Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy. The impact of acupuncture on in vitro fertilization outcome. Electro-acupuncture as a peroperative analgesic method and its effects on implantation rate and neuropeptide Y concentrations in follicular fluid. Randomized controlled trial: effects of acupuncture on pregnancy rates in women undergoing in vitro fertilization. Effect of acupuncture on the outcome of in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a randomized, prospective, controlled clinical study. Effect of Acupuncture on Assisted Reproduction Treatment Outcomes [Effect of electroacupuncture on oocyte quality and pregnancy for patients with PCOS undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfervitro fertilization and embryo transfer]. Acupuncture for frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles: a double-blind randomized controlled trial. Auricular electro-acupuncture as an additional perioperative analgesic method during oocyte aspiration in IVF treatment. A randomized double blind comparison of real and placebo acupuncture in IVF treatment. Pain relief during oocyte retrieval with a new short duration electro-acupuncture technique--an alternative to conventional analgesic methods. Acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer significantly improves the reproductive outcome in infertile women: a prospective, randomized trial. Electroacupuncture reduces uterine artery blood flow impedance in infertile women. Changes in serum cortisol and prolactin associated with acupuncture during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in women undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer treatment. Electro-acupuncture versus conventional analgesia: a comparison of pain levels during oocyte aspiration and patients' experiences of well-being after surgery. Acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer: a randomized controlled trial of 635 patients. Pain relief during oocyte retrieval--exploring the role of different frequencies of electro-acupuncture. Influence of acupuncture stimulation on pregnancy rates for women undergoing embryo transfer. A prospective randomized study of electro-acupuncture versus alfentanil as anaesthesia during oocyte aspiration in in-vitro fertilization. [Effects of electroacupuncture on in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) of patients with poor ovarian response].
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in assisted reproduction therapy ( ART ) by comparing a group of patients receiving acupuncture treatment shortly before and after embryo transfer with a control group receiving no acupuncture . DESIGN Prospect i ve r and omized study . SETTING Fertility center . PATIENT(S ) After giving informed consent , 160 patients who were undergoing ART and who had good quality embryos were divided into the following two groups through r and om selection : embryo transfer with acupuncture ( n = 80 ) and embryo transfer without acupuncture ( n = 80 ) . INTERVENTION(S ) Acupuncture was performed in 80 patients 25 minutes before and after embryo transfer . In the control group , embryos were transferred without any supportive therapy . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S ) Clinical pregnancy was defined as the presence of a fetal sac during an ultrasound examination 6 weeks after embryo transfer . RESULT ( S ) Clinical pregnancies were documented in 34 of 80 patients ( 42.5 % ) in the acupuncture group , whereas pregnancy rate was only 26.3 % ( 21 out of 80 patients ) in the control group . CONCLUSION ( S ) Acupuncture seems to be a useful tool for improving pregnancy rate after ART OBJECTIVE To replicate previous research on the efficacy of acupuncture in increasing pregnancy rates ( PR ) in patients undergoing IVF and to determine whether such an increase was due to a placebo effect . DESIGN Prospect i ve , r and omized , controlled , single blind trial . SETTING Private , academically affiliated , infertility clinic . PATIENT(S ) One hundred fifty patients scheduled to undergo embryo transfer . INTERVENTION(S ) Subjects were r and omized to either the acupuncture or control group . Acupuncture patients received the protocol , as first described by Paulus and his colleagues , for 25 minutes before and after embryo transfer . Control subjects laid quietly . All subjects then completed question naires on anxiety and optimism . The IVF staff remained blind to subject assignment . