In addition to the acupuncture and embryo transfer studies there have been other clinical trials carried out which reveal information relevant to reproductive outcomes:
Acupuncture and blood flow to uterus and ovaries
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Research and Reviews
Many studies have shown that reduced blood flow in the uterine arteries is associated with a decreased pregnancy rate following IVF-embryo transfer. This study reported in Human Reproduction (the official journal of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology) shows that after 8 acupuncture treatments blood flow to the uterus was markedly increased. Research carried out by one group of IVF clinics in California has shown that using this protocol to increase blood flow to the uterus, combined with acupuncture on the day of transfer has resulted in a markedly significant improvement in pregnancy rates.
Stener-Victorin E, et al Hum Reprod 1996; 11:1314-1317. Human Reproduction
A small pilot study examined the effect of Viagra and acupuncture on the uterine linings of women who had a history of thin linings
(<8mm) in previous IVF cycles (including patients who had previously used Viagra alone). They used the above mentioned protocols
which improve blood flow to the ovaries and uterus. The researchers found that after acupuncture treatment the thickness of the lining
improved to 10 mm or more in all participating patients.
Yu W et.al.Presented at the Pacific Coast Reproductive Society Annual Conference 2007
This clinical trial combined the acupuncture protocol used on the day of embryo transfer with the acupuncture treatment protocol designed to increase blood flow to the uterus. The authors report that “Significant increases in pregnancy outcomes were confirmed by this study which demonstrated that both acupuncture treatment protocols could be used together with a synergistic effect.” They add that “this study is the first to demonstrate that the use of acupuncture in patients with poor prognoses (elevated Peak FSH, longer history of infertility, poor sperm morphology) can achieve similar pregnancy rates to normal prognosis patients.”
Magarelli P, Cridennda D. Fertil Steril, 2004;81(Supplement 3):S20 Fertility and Sterility
A number of women going through IVF were given acupuncture to increase blood flow through the uterine arteries in the immediate weeks before egg collection. The researchers found that the women who had acupuncture showed beneficial changes in serum levels of stress hormones compared to the control group of women who did not have acupuncture. The acupuncture treatments appear to normalize levels of cortisol and prolactin which have been artificially depressed by the IVF drugs. This may have implications for both egg quality and implantation. In addition the pregnancy and live birth rate was significantly higher in the acupuncture group.
Magarelli, PC, D Cridennda, M Cohen. Fertil Steril. 2009 Dec;92(6):1870-9 Fertility and Sterility
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