Adjuvant acupuncture reduces first trimester pregnancy loss after IVF

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to de- termine the effects of acupuncture treatment as an adjunctive therapy on the outcome of in vitro fertili- zation (IVF)/Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). Material/Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 238 patients who underwent conventional IVF/ ICSI alone or in conjunction with acupuncture over a course of 2 years. Patients in the two treatment groups were matched in terms of age and diagnosis. Acupuncture was administered in two sessions 5 to 7 days prior to and on the day of embryo transfer. Re- sults: There were no differences between the two groups in terms of fertilization rate, pregnancy or implantation rates, and endometrial thickness. The number of oocytes retrieved (P < 0.005) and the number of first trimester miscarriages were signifi- cantly lower in the group receiving acupuncture (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Acupuncture reduces miscar- riage rates in patients undergoing IVF/ICSI possibly secondary to stress relief.