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S ) Clinical PRs , anxiety , optimism . RESULT ( S ) Before r and omization both groups had similar demographic characteristics including age and psychological variables . There were no significant differences in PRs between the two groups . Acupuncture patients reported significantly less anxiety post-transfer and reported feeling more optimistic about their cycle and enjoyed their sessions more than the control subjects . CONCLUSION ( S ) The use of acupuncture in patients undergoing IVF was not associated with an increase in PRs but they were more relaxed and more optimistic BACKGROUND In a previous study on the effect of electro-acupuncture ( EA ) in combination with a paracervical block ( PCB ) as an analgesic method during oocyte aspiration in IVF treatment , EA appeared to increase the pregnancy rate . This study was design ed to test the hypothesis that EA as an analgesic during oocyte aspiration would result in : ( i ) a better IVF pregnancy rate than with alfentanil ; ( ii ) peroperative analgesia that was as good as that produced by alfentanil ; ( iii ) less postoperative abdominal pain , nausea and stress ; and ( iv ) a reduction in the use of additional analgesics . Neuropeptide Y ( NPY ) concentrations in follicular fluid ( FF ) were analysed when possible . METHODS AND RESULTS In this prospect i ve , r and omized , multicentre clinical trial , 286 women undergoing oocyte aspiration were r and omly allocated to the EA group ( EA plus a PCB ) or to the alfentanil group ( alfentanil plus a PCB ) . No significant differences were found between the EA and alfentanil groups in any of the IVF variables . NPY concentrations in FF were significantly higher in the EA group compared with the alfentanil group . No correlation between pregnancy rate and NPY concentrations was found in either analgesic group . Both EA plus a PCB and alfentanil plus a PCB induced adequate peroperative analgesia during oocyte aspiration evaluated using the visual analogue scale . After 2 h , the EA group reported significantly less abdominal pain , other pain , nausea and stress than the alfentanil group . In addition , the EA group received significantly lower amounts of additional alfentanil than the alfentanil group . CONCLUSION EA does not improve pregnancy rate in the present clinical situation . The observation that NPY concentrations in FF were higher in the EA group may be important for human ovarian steroidogenesis . The analgesic effects produced by EA are as good as those produced by conventional analgesics , and the use of opiate analgesics with EA is lower than when conventional analgesics alone are used OBJECTIVE To evaluate the influence of " true " versus " sham " acupuncture on pregnancy rates ( PRs ) in women undergoing IVF . DESIGN R and omized controlled trial , double-blinded with independent observer . SETTING Academic infertility clinic . PATIENT(S ) One hundred sixty patients < 38 years old undergoing IVF with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection . INTERVENTION(S ) Subjects were r and omly allocated to the true or sham group and underwent acupuncture 25 minutes before and after ET . Subjects completed a McGill Pain Question naire regarding their clinical symptoms during ET . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S ) Clinical PR and clinical symptoms during ET . RESULT ( S ) While the overall clinical PR was 51.25 % , there was no significant difference between the arms of the study ( true = 45.3 % vs. sham = 52.7 % ) ; 33.1 % of the patients had ultrasound-documented singleton pregnancy , and 15 % of patients had twin gestations , while one patient in the true arm had a triplet gestation . There were significant differences in the subjective , affective , and total pain experience between both arms . The subjects in the true arm described their acupuncture session as being more " tiring " and " fearful " and experienced more " achiness " compared with their sham counterparts . CONCLUSION ( S ) There was no statistically significant difference in the clinical or chemical PRs between both groups . Patients undergoing true acupuncture had differing sensory experiences compared with patients in the sham arm . There were no significant adverse effects observed during the study , suggesting that acupuncture is safe for women undergoing ET OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of luteal-phase acupuncture on the outcome of  IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection ( ICSI ) . DESIGN R and omized , prospect i ve , 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 Background Acupuncture has recently been used as a complementary technique in the management of infertility . It has physiological and psychological effects and may be considered an alternative for stress reduction in women undergoing infertility treatments . Objective To examine the hypothesis that acupuncture treatment may increase the pregnancy rate in patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles . Methods Patients enrolled in the study were stratified according to age and r and omised to either a control group ( n=208 ) or acupuncture group , ( n=208 ) . The pregnancy , implantation and