Acupuncture & IVF Research

Two systematic reviews looked at the overall pregnancy rates from all the available trials on acupuncture and IVF have found that acupuncture increases the clinical pregnancy rate by up to 39%.

Cheong et al 2008, The Cochrane Collaboration
Manheimer et al 2008, BMJ

If you would like to look at the individual trials they are listed below:

The studies below have all appeared in the journal Fertility and Sterility. Ten of them found that acupuncture performed close to the time of embryo transfer improved chances of pregnancy. Three reported no effect, and one found a negative effect (which was put down to the fact that the patients had to drive across town after their embryo transfer to reach the acupuncture clinic). More studies are underway to investigate the mechanism behind the effect of acupuncture on implantation of the embryo but the possible factors may be that acupuncture:

may mediate the release of neurotransmitters,
may stimulate blood flow to the uterus by inhibiting uterine central sympathetic nerve activity,
may stimulate the production of endogenous opiods

Acupuncture and Embryo Transfer Studies
Authors and References	Effect of acupuncture on pregnancy rate
Paulus W et al, Fertil Steril 2002 Vol 77, pg 721-724	+ve
Smith C et al, Fertil Steril 2006 Vol 85, pg 1352-1358	+ve
Westergaard L et al, Fertil Steril 2006 Vol 85, pg 1341-1346	+ve
Dieterle S et al, Fertil Steril 2006 Vol 85, pg 1347-1351	+ve
Benson M. R. et al, Fertil Steril 2006 Vol 86, Suppl 1, pg S135	+ve
Udoff L. C. et al, Fertil Steril 2007 Vol 86, Suppl 1, pg S145	+ve
Teshima D.R.K et al, Fertil Steril 2007 Vol 88, Suppl 1,pg S330	+ve
Magarelli P,Cridennda D,Fertil Steril 2004Vol 81,Suppl 3,pgS20	+ve
Quintero R et al, Fertil Steril 2004 Vol 81 Suppl 3, pg S11-12	+ve
Youran D et al, Fertil Steril 2008 Vol 90 Suppl 1, pg S240	+ve
Domar A et al, Fertil Steril 2006 Vol 86 Suppl 2, pg S379	=
Domar A et al Fertil Steril on line 2008 In press.	=
Fratterelli JL et al Fertil Steril 2008 Vol 90 Suppl 1, pg S105	=
Craig L. B et al, Fertil Steril 2007 Vol 88, Suppl 1, pg S40	-ve