Women are often looking for ways to increase their chances of pregnancy while using in vitro fertilization (IVF). An analysis of 24 different clinical trials evaluated the effects of acupuncture in nearly 6,000 women undergoing IVF and discovered that this ancient Chinese medical practice improved both the women’s pregnancy and live birth rates. The results were published in the January 2012 issue of the journal Fertility and Sterility.

The researchers found that when they looked at the data from all of the studies, they found they found that pregnancy rate was significantly higher than the control groups, which did not receive the acupuncture.

In vitro fertilization is when the woman’s egg is combined with sperm in a laboratory dish. After an embryo is produced, it’s transplanted into the woman’s uterus.

According to the American Pregnancy Association (www.americanpregnancy.org), the live birth rate for each IVF cycle started is:
• Women under age 35 = 30 to 35 percent
• Women age 35 to 37 = 25 percent
• Women age 38 to 40 = 15 to 20 percent
• Women over age 40 = 6 to 10 percent

The practice of acupuncture originated in China 5,000 year ago. Today it is widely used throughout the world and is one of the main pillars of Chinese medicine. Nevertheless, “research on the effectiveness of acupuncture has special challenges,” explains the Natural Standard Research Collaboration, a Wellness Times resource partner. “These include the diversity of approaches, the practice of individualizing treatment for each patient, differing skill levels between practitioners and difficulty separating out the effects of acupuncture from placebo effects. Although acupuncture is often used to treat infertility, more studies are needed to determine its potential benefits.”

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