abortion rates of the two groups were compared . Results No influence of acupuncture treatment on clinical outcomes was seen ; however , when cycles in which the causes of infertility were exclusively tubal-uterine or idiopathic were evaluated separately , a positive influence of acupuncture on pregnancy ( OR=5.15 , 95 % CI 1.03 to 34.5 ; p=0.048 ) was noted . Moreover , trends toward an increase in implantation were seen when acupuncture was performed ( regression coefficient : 0.645 ; p=0.092 ) . Conclusion The results suggest that acupuncture treatment had no influence when performed immediately before and immediately after embryo transfer , on clinical outcomes overall . In a subgroup analysis , when the embryo was not affected by an ovarian or seminal influence , a benefit was noted OBJECTIVE To observe the impacts of electroacupuncture ( EA ) on oocyte quality and pregnant outcome for the patients with polycystic ovary syndrome ( PCOS ) undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer ( IVF-ET ) and explore its potential mechanism . METHODS Sixty-six patients with PCOS and undergoing IVF-ET were divided into two groups r and omly , including an observation group ( 34 cases ) and a control group ( 32 cases ) . Ethinylestradiol and cyproterone acetate tablets and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist were administered for long-program superovulation in either group . In observation group , the intervention of EA was applied to Guanyuan ( CV 4 ) , Zhongji ( CV 3 ) , Sanyinjiao ( SP 6 ) , Zigong ( EX-CA 1 ) and Taixi ( KI 3 ) additionally . The pregnant outcome and the levels of stem cell factor ( SCF ) in the serum and follicular fluid on the day of egg collection were compared between two groups . RESULTS The score of kidney deficiency symptoms reduced remarkably after treatment in either group and the improvement in observation group was superior to that in control group ( P < 0.01 ) . The fertilization rate [ ( 76.25 + /- 20.33)% vs ( 66.34 + /- 15.44)% ] , cleavage rate [ ( 98.66 + /- 3.70)% vs ( 94.47 + /- 9.45)% ] and the rate of high- quality embryos [ ( 60.20 + /- 22.20)% vs ( 50.55 + /- 16.15)% ] in observation group were all superior to those in control group separately ( all P < 0.05 ) . Clinical pregnancy rate ( 46.67 % , 14/30 ) in observation group was higher than that ( 37.93 % , 11/29 ) in control group , but without statistical difference ( P > 0.05 ) . SCF levels in the serum and follicular fluid on the day of ovary collection were higher obviously than those in control group ( all P < 0.05 ) . CONCLUSION Electroacupuncture plays an active role in the pregnant outcomes of PCOS patients undergoing IVF-ET and it can relieve the symptoms of kidney deficiency in terms of TCM and improve clinical pregnant rate . The results are relevant with the overall adjustment of organic endocrinal system and the local micro-environment of ovary and the improvement of oocyte quality through the up-regulation of SCF level in mechanism The role of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate has not been evaluated in frozen-thawed embryo transfer ( FET ) cycles . This r and omized double-blind study aim ed to determine whether acupuncture performed on the day of FET improves clinical outcomes . On the day of FET , 226 patients were r and omly allocated to either real or placebo acupuncture according to a computer-generated r and omization list in sealed opaque envelopes . They received a session of real or placebo acupuncture for 25 min on site immediately after FET . The anxiety level and serum cortisol concentration were evaluated before and after real and placebo acupuncture . There were no significant differences in rates of overall pregnancy , clinical pregnancy , ongoing pregnancy , live birth and implantation in the placebo acupuncture group , when compared with the real acupuncture group . The anxiety level and serum cortisol concentration were similar for both groups . Only the placebo acupuncture group had significantly higher ongoing pregnancy ( P=0.022 ) and implantation rates ( P=0.038 ) than those who declined to join the study and received no acupuncture . In conclusion , comparable pregnancy and live birth rates of FET treatment were found in patients who had one session of real or placebo acupuncture after FET BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to compare the pain-relieving effect and the subjective well-being between auricular electro-acupuncture ( EA ) analgesia , auricular acupuncture ( A ) and conventional analgesia with remifentanil ( CO ) . METHODS A total of 94 women undergoing IVF were r and omized to auricular acupuncture with ( EA , n = 32 ) or without ( A , n = 32 ) continuous 1 Hz auricular stimulation ( using a battery-powered miniaturized stimulator , P-Stim ) or with adhesive tapes instead of needles and no electrical stimulation ( control group , CO , n = 30 ) at the auricular acupuncture points 29 , 55 and 57 . All patients received patient-controlled analgesia ( PCA ) with remifentanil .  