Effectiveness of acupuncture on pregnancy outcomes in patients with repeated implantation failure after IVF-ET: study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial
Fan R, Ye Y, Liu K, Xu J, Zhu Y, Zhang H, Gao Y, Xin X, Li D · Frontiers in Endocrinology · 2026 May 11
DOI 10.3389/fendo.2026.1716274
Objective
To investigate the feasibility and preliminary effects of acupuncture combined with conventional Western medicine on embryo implantation and pregnancy outcomes in women with repeated implantation failure undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.
Conclusions
This pilot randomized sham-controlled trial will provide preliminary effect-size, feasibility, and safety data on acupuncture combined with conventional Western medicine for improving implantation and pregnancy outcomes in women with repeated implantation failure undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.
Critical Appraisal
Published research can offer valuable insights, but a paper’s conclusions may go beyond what its results support. Critical appraisal examines the methods, findings and limitations to clarify what can reasonably be concluded—and what remains uncertain.
This article has not yet been critically appraised by the Research Hub.
Learn more about Critical Appraisal
Insights
Acupuncture added to standard fertility treatment is being tested for whether it improves embryo implantation in women with repeated implantation failure.
This single-centre, single-blind randomised study assigns women with repeated implantation failure undergoing in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer to standard Western medical treatment plus either acupuncture or sham acupuncture. Treatments are delivered twice weekly from the fifth day of the menstrual cycle until the day before embryo transfer, using standardised acupuncture points and procedures. Researchers will measure embryo implantation, clinical pregnancy, reproductive hormone and pregnancy-related blood markers, and adverse events.
The study will compare whether genuine acupuncture produces better implantation and pregnancy outcomes than sham acupuncture when both groups receive the same standard fertility care. It will also assess changes in hormone-related biomarkers and document treatment safety.
