Fertility and Acupuncture
Effect of acupuncture on the outcome of in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic
sperm injection: a randomized, prospective, controlled clinical study
This is the most recent study once again demonstrating that acupuncture increases ongoing pregnancies by 106%
when compared to control subjects. It is important to emphasize that getting pregnant is only part of the story. We
want HEALTHY pregnancies. To have the best chances to achieve a healthy pregnancy requires a comprehensive
approach to your health. We cannot emphasize how important addressing your health comprehensively is for giving
your baby the best chance at having a healthy and happy life.
Acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer significantly improves the reproductive
outcome in infertile women: a prospective, randomized trial
Westergaard LG, et.al. Fertility and Sterility 2006 Apr 4;
This is one of the most important studies for a number of reasons. First, this study once again demonstrates that
properly applied acupuncture results in IVF ongoing pregnancy increases of over 60%. However, it also
demonstrates the consequences of trivializing proper training and knowledge. In this case, obstetric
acupuncture was applied improperly by non-acupuncturists (untrained nurses) using acupuncture points that are
contraindicated during pregnancy according to Traditional Chinese Medicine Textbooks. They chose these points
based on a Western understanding of acupuncture and ignored thousands of years of accumulated knowledge in
Chinese Medicine.
Influence of acupuncture stimulation on pregnancy rates for women undergoing
embryo transfer
Smith C, et.al. Fertility and Sterility 2006 Apr 4
This study examined 228 IVF patients. The group that received true acupuncture showed improvements in ongoing
pregnancies of over 50% compared to subjects that received a sham acupuncture treatment. This is very clinically
significant, though it did not rise to the level of statistical significance.
Positive effects of acupuncture in ART are not mediated by changes in ovarian and
endometrial production of estradiol, progesterone, and placental protein 14
Westergaard LG, et.al. Fertility and Sterility 2006 Apr 4
This is a discussion of the use of acupuncture in IVF relative to the authors' most recent study. Though they are not
exactly sure how it is working, the authors state: "The present data corroborate previous studies demonstrating a
significant beneficial effect of acupuncture in IVF"
Influence of Acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted
reproduction therapy:
Paulus, et.al. Fertility and Sterility Vol: 77, No. 4, APRIL 2002
This landmark study published in one of the most prestigious medical journals in reproductive medicine
demonstrated that women undergoing acupuncture treatments had an increase in ongoing pregnancy rates of over
60%, compared to control subjects that did not receive acupuncture.
A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Cross-Over Study Evaluating Acupuncture as
an Adjunct to In-Vitro Fertilization
Quintero et.al. Fertility and Sterility Vol: 81, Supplement 3, April, 2004
This was a pilot study where researchers used a completely different acupuncture protocol than the Paulus protocol,
but found that in addition to duplicating the 60% increase in ongoing pregnancies of the Paulus study, there was a
180% increase in implantation rates and a significant reduction in the amount of gonadotrophins used (for an
average cost savings greater than the cost of acupuncture for the cycle).
Acupuncture & IVF poor responders: a cure?
Magarelli et.al. Fertility and Sterility Vol: 81, Supplement 3, April, 2004
This was an interesting retrospective study that found a significant increase in IVF pregnancy rates with acupuncture
(40% increase). Though these increases were not as high as in the Paulus and Quintero studies, this study did not
have exclusion criteria. Of particular interest in this study was that poor responders that received acupuncture had
the same pregnancy rates as normal prognosis patients. In this study, poor responders were defined as those with
elevated Peak FSH, longer history of infertility or poor sperm morphology.
A matched controlled study to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture for improving pregnancy rates
following in-vitro fertilization - embryo transfer.
Wang et al. Fertility and Sterility Vol: 83, issue 5, Supplement ,May 2005
This study further demonstrates the importance of proper acupoint selection and proper administration of acupuncture
protocols. The point protocol in this study varied greatly from previous studies that demonstrated positive pregnancy
outcomes. This particular acupoint selection did not produce any increases in pregnancy rates.
Ovarian blood flow responses to electro-acupuncture stimulation at different frequencies and intensities
in anaesthetized rats
Stener-Victorin et.al. Auton Neurosci. 2003 Oct 31;108(1-2):50-6.
This study demonstrated that acupuncture can significantly increase ovarian blood flow. It also demonstrated that,
even using the same acupuncture protocol, by a small modification in manipulation, you get the exact opposite
effects. That is, you can decrease the ovarian blood flow. This study, therefore, is very important to illustrate the
importance of using acupuncturists that have very thorough training in both acupuncture and infertility.
Unfortunately, most patients are unaware of this and many medical professions practice acupuncture with as little
as a weekend course. You should look for an acupuncturist that has extensive training (in California, for example,
Licensed Acupuncturists must complete a four year program of study). It is best to find an acupuncturist with
specialized training in infertility. If you are undergoing IVF, it is imperative that your acupuncturist have significant
experience with the IVF process. IVF is a subspecialty and there are many issues that will not be apparent to those
without significant experience with IVF.
