IVF Support

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• Research Summary

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Executive Summary

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Write an executive summary in the form of a blog article on the topic of "Research into Chinese medicine treatment for IVF Support" summarising the research below and using language that can be easily understood by patients and avoiding medical jargon using a professional and caring tone of voice.

Write an executive summary in the form of a blog article on the topic of "Researched Chinese medicine treatments for IVF Support" summarising the research below in an objective and easy to understand way, and using language that can be easily understood by patients. Group the article into Chinese medicine treatments first, followed by nutrition and other treatments. Avoid using medical jargon and use a professional and caring tone of voice.

Write me a concise but easy to understand executive summary on the topic of "Chinese medicine treatments for IVF Support" based on the following research that I will give you. Your summary should be 2 paragraphs long in Australian English spelling and include references to the studies.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2026 in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology found that Acupuncture, when used alongside assisted reproductive technology, may enhance clinical pregnancy and implantation rates. The methodology involved searching six different databases from their inception to January 19, 2026, namely PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and Ovid MEDLINE. Eligible studies and review reference list were also screened. The study included randomized controlled trials of women undergoing fertilization, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or embryo transfer where acupuncture, in the forms of manual acupuncture, electroacupuncture, or transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation, was used as an adjunctive intervention. Pairwise random-effects meta-analysis estimated overall effects, while network meta-analysis compared intervention timing, modality, and needle-retention time. A model-based network meta-analysis examined dose-response associations by treatment sessions. From the investigation of forty-two trials which included 9,390 women, it was found that acupuncture was associated with higher clinical pregnancy rates and implantation rates. The conclusions on the influence of acupuncture on live birth remained uncertain. There were suggestions towards more significant outcomes when acupuncture was performed during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, or during both this procedure and embryo transfer, compared to when it was limited to only embryo transfer. Treatment session quantity was observed to be closely correlated with timing. Nonlinear dose-response models also indicated potential associations between treatment sessions and reproductive outcomes.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2026 in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology found that Acupuncture appears to improve clinical outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing fertility treatments, such as in-vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection. A thorough search of seven databases, from inception to March 7, 2026, identified relevant randomized controlled trials examining the effects of acupuncture in women with PCOS undergoing fertility treatments. Forest plots presented the pooled evidence, with results encompassing a primary outcome and nine secondary outcomes. The studies' risk of bias was evaluated, sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess pooled estimates' stability, publication bias was assessed, and subgroup analyses were utilized to evaluate different factors' impacts on the primary outcome. The evidence's certainty was assessed with the GRADEPro GDT tool. From the 551 initially identified articles, 22 trials involving 2,299 women were included. The analysis demonstrated that acupuncture therapy was associated with an increase in the clinical pregnancy and live birth rates and superior results in ovarian simulation and embryo development. The acupuncture group required a lower dose and a shorter period of Gn use, and it did not increase the incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Subgroup analysis further revealed that manual acupuncture was more beneficial than electroacupuncture. The pooled evidence was robust, even if the overall quality of the evidence provided ranged from very low to moderate.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2026 in the journal Frontiers in Medicine found that Acupuncture as a supplementary treatment during embryo transfer appears to enhance pregnancy outcomes, endometrial receptivity, and psychological well-being for patients struggling with recurrent implantation failure. Methodology: The study involved a systematic review and meta-analysis of various randomized controlled trials that juxtaposed acupuncture in conjunction with embryo transfer versus embryo transfer alone in recurrent implantation failure patients. Eight key databases were extensively searched from their inception up until October 2025. The authors utilized the Risk of Bias 2 tool for appraising bias risk, and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system served as the yardstick for the quality of the evidence used. Results: Through the analysis of fourteen randomized controlled trials that included a total of 1,428 patients, the study found that the combined use of acupuncture and embryo transfer significantly boosted pregnancy rate, embryo implantation rate, and live birth rate while concurrently lowering miscarriage rates. Regarding endometrial receptivity, it was observed that acupuncture visibly augmented endometrial thickness while downsizing the endometrial pulsatility index and resistance index. Patients also demonstrated considerably lower scores on the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and the Self-Rating Depression Scale. Nevertheless, the assurance in these results varied from very low to moderate due to methodological constraints and substantial heterogeneity.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2026 in the journal Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine found that Acupuncture increases the high-quality embryo rate, live birth rate, and clinical pregnancy rate while reducing the duration and dose of gonadotropin in PCOS patients undergoing in-vitro fertilisation. The study methodology involved analyzing eight databases until April 1, 2024, to investigate randomized controlled trials on the effect of acupuncture on in-vitro fertilization in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. This analysis screened trials where the patients received acupuncture treatments during the process. The results of the analysis of these thirteen randomized trials, involving over a thousand patients, demonstrated that acupuncture significantly improved the clinical pregnancy rate, the quality of embryos, and the live birth rate, while reducing the required amount of gonadotropin and its duration of use. Acupuncture also decreased the occurrence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. However, no substantial differences were observed in the fertilization rate, the quantity of oocytes, the thickness of the endometrium, specific hormonal levels, miscarriage rate, or the rate of cycle cancellation.

