Acupuncture Performed Before and After Embryo Transfer A Randomized Controlled Trial

作者：Craig LaTasha B^*; Rubin Lee E Hullender; Peck Jennifer D; Anderson Michael; Marshall Lorna A; Soules Michael R

来源：Journal of Reproductive Medicine, 2014, 59(5-6): 313-320.

• acupuncture
• assisted reproductive technology
• complementary and alternative medicine
• embryo transfer
• in vitro fertilization
• pregnancy rate

OBJECTIVE: To tom pare the clinical pregnancy rates in women who underwent fresh embryo transfer (ET) with and without one acupuncture session before and after the transfer using a modified Paulus protocol.
STUDY DESIGN: The prospective, physician-blinded study randomized 113 women to either no intervention (n = 56) or acupuncture performed off-site (n = 57). Secondary outcomes were positive pregnancy test and live birth rates. Intent-to-treat analysis and per protocol analysis were performed.
RESULTS: No difference in age and in vitro fertilization embryo transfer (IVF-ET) parameters were detected. Compared to the control group, the treatment group had a lower pregnancy rate (43.6% vs. 64.8%, p = 0.045). More women in the control group had live births than did those in the acupuncture group (56.0% vs. 36.0%, respectively, p = 0.033). Generalized mixed models revealed that patients who received acupuncture had lower odds of clinical pregnancy than those who did not undergo acupuncture treatment (OR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.19-0.93).
CONCLUSION: Our study found that acupuncture performed off-site on the day of ET was detrimental to the success of the transfer. More research is needed with a greater number of subjects to elucidate the role of acupuncture before and after ET, ideal treatment frequency, and to further explore the role of individualized acupuncture treatment on IVF-ET pregnancy rates.

• 出版日期2014-6