Fertility and Sterility
Volume 85, Issue 5 , Pages 1341-1346 , May 2006

Acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer significantly improves the reproductive outcome in infertile women: a prospective, randomized trial

  • Lars G. Westergaard, M.D., Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Fertility Clinic Trianglen, Hellerup, Denmark
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Lars G. Westergaard, M.D., Fertility Clinic Trianglen, Lundevangsvej 12, Hellerup DK-2900, Denmark. (FAX: 45-3940-7075)
    • ,
  • Qunhui Mao, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Holistic Acupuncture Clinic, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
    • ,
  • Marianne Krogslund

      Affiliations

    • Fertility Clinic Trianglen, Hellerup, Denmark
    • ,
  • Steen Sandrini

      Affiliations

    • Sandrini Acupuncture I/S, Varde, Denmark
    • ,
  • Suzan Lenz, M.D., Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Fertility Clinic Trianglen, Hellerup, Denmark
    • ,
  • Jørgen Grinsted, M.D., Ph.D.

      Affiliations

    • Fertility Clinic Trianglen, Hellerup, Denmark

Received 25 January 2005 ,Revised 12 August 2005 ,Accepted 12 August 2005.

References 

  1. Petti F , Bangrazi A , Liguori A , Reale G , Ippoliti F . Effects of acupuncture on immune response related to opoid-like peptides . J Tradit Chin Med . 1998;18:55–63
  2. Ferin M , Van de Wiele R . Endogenous opioid peptides and the control of the menstrual cycle . Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol . 1984;18:365–373
  3. Petraglia F , Di Meo G , Storchi R , Segre A , Facchinette F , Szalay S , et al.   Proopiomelanocortin-related peptides and methionin enkephalin in human follicular fluid (changes during the menstrual cycle) . Am J Obstet Gynecol . 1987;157:142–146
  4. Stener-Victorin E , Waldenström U , Andersson SA , Wikland M . Reduction of blood flow impedance in uterine arteries of infertile women with electro-acupuncture . Hum Reprod . 1996;11:1314–1317
  5. Chang R , Chung PH , Rosenwaks Z . Role of acupuncture in the treatment of female fertility . Fertil Steril . 2002;78:1149–1153
  6. White AR . A review of controlled trials of acupuncture for women’s reproductive healthcare . J Fam Plan Reprod Health Care . 2003;29:233–236
  7. Stener-Victorin E , Waldenström U , Nilsson L , Wikland M , Jansson P . A prospective randomised study of electro-acupuncture versus alfentanil as anaesthesia during oocyte aspiration in in-vitro fertilization . Hum Reprod . 1999;14:2480–2484
  8. Stener-Victorin E , Waldenström U , Wikland M , Nilsson L , Hägglund L , Lundeberg T . Electro-acupuncture as a peroperative analgesic method and its effects on implantation rate and neuropeptide Y concentrations in follicular fluid . Hum Reprod . 2003;18:1454–1460
  9. Humaidan P , Stener-Victorin E . Pain relief during oocyte retrieval with a new short duration electro-acupuncture technique—an alternative to conventional analgesic methods . Hum Reprod . 2004;19:1367–1372
  10. Paulus WE , Zhang M , Strehler E , El-Danasouri I , Sterzik K . Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy . Fertil Steril . 2002;77:721–724
  11. She Y . Research on mechanism of acupuncture and herbs promoting ovulation . J Combination TCM Western Med . 1985;4:210
  12. Stener-Victorin E , Wikland M , Waldenström U , Lundeberg T . Alternative treatments in reproductive medicine (much ado about nothing) . Hum Reprod . 2002;17:1942–1946
  13. Park J , White A , Stevinson C , Ernst E , James M . Validating a new non-penetrating sham acupuncture device (two randomised controlled trials) . Acupunct Med . 2002;20:168–174

 Supported by the Danish government–sponsored Centre for the Study of Alternative Medicine, ViFAB (grant no. 437-44-2002/LO).

PII: S0015-0282(06)00212-3

doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.08.070

Fertility and Sterility
Volume 85, Issue 5 , Pages 1341-1346 , May 2006

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