Acupuncture to help IVF?

Research published in the journal Fertility and Sterility suggests that the use of acupuncture before and during IVF treatment may improve the chances of success. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical practice that is believed to stimulate the flow of energy throughout the body.

The scientists, from the Christian-Lauritzen-Institut in Ulm, Germany, and the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, China, report that their trials produced success rates increased by 50 per cent. But they say that more studies will have to take place because they are still unsure about why the treatment seemed to have this effect.

The team of scientists, led by Dr Wolfgang Paulus, studied 160 IVF patients in two groups. One group was treated with acupuncture needles inserted at various points in the abdomen in order to 'positively influence blood flow and energy to the uterus and provide a sedative effect'. Needles were also placed in the patient's ears in order to 'influence the uterus and stabilise the endocrine system'. Treatments were given either side of embryo transfer, for a period of 25 minutes. A control group was used in which no acupuncture took place but periods of relaxation took place before and after embryo transfer.

Of the patients who had had acupuncture 42.5 per cent of the women became pregnant. This is in comparison to 26.3 per cent of the women in the control group, suggesting that the acupuncture had some effect. Further studies are due to be undertaken using 'placebo needles' to see whether it was the treatment itself or the belief that it might work that caused the raise in success rates. Dr Sandra Carson, president-elect of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) said that if the research can be proved, it 'may help us improve the odds for our IVF patients achieving pregnancy'.