Pain intensity and psychological well-being were assessed by means of visual analogue scales ( VAS ) ; tiredness , nausea and vomiting and analgesic drug consumption were documented . RESULTS Pain relief and subjective well-being were significantly greater in group EA during and after the procedure as compared with groups A and CO ( P < 0.001 ) . The patients were significantly more tired in group CO than in groups A and EA ( P < 0.001 ) . Consumption of the opioid remifentanil was significantly lower in group EA , comparable nausea ( P < 0.001 ) . CONCLUSION Auricular EA significantly reduces pain intensity and analgesic consumption of the opioid remifentanil during oocyte aspiration in IVF treatment BACKGROUND Acupuncture has been used during IVF treatment as it may improve outcome , however , there are concerns about the true efficacy of this approach . This r and omized double blind study aim ed to compare real acupuncture with placebo acupuncture in patients undergoing IVF treatment . METHODS On the day of embryo transfer ( ET ) , 370 patients were r and omly allocated to either real or placebo acupuncture according to a computer-generated r and omization list in sealed opaque envelopes . They received 25 min of real or placebo acupuncture before and after ET . The endometrial and subendometrial vascularity , serum cortisol concentration and the anxiety level were evaluated before and after real and placebo acupuncture . RESULTS The overall pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the placebo acupuncture group than that in the real acupuncture group ( 55.1 versus 43.8 % , respectively , P = 0.038 ; Common odds ratio 1.578 95 % confidence interval 1.047 - 2.378 ) . No significant differences were found in rates of ongoing pregnancy and live birth between the two groups . Reduction of endometrial and subendometrial vascularity , serum cortisol concentration and the anxiety level were observed following both real and placebo acupuncture , although there were no significant differences in the changes in all these indices between the two groups . CONCLUSIONS Placebo acupuncture was associated with a significantly higher overall pregnancy rate when compared with real acupuncture . Placebo acupuncture may not be inert . Trial registered with HK Clinical Trials.com : number HKCTR-236 BACKGROUND Acupuncture previously has proved its pain-relieving effect for ovum pick-up ( OPU ) . The analgesic effect of electro-acupuncture ( EA ) was evaluated when EA was applied for only a few minutes prior to OPU in an attempt to make EA more attractive for clinical use . METHODS Two hundred patients undergoing OPU were r and omized prospect ively using sealed , unlabelled envelopes , to receive pain relief with either EA in combination with a paracervical block ( PCB ) ( n = 100 ) or conventional medical analgesia ( CMA ) in combination with a PCB ( n = 100 ) . A visual analogue scale ( VAS ) was used to evaluate pain and anxiety before , during and after OPU . The primary outcome measure was pain relief ; secondary end-points were costs , time to discharge and clinical outcome parameters . RESULTS There were no differences in any VAS ratings before the procedure . Directly after OPU , the EA group reported significantly higher mean and maximum pain , and ' pain now ' than the CMA group . At 30 min after OPU and thereafter , no significant differences were found between the groups regarding abdominal pain . Time to discharge and costs were significantly lower in the EA group compared with the CMA group . No differences in clinical outcome parameters were seen . CONCLUSION A significant difference was found between the EA and the CMA groups regarding pain during the OPU , probably due to the fact that the CMA group was pre-medicated as part of the study design . Despite a per-operative difference in pain rating , EA , given a few minutes prior to OPU , is a good alternative to CMA . The procedure is well tolerated by the patients , with a shorter hospitalization time and lower costs 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 Prospect i ve , r and omized 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 r and omly 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 OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of electroacupuncture ( EA ) on pregnancy rate and uterine artery blood flow impedance in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization ( IVF ) . MATERIAL S AND METHODS This prospect i ve , r and omized 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 OBJECTIVE To determine whether changes in serum cortisol ( CORT ) and PRL are affected by acupuncture ( Ac ) in Ac-treated IVF patients . DESIGN Prospect i ve cohort clinical study . SETTING Private practice reproductive endocrinology and infertility clinic and private practice acupuncture consortium . PATIENT(S ) Sixty-seven reproductive-age infertile women undergoing IVF .  