Acupuncture Fertility Research
Research Studies
Knowledge is powerful, arming yourself with as much information as you can get your hands on will place you in a position of control, choice and discernment. To that end this post will be a consistently updated page for acupuncture and fertility research. Please read at your leisure, make notes and visit often for new uploads. This resource will provide useful answers or provide you with the right material to ask pertinent questions when seeking treatment. I will keep updating this section with new data as it’s published.
Please note, I am not personally linked with any of the studies listed. Abstracts, study findings & conclusions, details of each paper’s full citation, author(s) and publication details are included for further reading.
Latest Data
1 - Systematic reviews Meta Analysis of acupuncture for fertility & IVF Support
2 - Research for effects of acupuncture on fertility - General
3 - Acupuncture for ovulation induction
4 - Acupuncture for polycystic ovaries
5 - Acupuncture for male fertility
Latest Data
Effects of acupuncture on pregnancy outcomes in women undergoing in vitro fertilization: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Published: 12 July 2023 Archives of Gynaecology and Obstetrics
Menghao Xu, Mengdi Zhu & Cuihong Zheng
The intriguing body of findings from this recent 2023 meta analysis study, confirms what acupuncturists have known for many years, that acupuncture is an invaluable and effective supportive therapy for IVF patients. The study released in July 2023 found that acupuncture increased the Clinical Pregnancy Rate (CPR) and the IVF live birth rates (LBR) by 33.8%! The study’s findings on LBR outcomes is a more valuable measure than pregnancy rates as the rate may well decline over the term of the pregnancy.
“The pooled CPR (25 trials) of all the acupuncture groups (43.6%) was significantly higher than that of all the control groups (33.2%, P < 0.00001), and the pooled LBR (11 trials) of all the acupuncture groups (38.0%) was significantly higher than that of all the control groups (28.7%, P < 0.00001)”
As a fertility acupuncturist, it is encouraging to see my years of experience and knowledge supported by gold standard, rigorous scientific research. Acupuncture is known to be safe, it’s natural and a cost effective treatment that can make a significant difference to IVF outcomes.
If you are a starting your fertility journey and considering IVF I encourage you to explore the benefits of acupuncture. I am dedicated to helping individuals on their fertility and IVF journey. To learn more about how acupuncture can enhance your chances of IVF please call or contact us.
Effects of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilisation: systematic review and meta-analysis
Published online 2008 Feb 7 - British Medical Journal - 2008 Mar 8; 336(7643): 545–549
Eric Manheimer, Grant Zhang, Laurence Udoff, Aviad Haramati, Patricia Langenberg, Brian M Berman, Lex M Bouter,
“Conclusions - Current preliminary evidence suggests that acupuncture given with embryo transfer improves rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilisation.”
2. Electroacupuncture Reduces Uterine Artery Blood Flow Impedance in Infertile Women
Taiwanese Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Volume 48, Issue 2, June 2009, Pages 148-151
Ming Ho , Li-Chia Huang , Yin-Yi Chang , Huey-Yi Chen , Wei-Chun Chang, Tung-Chuan Yang b, Horng-Der Tsai
Objective
To evaluate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on pregnancy rate and uterine artery blood flow impedance in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Materials and Methods
This prospective, randomized trial was carried out in the IVF center of China Medical University Hospital in Taiwan, from February 1, 2004 to January 30, 2005. A total of 44 patients were enrolled in the study. Of these, 30 were allocated to acupuncture, and 14 were allocated to no acupuncture. EA was performed four times, twice a week for 2 weeks, from day 2 of the study to the day before oocyte retrieval. After patients felt the needle reaction, the needles were attached to an electrical stimulator for 30 minutes. Clinical pregnancy and pulsatility index (PI) of right and left uterine arteries before and after EA were measured.
Results
There was no significant difference in pregnancy rate between the two groups (acupuncture group, 30%; non-acupuncture group, 28.6%). The mean PI of both uterine arteries was significantly reduced after EA (left uterine artery, 2.3 to 2.0; right uterine artery, 2.4 to 2.2). There was no significant change in PI in the group with no acupuncture (left uterine artery, 2.5 to 2.3; right uterine artery, 2.4 to 2.3).
Conclusion
EA could be useful for reducing uterine artery blood flow impedance, but did not increase the pregnancy rate in patients undergoing IVF.
Effect of acupuncture on the outcome of in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a randomized, prospective, controlled clinical study
Stefan Dieterle, M.D., Gao Ying, M.D., Wolfgang Hatzmann, M.D., Andreas Neuer, M.D.
Published:April 07, 2006DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.09.062
Objective
To determine the effect of luteal-phase acupuncture on the outcome of IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
Design
Randomized, prospective, controlled clinical study.
Setting
University IVF center.
Patient(s)
Two hundred twenty-five infertile patients undergoing IVF/ICSI.
Intervention(s)
In group I, 116 patients received luteal-phase acupuncture according to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine. In group II, 109 patients received placebo acupuncture.
Main Outcome Measure(s)
Clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates.
Result(s)
In group I, the clinical pregnancy rate and ongoing pregnancy rate (33.6% and 28.4%, respectively) were significantly higher than in group II (15.6% and 13.8%).
Conclusion(s)
Luteal-phase acupuncture has a positive effect on the outcome of IVF/ICSI.
3. Acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer significantly improves the reproductive outcome in infertile women: a prospective, randomized trial
Lars G. Westergaard, M.D., Ph.D., Qunhui Mao, M.D., Marianne Krogslund., Steen Sandrini., Suzan Lenz, M.D., Ph.D., Jørgen Grinsted, M.D., Ph.D.
Fertil Steril.2006 May;85(5):1341-6.
Published:April 05, 2006 Online; available Elsevier Open Access:
Objective
To evaluate the effect of acupuncture on reproductive outcome in patients treated with IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). One group of patients received acupuncture on the day of ET, another group on ET day and again 2 days later (i.e., closer to implantation day), and both groups were compared with a control group that did not receive acupuncture.
Design
Prospective, randomized trial.
Setting
Private fertility center.
Patient(s)
During the study period all patients receiving IVF or ICSI treatment were offered participation in the study. On the day of oocyte retrieval, patients were randomly allocated (with sealed envelopes) to receive acupuncture on the day of ET (ACU 1 group, n = 95), on that day and again 2 days later (ACU 2 group, n = 91), or no acupuncture (control group, n = 87).
Intervention(s)
Acupuncture was performed immediately before and after ET (ACU 1 and 2 groups), with each session lasting 25 minutes; and one 25-minute session was performed 2 days later in the ACU 2 group.
Main Outcome Measure(s)
Clinical pregnancy and ongoing pregnancy rates in the three groups.
Result(s)
Clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates were significantly higher in the ACU 1 group as compared with controls (37 of 95 [39%] vs. 21 of 87 [26%] and 34 of 95 [36%] vs. 19 of 87 [22%]). The clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates in the ACU 2 group (36% and 26%) were higher than in controls, but the difference did not reach statistical difference.
Conclusion(s)
Acupuncture on the day of ET significantly improves the reproductive outcome of IVF/ICSI, compared with no acupuncture. Repeating acupuncture on ET day +2 provided no additional beneficial effect.
4. Effects of Acupuncture on Endometrium and Pregnancy Outcomes in Patients with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Undergoing in vitro Fertilization-Embryo Transfer: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Jia-Man Wu., Yan Ning., Yang-Yang Ye., Yu-Lei Liu., Meng Tang., Shan Hu., Yuan-Yuan Zhuo
Clinical Experience. Published: 13 April 2022. Volume 28, pages 736–742, (2022)
Chin J Integr Med .2022 Aug;28(8):736-742
Objective
To observe the effect of acupuncture on endometrium and pregnancy outcomes in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) infertility undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).
Methods
Eighty-three patients were randomly assigned to observation group (40 cases) and control group (43 cases) according to the random numbers generated by SPSS software. The patients of the two groups received GnRH agonist long protocol as a routine treatment. In the observation group, acupuncture was given at two acupoint groups for 30 min once every other day. Group 1 included Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), Zhongji (CV 3), bilateral acupoints Zigong (EX-CA1). Group 2 included Mingmen (GV 4), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), bilateral Shenshu (BL 23) and Ciliao (BL 32). The two groups of acupoints were used alternately. The whole needling process was performed at the time of ovulation induction until the transplantation day and consisted of 3 courses, while the control group did not receive acupuncture interventions. The Gn dosage and Gn stimulation time, endometrial thickness and type (A, B, and C), serum oestradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) levels on the day of injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), clinical pregnancy rate, as well as live birth rate were observed. Adverse reactions were also be recorded. All patients were followed up for the pregnant rate 14 days after IVF-ET and live birth rate after pregnancy. All adverse reactions (AEs) of acupuncture were recorded during the trial.
Results
The Gn dosage and Gn stimulation time in the observation group were lower in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.01). The proportion of type A endometrium in the observation group were higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The serum E2 and P levels on the day of hCG injection was lower and the clinical pregnancy rate was higher in the observation group compared to those in the control group (P<0.05). There was no serious AEs during this trial.
Conclusion
Acupuncture can improve the proportion of type A endometrium, regulate the levels of serum E2 and P on the day of hCG injection, and improve the pregnancy rate in patients with PCOS infertility undergoing IVF-ET.
5. The efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of male infertility: A literature review
Front. Endocrinol., 18 October 2022
Sec. Reproduction
Volume 13 - 2022
Jiaxing Feng1† Hui He1† Yu Wang2† Xu Zhang1 Xiuying Zhang1 Tiantian Zhang1Mengyi Zhu1 Xiaoke Wu2,3* Yuehui Zhang2*
1Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
2First Affiliated Hospital, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
3Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
Fertility, a social, cultural, and medical issue, has aroused public attention because of its potential to predict future health. In recent years, the incidence of male infertility has increased significantly, and various risk factors, such as congenital factors, acquired factors, and idiopathic factors, have led to this situation. Male infertility causes substantial psychological and social distress in patients. With the implementation of the two-child policy, male infertility has brought enormous psychological and social pressure and huge economic burden to patients and the healthcare system. This has attracted the attention of not only men of childbearing age but also many male experts. The conventional therapeutic approaches for treating male infertility, including drugs, varicocele surgery, intrauterine insemination, in vitro fertilization, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection, can restore fertility to a certain extent, but their efficacy is far from satisfactory, not to mention some adverse events. Therefore, acupuncture has been chosen by many men to treat their infertility and produced significant effects. In the present paper, the efficacy and mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of male infertility were analyzed from different perspectives such as regulating hormone secretion, reducing inflammation, and improving semen parameters. The existing literature shows that acupuncture can effectively treat male infertility.
