Research Spotlight – Acupuncture improves low sperm count and low motility
August 20, 2012Free Stress-relief Acupuncture in Manhattan – Hurricane Sandy Response
November 5, 2012Recent research from China suggests that luteal phase acupuncture can improve pregnancy outcomes of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
225 patients undergoing fertility treatments were randomized to receive acupuncture according to Chinese medicine principles or sham acupuncture (picking points unrelated to principles or picking non-points).
Researchers found “In [acupuncture group], the clinical pregnancy rate and ongoing pregnancy rate [was] 33.6% and 28.4%, respectively… [and] were significantly higher than in [the sham group] (15.6% and 13.8%).” This suggests that luteal phase acupuncture improves pregnancy outcomes in couples being treated for infertility by IVF with ICSI. My personal opinion is that ongoing treatment will be most effective in treating infertility, and increased frequency of treatment around date of transfer is warranted.
