Supporting IVF with Acupuncture: A Complementary Approach
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a widely used assisted reproductive technology that helps individuals and couples struggling with infertility. While IVF provides a medical solution to fertility challenges, complementary therapies, such as acupuncture, are increasingly recognized for their potential to enhance the success of IVF treatments. Acupuncture, a cornerstone of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), has been used for centuries to support reproductive health.
Acupuncture is believed to support IVF by improving the body’s physiological balance and addressing underlying factors that may impact fertility. It is thought to enhance circulation to the reproductive organs, regulate hormonal balance, reduce stress, and improve the overall functioning of the body, all of which can create a more favorable environment for conception and pregnancy.
Acupuncture’s Role in IVF Support
Research suggests that acupuncture may offer several benefits when used alongside IVF, including:
- Improved Ovarian Function: Acupuncture may help to optimize ovarian function and increase the quality and quantity of eggs.
- Enhanced Uterine Blood Flow: By improving circulation to the uterus, acupuncture may help to create a more receptive environment for embryo implantation.
- Stress Reduction: Acupuncture can reduce stress and anxiety, which are common during the IVF process and may negatively impact fertility outcomes.
- Hormonal Regulation: Acupuncture may help to balance hormones involved in the reproductive cycle, contributing to better timing of ovulation and improved IVF success rates.
Many patients undergoing IVF choose to incorporate acupuncture as part of a holistic fertility treatment plan, in combination with medical interventions. By working in tandem with traditional IVF protocols, acupuncture offers a complementary, supportive approach that aims to improve overall fertility outcomes.
Research
The multiplicity of trials of adjunctive acupuncture with IVF treatment has delivered conflicting and confusing results. A recent meta-analysis showed clearly that different subgroups in the analysis give different results; in particular, acupuncture delivered during the ovarian hyper-stimulation phase is associated with markedly superior IVF results for pregnancy and live birth rates, whereas this is not the case when given during embryo transfer (1); Other recent systematic reviews have reached similar conclusions (2, 3).
Acupuncture just at embryo transfer could provide significant IVF-related stress reduction even if it is insufficient to improve birth outcomes but more sessions, over an extended time period, may be required for optimal effect, and this has not yet been explored adequately in research trials(4).
Acupuncture improves clinical pregnancy rates in women undergoing IVF. Optimal positive effects were seen when acupuncture was used during controlled ovarian hyper-stimulation. (Qian 2016 – SR of 30 RCTs & MA)(5)
Acupuncture may increase the clinical pregnancy rate and ongoing pregnancy rate and decrease the risk of ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome in women with PCOS undergoing IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (Jo 2017 – SR of 4 RCTs & MA)(6)
References
Qian Y, Xia XR, Ochin H, et al. Therapeutic effect of acupuncture on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2017;295(3):543-558. doi:10.1007/s00404-016-4255-y
Shen C, Wu M, Shu D, Zhao X, Gao Y. The role of acupuncture in in vitro fertilization: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Gynecol Obstet Invest. 2015;79(1):1-12. doi:10.1159/000362231
Schwarze JE, Ceroni JP, Ortega-Hrepich C, Villa S, Crosby J, Pommer R. Does acupuncture the day of embryo transfer affect the clinical pregnancy rate? Systematic review and meta-analysis. JBRA Assist Reprod. 2018;22(4):363-368. Published 2018 Nov 1. doi:10.5935/1518-0557.20180057
Hullender Rubin LE, Anderson BJ, Craig LB. Acupuncture and in vitro fertilisation research: current and future directions. Acupunct Med. 2018;36(2):117-122. doi:10.1136/acupmed-2016-011352
Qian Y, Xia XR, Ochin H, Huang C, Gao C, Gao L, et al. Therapeutic effect of acupuncture on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2016 Dec 19.
Jo J, Lee YJ. Effectiveness of acupuncture in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome undergoing in vitro fertilisation or intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acupunct Med. 2017 Jan 11.