Acupuncture and moxibustion increases pregnancy rate in women undergoing IVF with failure of embryo implantation

In vitro fertilization (IVF) technique has helped millions infertile people have their children since its development in 1970s. It is estimated approximately 4 million children have been born by IVF treatment in 2010.  It brings happiness and joy to millions families worldwide. Although IVF technique has been greatly improved pregnancy rate remains near 30% and are considered low. Many unsuccessful IVFs brought tremendous stress, financial pressure on infertile couples. With the help of acupuncture as adjuvant more and more infertile couples have their dreams come true. Many studies investigated mechanisms underlying the important roles of acupuncture in IVF and suggested acupuncture regulating menstrual cycle and ovulation, increasing blood flow that helps endometrial receptivity, stimulation beta endorphin levels influencing the secretion of steroid hormones.

It has been reported that when embryo implantation, a critical stage of IVF, failed pregnancy rate was down to less than 10%. Recently it was shown that acupuncture plus moxibustion improved pregnancy rate of IVF when embryo implantation failed. In a randomized controlled clinical trial, 84 infertile patients with two unsuccessful attempts of IVF were divided into three groups, as acupuncture treated group, sham treatment group and control group. In acupuncture group, patients received moxibustion first at 9 acupoints then needling at 12 acupoints for 4 sessions. Patients in sham group received the needling at non acupoints. It was found that clinical pregnancy rate in acupuncture treated group was significantly higher than sham and control groups. The study suggests that acupuncture plus moxibustion as adjuvant increased pregnancy rate in infertile women undergoing IVF with the failure of embryo implantation.

Reference:

di Villahermosa et al., Acupunct Med 2013;31:157-161.  http://aim.bmj.com/content/31/2/157.short