Auricular acupuncture in the treatment of female infertility
Gerhard et.al. Gynecol Endocrinol 1992 Sep;6(3):171-81
This study compared acupuncture to standard hormone therapy in the treatment of infertility. For women with
menstrual irregularities (a subgroup of the patients in the study), acupuncture increased pregnancies by 28% over
hormone therapy. There were no side effects in the acupuncture group but there were in the hormone group. Taking
all women in the study into account, combined acupuncture and hormone therapy achieved the best results,
producing 10% more pregnancies than hormone therapy alone.
Reduction of blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries of infertile women with
electro-acupuncture
Stener-Victorin et.al. Hum Reprod. 1996 Jun;11(6):1314-7
Successful in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer require optimal endometrial receptivity at the time of
implantation. The amount of blood flow to the uterus is considered valuable in assessing endometrial receptivity.
This study showed that acupuncture treatments performed twice per week for four weeks significantly increase
blood flow to the uterus and may explain one mechanism for the substantial increases in pregnancies when
acupuncture is incorporated.
Clinical studies on the mechanism for acupuncture stimulation of ovulation
Mo et.al. J Tradit Chin Med 1993 Jun;13(2):115-9
This study examined the effects of acupuncture on stimulating ovulation and regulating ovulatory problems. The
researchers concluded that acupuncture seems to increase progesterone levels and regulate FSH, LH and E2 levels.
This study involved 30 acupuncture treatments and had an 82.35% effective rate.
Effect of acupuncture on sperm parameters of males suffering from subfertility
related to low sperm quality
Siterman et.al. Arch Androl, 39(2):155-61 1997 Sep-Oct
This study demonstrated that acupuncture can increase both sperm quality and quantity
Effects of acupuncture and moxa treatment in patients with semen abnormalities.
Gurfinkel et.al. Asian J Androl. 2003 Dec;5(4):345-8
This study showed that men receiving acupuncture had significant increases in the percentage of normal-form
sperm relative to controls.
Quantitative evaluation of spermatozoa ultrastructure after acupuncture treatment
for idiopathic male infertility.
Pei J. et.al. Fertil Steril. 2005 Jul;84(1):141-7.
This study showed that men receiving acupuncture had statistically significant improvements in sperm morphology.
The pain-relieving effect of electro-acupuncture and conventional medical analgesic
methods during oocyte retrieval: a systematic review of randomized controlled trial.
Stener-Victorin E. Hum Reprod. 2004 Nov 11
This review demonstrated that acupuncture analgesic effects are equal to conventional analgesic medication for
oocyte retrieval. This is an important alternative for patients who are allergic or sensitive to analgesic medications.
Possibilities of therapy by ear acupuncture in female sterility.
Gerhard, et al. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 1988 Mar;48(3):165-71.
A simple application of ear acupuncture was shown to be as effective as drug therapy in improving fertility.
Effects of Electro-Acupuncture on Nerve Growth Factor and Ovarian Morphology in
Rats with Experimentally Induced PCOS.
Stener-Victorin, Lundberg, et al. Biology Of Reproduction 63, 1497-1503 (2000)
Despite extensive research on the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), there is still disagreement on
the underlying mechanisms. The rat model for experimentally induced polycystic ovaries (PCO)—produced by a
single injection of estradiol valerate—has similarities with human PCOS, and both are associated with hyperactivity
in the sympathetic nervous system. Electro-acupuncture (EA) is known to reduce hyperactivity in the sympathetic
nervous system. For these reasons, the model was used in the present study to investigate the effects of EA (12
treatments, approximately 25 min each, over 30 days) by analyzing NGF in the central nervous system and the
endocrine organs, including the ovaries. The main findings in the present study were first, that significantly higher
concentrations of NGF were found in the ovaries and the adrenal glands in the rats in the PCO model than in the
control rats that were only injected with the vehicle (oil or NaCl). Second, that repeated EA treatments in PCO rats
resulted in concentrations of NGF in the ovaries that were significantly lower than those in non-EA-treated PCO rats
but were within a normal range that did not differ from those in the untreated oil and NaCl control groups. The
results in the present study provide support for the theory that EA inhibits hyperactivity in the sympathetic nervous
system.
Acupuncture for reproductive disorders.
Lin J. et al. Probl Vet Med. 1992 Mar;4(1):155-61.
This article notes the excellent results achieved in improving reproductive outcomes with mammals and proposes
that acupuncture influences the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis as well as steroidogenesis.
Controlled study on acupuncture for treatment of endocrine dysfunctional infertility
Yang JR, et. al. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu 2005 May;25(5):299-300
In this study, acupuncture was compared to Clomid administration in the treatment of endocrine dysfunction infertility.
The study found acupuncture to have significantly higher pregnancy rates than Clomid administration (65% versus
45%). The study concluded that acupuncture is an effective treatment for infertility secondary to endocrine dysfunction.