Two important causes of IVF failure are maternal stress and insufficient development of endometrium. Acupuncture aids proper development of the endometrium. Acupuncture also affects the limbic system and decreases maternal stress. Via these 2 mechanisms, acupuncture improves IVF success.
Acupuncture has been widely used in IVF centers after the publication of the article by WE Paulus in “Fertility and Sterility”, which proved that acupuncture increased pregnancy rates. Many other articles followed. Many IVF centers in U.S.A provide acupuncture for patients who desire.
Seven articles have been published in “Fertility and Sterility” in May 2006 concerning the role of acupuncture in IVF treatment. Two of these studies were striking concerning their design and patient numbers. Both these studies proved increased pregnancy rates with acupuncture performed just before embryo transfer. First stduy was performed by Westergaard et al. in Denmark. In this study, acupuncture significantly increased pregnancy rates from 24% to 39%. Second study by Dieterle Stefan from Germany and Ying Gao from China included 225 patients. Clinical prengnancy rate was found to be 33.9% in the study group and 15.6% in the control group. Stimuli to determined parts of the body causes beta-endorphin release. This increases GnRH release and steroid hormone production. Acupuncture also increases uterine blood flow and endometrial maturation. Consequently, implantation rates are thought to increase.
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