Effects of acupuncture on pregnancy rates in women undergoing in vitro fertilization: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Fertil Steril. 2012 Mar;97(3):599-611. Epub 2012 Jan 11.

Zheng CH, Huang GY, Zhang MM, Wang W.

Source

Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People’s Republic of China.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the effect of acupuncture on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes.

DESIGN:

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

PATIENT(S):

Women undergoing IVF in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) who were evaluated for the effects ofacupuncture on IVF outcomes.

SETTING:

Not applicable.

INTERVENTION(S):

The intervention groups used manual, electrical, and laser acupuncture techniques. The control groups consisted of no, sham, and placebo acupuncture.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S):

The major outcomes were clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and live birth rate (LBR). Heterogeneity of the therapeutic effect was evaluated with a forest plot analysis. Publication bias was assessed by a funnel plot analysis.

RESULT(S):

Twenty-four trials (a total of 5,807 participants) were included in this review. There were no significant publication biases for most of the comparisons among these studies. The pooled CPR (23 studies) from all of the acupuncture groups was significantly greater than that from all of the control groups, whereas the LBR (6 studies) was not significantly different between the two groups. The results were different when the type of control was examined in a sensitivity analysis. The CPR and LBR differences between the acupuncture and control groups were more obvious when the studies using the Streitberger control were ignored. Similarly, if the underlying effects of the Streitberger control were excluded, the LBR results tended to be significant when the acupuncture was performed around the time of oocyte aspiration or controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.

CONCLUSION(S):

Acupuncture improves CPR and LBR among women undergoing IVF based on the results of studies that do not include the Streitberger control. The Streitberger control may not be an inactive control. More positive effects from using acupuncture in IVF can be expected if an appropriate control and more reasonable acupuncture programs are used.

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Management of female infertility with Chinese Herbal Medicine can improve pregnancy rates 2-fold within a 4 month period compared with Western Medical fertility drug therapy or IVF.

Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine in the management of female infertility: A systematic review.

Ried K, Stuart K. Complement Ther Med. 2011 Dec;19(6):319-31. Epub 2011 Oct 5.

Original information from http://www.pubmed.gov

Source

Discipline of General Practice, School of Population Health & Clinical Practice, The University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To assess the effect of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) in the management of femaleinfertility and on pregnancy rates compared with Western Medical (WM) treatment.

METHODS:

We searched the Medline and Cochrane databases and Google Scholar until February 2010 for abstracts in English of studies investigating infertility, menstrual health and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). We undertook meta-analyses of (non-)randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or cohort studies, and compared clinical pregnancy rates achieved with CHM versus WM drug treatment or in vitro fertilisation (IVF). In addition, we collated common TCM pattern diagnosis in infertility in relation to the quality of the menstrual cycle and associated symptoms.

RESULTS:

Eight RCTs, 13 cohort studies, 3 case series and 6 case studies involving 1851 women with infertility were included in the systematic review. Meta-analysis of RCTs suggested a 3.5 greater likelihood of achieving a pregnancy with CHM therapy over a 4-month period compared with WM drug therapy alone (odds ratio=3.5, 95% CI: 2.3, 5.2, p<0.0001, n=1005). Mean (SD) pregnancy rates were 60±12.5% for CHM compared with 32±10% using WM drug therapy. Meta-analysis of selected cohort studies (n=616 women) suggested a mean clinical pregnancy rate of 50% using CHM compared with IVF (30%) (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Our review suggests that management of female infertility with Chinese Herbal Medicine can improve pregnancy rates 2-fold within a 4 month period compared with Western Medical fertility drug therapy or IVF. Assessment of the quality of the menstrual cycle, integral to TCM diagnosis, appears to be fundamental to successful treatment of female infertility.

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Four Months Amenorrhea with Negative Pregnancy Test – Getting Pregnanct. By Dr.Arthur Fan in Washington DC & Northern Virgina

In early half month of the April, we got two “pregnant” news from our patients.  So, Dr.Fan has at least 47 success cases since Jan, 2007 ( during 53 months).

Some success cases  did not report to him, due to some patients got pregnant after the treatments period, they may think they got pregnant by themselves. For example, one patient said, she got pregnant one month after she terminated Dr. Fan’s treatment.  She said she is not sure–this pregnant relates to acupuncture or Chinese herb treatments.

Actually, the main purpose of Chinese medicine, included in acupuncture, is normalizing  patients’ own function (we call this Taoism focus), so after acupuncture or herbal tea/pills, the original abnormal has diminished, or corrected, patient could get pregnant in any coming month, this also depend on the date of intercourse, the male part, not only depend on female part.

Getting pregnant after acupuncture or Chinese herbal tea, such as during half year, if there is no other treatment, the pregnant should be considered– related to acupuncture or Chinese herbology treatments.

No.1 case is a 35 years old woman who had irregular period cycles, and had period flow spotting, after 3 month acupuncture (actually she did not follow a strict treatments plan, due to too busy), sometime with herbal tea, she report she has 45 days pregnant. Currently, she comes for morning sick treatments.

No.2 case is 37 years old patient. She came for activating her period. She had 3 irregular periods after she had stopped using birth control pills in last August. Then her period stopped for 4 month.  Before she saw me, she had blood test, it was sure she did not get pregnant.  She was very anxious and with other uncomfortable. I did a few acupuncture for her. Hope her period could come soon.  However, it does not.  Now her pregnancy test is positive and the ultrasound showed she has 6 week pregnant and has Twin babies.

So, in some rare condition, even the woman has no period for a long time, actually she may still have ovulation, and has chance to get pregnant!

The pregnancy test was negative, I think at that time, she did not get pregnant. After that, either by herself, or by acupuncture, etc, her got pregnant.

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