A published in 2025 in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology found that Acupoint application therapy notably reduces peri-menstrual pain and improves In-vitro fertilization results in patients with ovarian endometriosis by normalizing ovarian cell steroid metabolism. This research trial arranged 81 patients under in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) into a three-part study, consisting of a treatment group with women having ovarian endometriosis who received acupoint application therapy (AAT) paired with a hormone protocol, a placebo group also comprised of ovarian endometriosis patients who followed the same protocol but were given sham patches, and a control group of patients suffering from male-factor infertility who were having a standard protocol without additional interventions. Assessment of follicular fluid metabolomics or chemical fingerprints in the follicular fluid and evaluation of IVF parameters were carried out. The key outcome unveiled was the therapeutic benefits of the acupoint application therapy (AAT). There were substantial differences between the groups. The treatment group showed a lesser duration and dosage of hormone treatment compared to the placebo group, and it closely resembled the control group. Furthermore, the treatment group produced a greater number of oocytes and fertilized oocytes compared to the placebo group, although lower than the control group. However, the number of transferable embryos and high-quality embryos were higher in the treatment group and comparable to the control group, surpassing the placebo group. The treatment effectively lowered the peri-menstrual abdominal pain scores in OE patients. Overall, the AAT intervention restored order in the dysregulated steroidogenic profile, substantiating the therapy's beneficial outcomes.

