MacKenna Roberts
Progress Educational Trust
27 October 2007
[BioNews, London]
Contrary to the widely held belief that acupuncture enhances a woman's chances of successfully becoming pregnant whilst undergoing IVF treatment, a study at the University of Oklahoma found that women who combine acupuncture and IVF were 37 per cent less likely to conceive than those who underwent IVF treatment alone. The new findings caused head researcher Dr LaTasha Craig, to warn that acupuncture should not be recommended until further research has been conducted to resolve the discrepancy between this study and earlier research.
Previous studies had appeared to indicate a marginal increase in IVF efficacy or showed no obvious benefit, allowing some to scientifically postulate that the ancient far eastern medical practice of acupuncture might somehow affect certain muscles and glands of the nervous system to help the lining of the uterus become more receptive to embryo implantation.
The latest study evaluated the results of 97 patients with an average age of 35 who were randomly divided into two groups. One group received acupuncture for 25 minutes before and after embryo implantation. The pregnancy rate for the IVF group without acupuncture was 69.9 per cent compared to the 43.8 per cent less successful pregnancy rate for those who received the two-pronged acupuncture 'therapy' approach. Dr Craig suggested that other factors may have counteracted any therapeutic effect of acupuncture such as the stress from undergoing acupuncture just before IVF or from travel in traffic to external acupuncture clinics and onto IVF appointments.
Some clinics regularly offer acupuncture with its IVF services, according to Mark Bovey from the British Acupuncture Council, who was alarmed by the results. Although the number of women who undergo IVF alongside acupuncture procedures has skyrocketed, many doctors believe that the placebo effect is a likely explanation for any perceived benefit.
http://www.BioNews.org.uk
© Copyright 2011 Progress Educational Trust
Reproduced with permission from BioNews, an email and online sources of news, information and comment on assisted reproduction and genetics.
| 
2.50 (out of 5)
Yacoub Khalaf said on 28 October 2007
"This study set out to rrandomise a total of 250 patients. For local reasons, only 103 patients were recruited. Patients who received Acupuncture were not a perfect match to thos who did not receive the Acupuncture. Statitistics did not detect the differences because inadequate number of patients was recruited (less than half what the authors originally calculated in order to do an adequately powered study). It is unfortunate that the authors could not recruit adequate number of patients and failing that they decided to go ahead with presentation/publication anyway.
I ahave absolutely no interest to declare for or against the practice of Acupuncture."
Reply
ANDREN LING said on 27 October 2007
"If you check SART list, there is not IVF clinic in this univerrsity. So it is difficult to belive such study. People may need to search more background of this clinic to judge their data."
Reply
Weihua WANG said on 27 October 2007
"There are different accpopint in human body, and thera are also many combinations. If they are selected correctly, it will works, however, if it is not selected correctly, it does not work. This depends on physiocian's skills and experience. I just worry about what kind of occupunturist did accupunture in this study. Maybe a very poor doctor did this work.I hope it does not mislead other practicer."
Reply