Adjuvant acupuncture reduces first trimester pregnancy loss after IVF

Naseem M. Khorram, Susan Horton, Vicken Sahakian, Richard Chacon, Omid Khorram

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, USA.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pacific Fertility Center, Westwood, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/ojog.2012.23059                

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of acupuncture treatment as an adjunctive therapy on the outcome of in vitro fertilization (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. Results: 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 significantly 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.

Keywords

Acupuncture; IVF/ICSI; Pregnancy Rates; Implantation Rate; Miscarriage

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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