A published in 2025 in the journal Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine found that Electroacupuncture significantly improved pregnancy outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome via enhancing mitochondrial function of granulosa cells. In this randomized controlled trial, there were 90 infertile women with polycystic ovary syndrome and phlegm-dampness syndrome, enrolled between August and December of 2022. These participants were split into two groups: a control group that received pseudo-acupuncture and an electroacupuncture group, with both groups undertaking an ovarian stimulation protocol. The electroacupuncture group received therapy at multiple acupuncture points twice a week for a set of six sessions right after cessation of menstruation in the cycle prior to oocyte retrieval. The results revealed that, compared to the control group, the electroacupuncture group demonstrated a higher rate of successful pregnancies. In terms of quality, the embryos in the electroacupuncture group were of better quality, as was the fresh embryo transfer rate. There were no observed instances of ectopic pregnancies in either group, with no significant differences in other pregnancy-related indicators like fresh clinical pregnancy rate or early pregnancy loss rate. In relation to granulosa cells, the electroacupuncture group showed lower levels of specific mRNA expression along with a higher mitochondrial autophagy and mitochondrial membrane potential, leading to the suggestion that electroacupuncture contributes to the improved quality of the oocyte.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2025 in the journal International Journal of Nursing Studies found that Acupuncture as a complementary therapy to IVF may increase pregnancy rates while also reducing pain and anxiety but may possibly raise early miscarriage rates. In the study methodology, five English databases were thoroughly searched until June 20, 2024. The focus was on trials where manual acupuncture or electro-acupuncture was used solely as a complementary treatment in the experimental groups, with control interventions being sham acupuncture or a blank (wait-list) control. Various analysis methods were carried out, including systematic reviews and meta-analyses, trial sequential analyses, meta-influence analyses, meta-regression and subgroup-analyses. Publication bias evaluations were made with Egger's and trim and fill tests, and a quality assessment of the results was carried out. In total, 42 trials from 37 published articles, with a total of 7400 participants, were included in the analysis. The results showed that, compared to sham acupuncture or blank controls, acupuncture led to significant improvements in biochemical pregnancy rate and clinical pregnancy rates. Acupuncture also had a positive effect on pain management during surgery and reduced anxiety levels. Even though minor acupuncture-specific adverse events were reported in eight of the 42 trials, primarily mild to moderate local reactions, a significantly higher early miscarriage rate was observed in the acupuncture groups, warranting caution.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2025 in the journal BMJ Open found that The use of dilatational waves, low-frequency currents and 30-minute session durations can improve clinical pregnancy rates for in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer patients. The researchers conducted a meta-analysis using data extracted from eight databases up to the date of 27 August 2024. The focus was on randomised controlled trials that evaluated the use of electroacupuncture and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation to improve in vitro fertilisation and embryo transfer outcomes. Primary and secondary outcomes included clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate respectively, along with various electroacupuncture and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation parameters such as waveform type, frequency and treatment duration. Furthermore, seven subgroup variables involving specifics of treatment and participant details were studied for potential influences on the pregnancy outcomes. The meta-analysis covered 27 randomised controlled trials, which comprised a total of 3786 participants, with the overall quality of evidence varying between moderate and very low. Findings showed that the use of dilatational waves, low-frequency currents and a treatment duration of 30 minutes per session noticeably improved clinical pregnancy rates when compared to control groups. Subgroup analysis additionally indicated these outcomes can significantly vary depending on the therapeutic dose administered, particularly showing stronger associations for patients receiving higher therapeutic doses.

A Meta-Analysis published in 2025 in the journal Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics found that Acupuncture-related therapies might improve pregnancy rates in women undergoing in vitro fertilization, specifically when using warm acupuncture, acupuncture combined with moxibustion or acupuncture alone prior to egg collection. The researchers took a systematic approach, exploring randomized controlled trials that evaluated the impact of different acupuncture-related therapies on the success of in vitro fertilization. This network meta-analysis involved scouring eight databases for suitable studies from its inception until mid January 2025. The collected information included data about these therapies added alongside traditional IVF treatments. The studies provided substantial insight with a total of 96 trials involving 14,736 participants and 15 distinct interventions. The exploratory study assessed the impact of different therapies including warm acupuncture for three menstrual cycles before egg collection, acupuncture combined with moxibustion before egg collection, and similarly, acupuncture for one menstrual cycle before egg collection. Following the extensive literature review, the researchers noticed a particular tendency towards acupuncture-related success against the idea of false acupuncture or no treatment at all. In terms of results, the researchers found that combining acupuncture with in vitro fertilization may enhance pregnancy rates. However, they found notable differences in different therapies effectiveness. Warm acupuncture, acupuncture paired with moxibustion, and acupuncture a month before egg collection all demonstrated potential superiority. On the other hand, a few acupuncture-related therapies that were administered in limited sessions either before or after the embryo transfer provided minimum clinical benefit, one of them being auricular acupressure.