INTERVENTION(S ) Blood sample s were obtained from all consenting new infertility patients and serum CORT and serum PRL were obtained prospect ively . Patients were grouped as controls ( IVF with no Ac ) and treated ( IVF with Ac ) according to acupuncture protocol s derived from r and omized controlled trials . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S ) Serum levels of CORT and PRL were measured and synchronized with medication stimulation days of the IVF cycle ( e.g. , day 2 of stimulation , day 3 , etc . ) . Reproductive outcomes were collected according to Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology protocol s , and results were compared between controls and those patients treated with Ac . RESULT ( S ) CORT levels in Ac group were significantly higher on IVF medication days 7 , 8 , 9 , 11 , 12 , and 13 compared with controls . PRL levels in the Ac group were significantly higher on IVF medication days 5 , 6 , 7 , and 8 compared with controls . CONCLUSION ( S ) In this study , there appears to be a beneficial regulation of CORT and PRL in the Ac group during the medication phase of the IVF treatment with a trend toward more normal fertile cycle dynamics BACKGROUND The primary aims were to compare the pain-relieving effect and post-operative well-being between electro-acupuncture analgesia ( EA ) and conventional analgesia ( CA ) comprising opiates . Further aims were to compare time for mobilization , and costs for time and drug consumption . METHODS In all , 160 women undergoing IVF were r and omized , according to a computer-generated list , to EA or CA . Well-being was evaluated with the State Trait Anxiety Inventory ( STAI ) . Pain and subjective expectations and experiences were recorded on a visual analogue scale ( VAS ) . Time and drug consumption were recorded . RESULTS Although VAS pain ratings were significantly higher at oocyte aspiration ( P < 0.0001 ) and after retrieval ( P < 0.01 ) in the EA than in the CA group , they were similar 60 min after surgery . Both groups had similar STAI well-being scores . The EA group was significantly less tired and confused than the CA group after oocyte aspiration . No significant differences in time and costs for drug consumption were noted . CONCLUSION EA can not generally be recommended as a pain-relieving method at oocyte aspiration but might be an alternative for women desiring a non-pharmacological method . An advantage of EA is less post-operative tiredness and confusion compared with CA This prospect i ve , r and omized , controlled and double-blinded trial studied whether acupuncture in relation to embryo transfer could increase the ongoing pregnancy rates and live birth rates in women undergoing assisted reproductive therapy . A total of 635 patients undergoing IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection ( ICSI ) were included . In 314 patients , embryo transfer was accompanied by acupuncture according to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine . In the control group , 321 patients received placebo acupuncture using a vali date d placebo needle . In the acupuncture group and the placebo group , the ongoing pregnancy rates were 27 % ( 95 % CI 22 - 32 ) and 32 % ( 95 % CI 27 - 37 ) , respectively . Live birth rates were 25 % ( 95 % CI 20 - 30 ) in the acupuncture group and 30 % ( 95 % CI 25 - 30 ) in the placebo group . The differences were not statistically significant . These results suggest that acupuncture administered in relation to embryo transfer has no effect on the outcome of IVF and ICSI Electro-acupuncture has previously proven its analgesic effect in oocyte retrieval for IVF . The aim of the present prospect i ve r and omized study was to explore the optimal frequency for analgesia when electro-acupuncture was applied a few minutes prior to oocyte retrieval . A total of 152 patients were prospect ively r and omized to receive either a combination of high ( 80 Hz ) and low frequency ( 2 Hz ) , 3 s each , a so-called mixed frequency , or a fixed frequency of 20 Hz during oocyte retrieval . In addition to electro-acupuncture , both groups had a paracervical block and manual acupuncture . No differences in pain before , during or after oocyte retrieval between the two groups were seen . In the fixed frequency group , however , a higher level of anxiety ( P < 0.05 ) before oocyte retrieval was seen , and a higher level of nausea after aspiration of one ovary ( P < 0.01 ) was seen in the mixed frequency group . No differences were seen regarding clinical outcome parameters . Contrary to previous reports on acute and chronic pain , the