Acupuncture infertility research proves that acupuncture increases pregnancy rates for women struggling with infertility. Western style studies have been complied over the last twenty years while Acupuncturists have seen success for thousands of years. Acupuncture infertility research is one area that has provided beneficial data that acupuncture is safe and effective for people struggling to start their family.
- Influence of Acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy: Paulus, et.al. Fertility and Sterility Vol: 77, No. 4, APRIL 2002 This landmark study demonstrated that women undergoing acupuncture treatments with a specific acupoint protocol had an increase in ongoing pregnancy rates of over 60%, compared to control subjects that did not receive acupuncture.
- A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Cross-Over Study Evaluating Acupuncture as an Adjunct to In-Vitro Fertilization: Quintero et.al. Fertility and Sterility Vol: 81, Supplement 3, April, 2004 This pilot study examined prior IVF failures where researchers used a completely different acupuncture protocol. Among the outcomes of the study researchers found a 180% increase in implantation rates, a 60% increase in ongoing pregnancies, and a significant reduction in the amount of gonadotrophins used.
- Acupuncture & IVF poor responders: a cure?: Magarelli et.al. Fertility and Sterility Vol: 81, Supplement 3, April, 2004. This retrospective study found a 39% increase in IVF pregnancy rates with a modified protocol. This study examined both poor responders and good responders. Poor responders that received acupuncture had the same pregnancy rates as normal prognosis patients. In this study, poor responders were defined as those with elevated Peak FSH, longer history of infertility or poor sperm morphology. When poor responders were excluded, the increase in pregnancies went up to 42%. The acupuncture group had significantly lower miscarriages, no ectopic pregnancies and significantly greater live births than the non-acupuncture group.
- A matched controlled study to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture for improving pregnancy rates following in-vitro fertilization – embryo transfer. Wang et al. Fertility and Sterility Vol: 83, issue 5, Supplement ,May 2005. This study further demonstrates the importance of proper acupoint selection and proper administration of acupuncture protocols. The point protocol in this study varied greatly from previous studies that demonstrated positive pregnancy outcomes. This particular acupoint selection did not produce any increases in pregnancy rates.
- Ovarian blood flow responses to electro-acupuncture stimulation at different frequencies and intensities in anaesthetized rats: Stener-Victorin et.al. Auton Neurosci. 2003 Oct 31;108(1-2):50-6. This study demonstrated that acupuncture can significantly increase or decrease ovarian blood flow, depending on how the protocol is applied. This is an important warning that improper application of acupuncture could hinder an IVF cycle.
- Auricular acupuncture in the treatment of female infertility: Gerhard et.al. Gynecol Endocrinol 1992 Sep;6(3):171-81 This study compared acupuncture to standard hormone therapy in the treatment of infertility. For women with menstrual irregularities (a subgroup of the patients in the study), acupuncture increased pregnancies by 28% over hormone therapy. There were no side effects in the acupuncture group but there were in the hormone group. Taking all women in the study into account, combined acupuncture and hormone therapy achieved the best results, producing 10% more pregnancies than hormone therapy alone.
- Reduction of blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries of infertile women with electro-acupuncture: Stener-Victorin et.al. Hum Reprod. 1996 Jun;11(6):1314-7 Successful in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer require optimal endometrial receptivity at the time of implantation. The amount of blood flow to the uterus is considered valuable in assessing endometrial receptivity. This study showed that an eight treatment protocol was able to significantly increase blood flow to the uterus and may explain one mechanism for the substantial increases in pregnancies when acupuncture is properly incorporated into an IVF cycle.
- Clinical studies on the mechanism for acupuncture stimulation of ovulation: Mo et.al. J Tradit Chin Med 1993 Jun;13(2):115-9 This study examined the effects of acupuncture on stimulating ovulation and regulating ovulatory problems. The researchers concluded that acupuncture seems to increase progesterone levels and regulate FSH, LH and E2 levels. This study involved 30 acupuncture treatments and had an 82% effective rate.
- The pain-relieving effect of electro-acupuncture and conventional medical analgesic methods during oocyte retrieval: a systematic review of randomized controlled trial. Stener-Victorin E. Hum Reprod. 2004 Nov 11. This review demonstrated that acupuncture analgesic effects are equal to conventional analgesic medication for oocyte retrieval. This is an important alternative for patients who are allergic or sensitive to analgesic medications.
- Effect of electro-acupuncture on ovarian expression of alpha (1)- and beta (2)-adrenoceptors, and p75 neurotrophin receptors in rats with steroid-induced polycystic ovaries. Stener-Victorin E. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2005 Jun 7;3(1):21. This study showed that acupuncture induced a more normalized response to estradiol in PCO rats.
- Acupuncture for treatment of climacteric syndrome–a report of 35 cases.Shen X. et. al. J Tradit Chin Med. 2005 Mar;25(1):3-6. In this study acupuncture was found to elevate abnormally low estradiol levels and to lower abnormally elevated FSH and LH levels due to climacteric syndrome.
- Controlled study on acupuncture for treatment of endocrine dysfunctional infertility Yang JR, et. al. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu 2005 May;25(5):299-300 In this study, acupuncture was compared to Clomid administration in the treatment of endocrine dysfunction infertility. The study found acupuncture to have significantly higher pregnancy rates than Clomid administration (65% versus 45%). The study concluded that acupuncture is an effective treatment for infertility secondary to endocrine dysfunction.