A published in 2025 in the journal The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine found that Auricular acupressure may reduce negative psychological indications such as depression and anxiety in women undergoing the controlled ovarian hyperstimulation phase of in vitro fertilization. In this study, infertile women going through in vitro fertilization were enlisted and randomly divided into three separate clusters: a control group, an auricular acupressure treatment group, and a sham acupoint group. The participants were unaware of their respective group allocations. The treatment group was administered auricular acupressure at four specific points namely: Shenmen, Kidney, Endocrine, and Internal genitalia. The sham acupoint set was treated with acupressure at four irrelevant points. The control group was given only the routine in vitro fertilization treatment. The intervention was performed from the first day of hyperstimulation until the day prior to ovum retrieval. The psychological state of the women, measured using the Symptom Checklist 90, found significant increases in obsessive-compulsive symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, and anxiety within the control and sham acupoint groups. The sham acupoint cohort additionally indicated a rise in somatization symptoms after undergoing ovarian hyperstimulation. In contrast, the auricular acupressure group recorded reduced scores for somatization symptoms, interpersonal sensitivity, obsessive-compulsive indications, depression, and anxiety after the hyperstimulation process. Importantly, the auricular acupressure correlated with improved success in in vitro fertilization.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2024 in the journal Phytomedicine found that The administration of Zishen Yutai Pill in women undergoing frozen embryo transfer may help increase live birth rates, particularly in women with a miscarriage history or of advanced age. The study was undertaken by multiple reproductive medical centres across China. It was double-blind, placebo-controlled, and randomized, and participants were randomly assigned to either receive the Zishen Yutai Pill or a placebo. They were given the intervention around the time of their frozen embryo transfer. The primary outcome was the rate of live birth. The observed results indicated that while there was a trend of increased live birth rate in the group that received Zishan Yutai Pill, it did not reach significant statistical difference, when compared to the placebo group. It was noted, however, that women with a history of miscarriage or who were of advanced age witnessed higher rates of live birth when subjected to the Zishen Yutai Pill intervention. This suggests potential benefits of the intervention within these specific subgroups even though overall significance across all the study participants was not established.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2024 in the journal Journal of Ovarian Research found that Shen Que moxibustion treatment can improve reproductive outcomes in women with unexpected poor ovarian response who meet specific criteria. The study was carried out as a randomized, open-label, superiority trial at an academic fertility center. Women who were eligible for in vitro fertilization and met the specific criteria - an antral follicle count greater than or equal to five or anti-müllerian hormone greater than or equal to 1.2ng/ml, and a prior experience of unexpected poor ovarian response were chosen. They were equally divided into two groups: one group underwent Shen Que moxibustion treatment in addition to the IVF treatment, while the other only underwent the IVF treatment. The primary data point was the number of oocytes (egg cells) retrieved. In comparison to the group that only had IVF treatment, the group that had the addition of Shen Que moxibustion treatments saw a significant increase in the number of retrieved oocytes, mature oocytes and available embryos in women over 35 years. This indicates that the Shen Que moxibustion treatment not only increased the quantity of available oocytes, but also their quality as seen in the increased maturity. This group also noticed a higher live birth rate, although the difference with the control group was not significant. Throughout the testing process, no significant adverse effects were recorded.

A Randomised Controlled Trial published in 2024 in the journal Journal of Zhejiang University (Medical Sciences) found that The Jianpi Antai formula can safely enhance embryo implantation, decrease the embryo miscarriage rate, and increase the live birth rate in infertile women undergoing in-vitro fertilization. Three hundred infertile women, undergoing two frozen embryo transfer procedures at the Reproductive Medicine Center, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, were randomly split into a study and control group. The study group was administered both routine medication and Jianpi Antai formula during the period of embryo transfer while the control group received only routine medication. Factors such as the general health condition of the women, the embryo implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, live birth rate, and routine blood and function of liver and kidney were evaluated and compared between both groups. Upon completion of the study, an observed 277 cases, which consisted of 134 participants in the study group and 143 in the control group, indicated higher rates of embryo implantation, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates in the study group. A subgroup analysis further revealed that patients of an older age and those with reduced ovarian reserve functions also had higher rates in the aforementioned factors within the study group as compared to the control group. Throughout the follow-up period, neither group reported any abnormalities in their basic vital signs or any adverse events.

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