Accupuncture improves fertility rates in in vitro fertilisation

For the 10 to 15% of couples who have difficulty conceiving in vitro fertilisation is a commonly used option. However, the process is complex, involving a cycle of several procedures, generally over the course of two weeks. Success rates are relatively low and new drugs and technologies are constantly being developed to improve the chances of conception – but unfortunately, progress has been limited.

Accupuncture has been used in China for centuries to to regulate women's reproductive systems. There are three proposed mechanisms for its effects on fertility: it may mediate the release of neurotransmitters, which can stimulate the release of gonadotrophin releasing hormone; it may stimulate blood flow to the uterus by inhibiting uterine central sympathetic nerve activity; and it may stimulate the production of endogenous opiods, which could reduce stress. In this study, published in The British Medical Journal Eric Manheimer and colleagues, looked at whether or not adjuvent accupuncture improved pregnancy rates when used with embryo transfer in women undergoing in vitro fertlisation.

They searched the literature for studies of randomised controlled trials that compared needle accupuncture given within one day of embryo transfer with sham accupuncture with no adjuvent treatment. Seven trials of 1366 women undergoing in vitro fertilisation were included in the analysis. They found that using accupuncture to complement embryo transfer improved rates of pregancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilisation.