Acupuncture 'improves IVF'

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the VU
University Amsterdam found that complementing the embryo transfer
process with acupuncture increased the odds of pregnancy by 65 per cent
compared to sham acupuncture or no additional treatment.

They reviewed seven trials involving 1,366 women undergoing IVF.

Press releases:

http://www.acubalance.ca/content/acupuncture-may-increase-chance-ivf-suc...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/health/chi-acupuncture_...

http://www.dogflu.ca/02082008/06/acupuncture_increases_success_rate_of_i...

http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/health/acupuncture-improves-ivf-$1198108.htm

http://www.webmd.com/infertility-and-reproduction/news/20080207/acupunct...

Study Abstract

Acupuncture for In Vitro Fertilization?

Feb.
7, 2008 -- The odds of getting pregnant and having a baby through in
vitro fertilization (IVF) may be higher if women get acupuncture right
before or after IVF.

That's the bottom line from a new review of seven studies on the topic.

The
findings are "significant and clinically relevant" but "still somewhat
preliminary," write the reviewers, who can't promise IVF success from
acupuncture.

Together, the reviewed studies included 1,366 women in four Western countries.

In all of the studies, some women got traditional acupuncture right before and/or right after receiving the IVF embryo transfer. For comparison, other women got sham acupuncture or no acupuncture.

Among
women who got acupuncture and IVF, the rates of getting pregnant were
65% higher and the rates of live births were nearly twice as high than
among women who got IVF with sham acupuncture or no acupuncture.

But
keep those numbers in perspective. The reviewers estimate that 10 IVF
patients would need to be treated with acupuncture to bring about one
additional pregnancy.

However,
the reviewers note that in vitro fertilization is expensive and can be
stressful, and that serious side effects from acupuncture are rare.

The
reviewers included Eric Manheimer, MS, a research associate at the
Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland's medical
school.

The review appears in the "online first" edition of BMJ, formerly called the British Medical Journal.