Approximately, 10-15% of couples have difficulty conceiving at some point in their reproductive lives and seek out a fertility specialist for treatment (Lancet 2002).  A commonly used procedure is IVF or “in vitro fertilization.’  IVF involves retrieving a woman’s egg, fertilizing the egg in the laboratory, and then transferring the embryo back into the woman’s uterus through the cervix.  Typically a woman takes a series of drugs to stimulate egg production for retrieval.  In 2003, over 120,000 treatments were performed in clinics in the United States.  According to Sterility 2006, in 2000, about 200?000 babies worldwide were conceived through in vitro fertilization.

Each cycle of IVF is very expensive, lengthy and very stressful.  New drugs have been developed to also improve success rates, however, only a few adjunctive procedures have been shown to really improve the success rate of IVF.  There have been many research studies which have shown that acupuncture improves the success rate of IVF, even as much as 60%.

Acupuncture has been around for thousands of years and has been used to regulate the female reproductive system for centuries.  How does Acupuncture work on fertility?  There are a few mechanisms for its effects on fertility: 

1. Acupuncture mediates release of hormones and neurotransmitters which may stimulate the secretion of GnRH, and thus influencing the menstrual cycle, ovulation and fertility
2. Increase blood flow to the uterus by decreasing sympathetic nervous system activity and increasing the thickness of the uterine lining.
3. Decrease fight or flight response, relaxing the patient and reducing stress
4. Improve the function of the ovaries to produce better quality eggs
5. Strengthen the immune system

The treatment is typically 30 minutes and virtually painless.  Most patient’s state that the acupuncture treatments are very relaxing.  Our latest success is twin girls due in March 2012 by IVF and Acupuncture.

Acupuncture is widely accepted in the United States as an adjunct therapy with IVF due to the many successful research studies which have been completed. 

If you are interested in trying Acupuncture with IVF, call the Wellness Institute at Lake Health, TriPoint Physicians Pavillion 440-375-8153.

There are numerous studies which have demonstrated the effectiveness of acupuncture and infertility.  I have included some of them for your reference.

1. 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.
2. Changes in serum cortisol and prolactin associated with acupuncture during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in women undergoing in vitro fertilization–embryo transfer treatment. Magarelli, et al. Fertility and Sterility, 2009
   This Study examined the question of whether acupuncture improves pregnancy rates through stress reduction. The answer was that acupuncture significantly improves pregnancy rates, but not by reducing stress levels (as measured by cortisol and prolactin). Of particular interest in this study, however, was the fact that this particular acupuncture protocol doubled a woman's chances of maintaining her pregnancy. 
3. Effects of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilization: systematic review and meta-analysis: Manheimer E, et.al. British Medical Journal, 2008 Feb
   This was a meta-analysis looking at all the available, quality acupuncture research. When taking all factors into account the investigators found that "acupuncture increased the odds of clinical pregnancy by 65% compared with the control groups."
4. Does Acupuncture Enhance a Woman's Chance for Pregnancy and a Live Birth? Athol Kent. Rev Obstet Gynecol. 2008 Spring; 1(2): 89.
   This is a review of the use of acupuncture for IVF. The author discusses a summary of the evidence and concludes that "the order of magnitude of improved outcomes [with acupuncture] is higher than more conventional adjunct maneuvers".
5. ACUPUNCTURE PERFORMED BEFORE AND AFTER EMBRYO TRANSFER IMPROVES PREGNANCY RATES. D. B. Youran. Fertility and Sterility. September 2008 (Vol. 90, Pages S240-S241) This study used a different acupuncture protocol timed immediately before and immediately after the embryo transfers. They found a statistically significant increase in pregnancies. (55% clinical pregnancies in the acupuncture group versus 34% in the control group). There were also significantly less pregnancy losses (only 4% in the acupuncture group versus 23% loss in the control group).
6. Clinical observation on acupuncture for treatment of infertility of ovulatory disturbance. Song et al. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2008 Jan;28(1):21-3.
   This study compared acupuncture to Clomid and found that both induced the same effects on ovulation, however, in the acupuncture group, the pregnancy rate was higher and the miscarriage rate was lower.
7. Impact of Acupuncture Before and After Embryo Transfer on the Outcome of In-Vitro Fertilization Cycles: A Prospective Single-Blind Randomized Study. M. R. Benson, et al. Fertility and Sterility. September 2006 (Vol. 86, Issue 3, Page S135)
   In this study they had a 10% increase in Clinical pregnancies in the acupuncture group. Not statistically significant but a trend toward increase in pregnancies.
8. 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 study once again demonstrates that properly applied acupuncture results in IVF ongoing pregnancy increases of over 60%.
9. 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.
10. 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 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.