analgesic effect of the mixed frequency and the fixed frequency was similar when used for short duration electro-acupuncture OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of acupuncture on clinical pregnancy rates for women undergoing ET . DESIGN Single-blind , r and omized controlled trial using a noninvasive sham acupuncture control . SETTING Repromed , The Reproductive Medicine Unit of The University of Adelaide . PATIENT(S ) Women undergoing IVF . INTERVENTION(S ) Women were r and omly allocated to acupuncture or noninvasive sham acupuncture with the placebo needle . All women received three sessions , the first undertaken on day 9 of stimulating injections , the second before ET , and the third immediately after ET . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S ) The primary outcome was pregnancy . Secondary outcomes were implantation , ongoing pregnancy rate at 18 weeks , adverse events , and health status . RESULT ( S ) Two hundred twenty-eight subjects were r and omized . The pregnancy rate was 31 % in the acupuncture group and 23 % in the control group . For those subjects receiving acupuncture , the odds of achieving a pregnancy were 1.5 higher than for the control group , but the difference did not reach statistical significance . The ongoing pregnancy rate at 18 weeks was higher in the treatment group ( 28 % vs. 18 % ) , but the difference was not statistically significant . CONCLUSION ( S ) There was no significant difference in the pregnancy rate between groups ; however , a smaller treatment effect can not be excluded . Our results suggest that acupuncture was safe for women undergoing ET The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anaesthetic effect during oocyte aspiration of a paracervical block ( PCB ) in combination with either electro-acupuncture ( EA ) or intravenous alfentanil . In all , 150 women undergoing in-vitro fertilization ( IVF ) and embryo transfer were r and omized to receive either EA plus PCB or alfentanil plus PCB .  Visual analogue scales ( VAS ) were used to evaluate subjective experiences during oocyte aspiration , and IVF outcome parameters were recorded . No differences in pain directly related to oocyte aspiration , adequacy of anaesthesia during oocyte aspiration , abdominal pain , or degree of nausea were found between the two groups in the VAS ratings . Before oocyte aspiration , the level of stress was significantly higher in the EA group than in the alfentanil group ( P < 0.05 ) , and the EA group experienced discomfort for a significantly longer period during oocyte aspiration ( P < 0 . 01 ) . Compared with the alfentanil group , the EA group had a significantly higher implantation rate ( P < 0.05 ) , pregnancy rate ( P < 0.05 ) , and take home baby rate ( P < 0.05 ) per embryo transfer . In conclusion , EA has been shown to be as good an anaesthetic method as alfentanil during oocyte aspiration , and we suggest that EA may be a good alternative to conventional anaesthesia during oocyte aspiration OBJECTIVE To observe the effect of electroacupuncture therapy on oocyte quality and pregnancy outcome of patients with poor ovarian response or decreased reserve in the course of in vitro fertilization ( IVF ) . METHODS Sixty cases accepting IVF-ET were r and omly divided into an observation group and a control group , 30 cases in each group . The two groups were both treated with antagonist scheme for ovulation induction , and the electroacupuncture intervention was also added in the observation group , Guanyuan ( CV 4 ) , Taixi ( KI 3 ) , Sanyinjiao ( SP 6 ) etc . were selected . The therapeutic effects in the two groups were compared after treatment . RESULTS There was no significant difference between the two groups before treatment . The symptoms of kidney difficiency in the observation group were significantly improved after treatment , and the levels of serum estradiol ( E2 ) , fertilization rate , oocyte maturation rate , good quality embryos rate , and implantation rate in the observation group were superior to those in the control group on human Chorionic Gonadotropin ( hCG ) injection day ( all P<0.05 ) ; the levels of stem cell factor ( SCF ) in follicular fluid and serum in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( both P<0.05 ) . The pregnancy rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group , and the abortion rate in the observation group was lower than that in the control group , but there was no significant difference between the two groups ( both P>0.05 ) . CONCLUSION Electroacupuncture therapy has a good clinical effect for IVF patients with poor ovarian reserve , and can improve oocyte quality and pregnancy outcome
The aim of this paper was to provide reliable evidence by performing a systematic review and meta- analysis for evaluating the role of acupuncture in assisted reproductive technology .