The impact of acupuncture on in vitro fertilization outcome

Domar, A. D.

Meshay, I.

Kelliher, J.

Alper, M.

Powers, R. D.

Fertility and Sterility

2008

RCT

Acu Versus No Treatment

Acupuncture

Anxiety

Embryo Transfer

Fixed Acupuncture Protocol

In Vitro Fertilization

Infertility, Female

RCT

Restricted Modalities, Acupuncture Only

TCM Acupuncture Style

Women's Health

Reproductive Techniques, Assisted

No Treatment Control

IVF

Fertilization In Vitro

OBJECTIVE: To replicate previous research on the efficacy of acupuncture in increasing pregnancy rates (PR) in patients undergoing IVF and to determine whether such an increase was due to a placebo effect. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled, single blind trial. SETTING: Private, academically affiliated, infertility clinic. PATIENT(S): One hundred fifty patients scheduled to undergo embryo transfer. INTERVENTION(S): Subjects were randomized to either the acupuncture or control group. Acupuncture patients received the protocol, as first described by Paulus and his colleagues, for 25 minutes before and after embryo transfer. Control subjects laid quietly. All subjects then completed questionnaires on anxiety and optimism. The IVF staff remained blind to subject assignment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Clinical PRs, anxiety, optimism. RESULT(S): Before randomization both groups had similar demographic characteristics including age and psychological variables. There were no significant differences in PRs between the two groups. Acupuncture patients reported significantly less anxiety post-transfer and reported feeling more optimistic about their cycle and enjoyed their sessions more than the control subjects. CONCLUSION(S): The use of acupuncture in patients undergoing IVF was not associated with an increase in PRs but they were more relaxed and more optimistic

Reproductive Techniques, Assisted

N/A

150

1 Day