after embryo transfer: a randomized controlled trial
Journal Publication
Date
2014
volume
59(43591)
pages
313-320
Research Type
RCT
Keywords
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. STUDY DESIGN: 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). CONCLUSION: 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.
pmid
Accession Number: 107857223. Language: English. Entry Date: 20140815. Revision Date: 20150712. Publication Type: Journal Article; research; randomized controlled trial. Journal Subset: Biomedical; Blind Peer Reviewed; Editorial Board Reviewed; Expert Peer Reviewed; Peer Reviewed; USA. Special Interest: Obstetric Care; Women's Health. NLM UID: 0173343.