Effect of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy among women undergoing in vitro fertilization

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture on pregnancy rate in patients undergoing IVF. DESIGN: Prospective randomised controlled trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 168 patients undergoing embryo transfer, consecutively enrolled in our IVF clinic, were randomised between between acupuncture and observation in the period may-december 2009. The informed patients who accepted and were randomly assigned to acupuncture group have been treated with needles inserted 25 minutes before and after embryo transfer. The selection of points was performed, in an effort to positively influence blood flow and energy to the uterus and to provide sedative effect, according to dif- ferent sequences: before transfer Yintang, Hegu, Zusanli, Sanyinjiao, Tai- chong, after transfer along points Shenmen, uterus, kidney and heart. RESULTS: The patients were evenly distributed according to age (35.8 4.3 vs 35.6 3.8), transferred embryos (2.1 1.4 vs 2.0 2.1), and IVF clin- ical indication. No losses at follow up were observed. No adverse effects of acupuncture were reported. The pregnancy rate per transfer (as documented by positive beta-HCG) was 50% in the acupuncture group vs 34.6% in the no- treatment arm. The clinical pregnancy rate, as documented by positive US scan 6 weeks after IVF procedure, was 45% and 28% respectively. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture performed on the day of embryo transfer ap- pears to increase pregnancy rates in women undergoing in vistro fertilization