Use of Tiao-Jing-Cu-Yun Acupuncture, in conjunction with standard hormonal therapy, boosts endometrial receptivity, thereby escalating clinical pregnancy success rate when transferring frozen-thawed embryos.
The research was conducted using a prospective, assessor-blinded randomized controlled design. 92 infertility patients with an endometrial thickness of less than 7mm, and undergoing artificial cycle frozen-thawed embryo transfer at their hospital, were divided into two groups. The control group received an estradiol valerate-based hormone replacement therapy combined with sham acupuncture, while the Intervention Group received the same regime but with actual Tiao-Jing-Cu-Yun Acupuncture instead of sham treatment, starting from the second or third day of their menstrual cycle until the day before embryo transfer. Baseline characteristics were similar for both groups. The study's primary outcome was clinical pregnancy, while secondary outcomes focused on embryo implantation rate, early miscarriage rate and changes in endometrial parameters assessed by transvaginal ultrasound before and after treatment.
Results revealed a significant improvement in the Intervention Group's endometrial thickness and volume and progesterone level after treatment, coupled with a noteworthy decrease in endometrial resistance index and pulsatility index compared to the control group. Ultrasound analysis showed a larger proportion of patients in the Intervention Group achieved a Pattern A endometrium and Grade III subendometrial blood flow after treatment. Significant increases were also seen in the clinical pregnancy rate and embryo implantation rates in the Intervention Group. The early miscarriage rate, however, displayed no significant divergence between the two groups.
