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Acupuncture may have a positive impact on clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), although the results are limited by the heterogeneity of the current evidence.
2023 Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Pregnancy Benefit of Acupuncture on in vitro Fertilization: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Zhang H, Zhang C, Ma P, Sun C, Sun C, Liu X, et al.
Systematic Review IVF
This study aimed to assess the efficacy of acupuncture on embryo transfer in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). A total of 49 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 9422 women were analyzed. The results indicated that acupuncture had a significant positive impact on the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and live birth rate (LBR) compared to the control groups (odds ratio [OR]=1.65 for CPR, 1.34 for LBR). Subgroup analyses showed that traditional acupuncture was more beneficial for women aged < 35 years, those receiving ≥ 3 sessions, and those with lower baseline CPR rates in the control group. However, significant heterogeneity was observed among the studies. In conclusion, while there were some benefits of acupuncture in improving CPR and LBR in IVF, the results should be interpreted with caution due to the variability in the current evidence.
Laser acupuncture therapy might be a feasible treatment for chronic Bell's palsy and its long-term complications according to this pilot study.
2021 Journal of Lasers in Medical Sciences Effects of Laser Acupuncture Therapy for Patients With Inadequate Recovery From Bell’s Palsy: Preliminary Results From Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Study Ton G, Lee LW, Ho WC, Tu CH, Chen YH, Lee YC
Randomised Controlled Trial Laser Acupuncture
Methodology: This study was a two-armed, parallel, randomized, investigator-subject-assessor-blinded, sham-controlled pilot study with 17 deserving participants who were randomly assigned to either Laser Acupuncture Therapy (LAT) or sham LAT group. The LAT group had three sessions of therapy every week for a period of six weeks, receiving a total of 18 sessions, while the sham LAT group underwent the same procedure but with a sham laser device. The change in the social subscale of the Facial Disability Index from the start to the end (week 6) was used as the primary outcome measurement. Additional outcomes measured included changes in the House-Brackmann facial paralysis scale, Sunnybrook facial grading system, and stiffness scale at weeks 3 and 6.
Discussion of Results: The House-Brackmann score demonstrated a notable difference between the start of the study and the third week, and the Sunnybrook and stiffness scores showed borderline significance from the onset to the conclusion (week 6). However, comparison between the Facial Disability Index score at the start and end of six weeks did not yield any considerable difference. These findings suggested that LAT may have clinical effects on chronic Bell's palsy and its long-term complications.
Acupuncture appears to be beneficial to women with poor ovarian reserve or with previous unsuccessful attempts of in vitro fertilization with embryo transfer.
2019 Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and Human Reproduction The effects of acupuncture on pregnancy outcomes of in vitro fertilization with embryo transfer: An interdisciplinary systematic review Gu, Y.-E., Zhang, X., Zhang, Q., et al.
Systematic Review IVF
The present systematic review is designed to summarize the evidence concerning the effect of acupuncture on pregnancy outcomes in vitro fertilization with embryo transfer (IVF-ET). We searched MEDLINE, the Wanfang Database, the China Academic Journal Electronic Full-text Database in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and the Index to Chinese Periodical Literature. Randomized controlled trials with intervention groups using acupuncture and control groups consisting of no acupuncture or sham (placebo) acupuncture in IVF-ET treatment were selected. Study characteristics were examined from these studies and an intention-to-treat approach was used to extract outcome data from each study. In total, 31 articles including 4450 women passed our selection criteria. The legitimacy, characteristics, and IVF outcomes of the included trials were summarized. Additional Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory-based, standardized, large-size, randomized, and multicenter trials are necessary prior to any conclusions being drawn on whether TCM can improve IVF outcomes.
Acupuncture may have a significant effect on clinical pregnancy rates, independent of comparator group, when used in women who have had multiple previous IVF cycles, or where there was a low baseline pregnancy rate.
2019 Reproductive BioMedicine Online Acupuncture performed around the time of embryo transfer: a systematic review and meta-analysis Smith, C. A., Armour, M., Shewamene, Z., et al.
Systematic Review Embryo Transfer Female Fertility IVF
Evidence suggests acupuncture may be effective when compared with no adjunctive treatment, with increased clinical pregnancies and live births, but is not an efficacious treatment when compared with sham controls. Future research should focus on different dosing acupuncture regimens, and exploration of the components of acupuncture that are contributing to improved reproductive outcomes. Increased understanding of these components may have broader application to the care and treatment modalities provided to women undergoing IVF. Further exploration of the effects of acupuncture for women with poorer IVF outcomes is warranted.
Acupuncture performed on the day of embryo transfer has a significant effect on embryo implantation, however, a negative one.
2018 JBRA Assisted Reproduction Does acupuncture the day of embryo transfer affect the clinical pregnancy rate? Systematic review and meta-analysis Schwarze, J.-E., Ceroni, J. P., Ortega-Hrepich, C., et al.
Systematic Review Embryo Transfer IVF
According to our findings, physicians should encourage their patients to avoid undergoing acupuncture on the day of ET, since it diminishes the chances of getting pregnant. It still has to be elucidated the mechanisms by which acupuncture negatively affects embryo implantation.
In conclusion, acupuncture performed on the day of ET has a significant effect on embryo implantation, however, a negative one. Therefore, clinicians should encourage their patients to avoid this technique the day of ET.
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