Research 1

Effects of acupuncture on pregnancy rates in women undergoing in vitro fertilization: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Cui Hong Zheng, M.D., Ph.D., Guang Ying Huang, M.D., Ph.D., Ming Min Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., Wei Wang, M.D., Ph.D. Received 15 September 2011; received in revised form 24 November 2011; accepted 5 December 2011. published online 12 January 2012.

Objective
To evaluate the effect of acupuncture on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes.

Design
Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Patient(s)
Women undergoing IVF in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) who were evaluated for the effects of acupuncture on IVF outcomes.

Setting
Not applicable.

Intervention(s)
The intervention groups used manual, electrical, and laser acupuncture techniques. The control groups consisted of no, sham, and placebo acupuncture.

Main Outcome Measure(s)
The major outcomes were clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and live birth rate (LBR). Heterogeneity of the therapeutic effect was evaluated with a forest plot analysis. Publication bias was assessed by a funnel plot analysis.

Result(s)
Twenty-four trials (a total of 5,807 participants) were included in this review. There were no significant publication biases for most of the comparisons among these studies. The pooled CPR (23 studies) from all of the acupuncture groups was significantly greater than that from all of the control groups, whereas the LBR (6 studies) was not significantly different between the two groups. The results were different when the type of control was examined in a sensitivity analysis. The CPR and LBR differences between the acupuncture and control groups were more obvious when the studies using the Streitberger control were ignored. Similarly, if the underlying effects of the Streitberger control were excluded, the LBR results tended to be significant when the acupuncture was performed around the time of oocyte aspiration or controlled ovarian hyperstimulation.

Conclusion(s)
Acupuncture improves CPR and LBR among women undergoing IVF based on the results of studies that do not include the Streitberger control. The Streitberger control may not be an inactive control. More positive effects from using acupuncture in IVF can be expected if an appropriate control and more reasonable acupuncture programs are used.

Hela artikeln kan hittas på Fertility and Sterility

Research 2

Fler relevanta publikationer av kliniska undersökningar är:

Paulus W et al, Fertil Steril 2002, Vol 77, pg 721-724
Smith C et al, Fertil Steril 2006 Vol 85, pg 1352-1358
Westergaard, L et al, Fertil Steril 2006 Vol 85, pg 1341-1346
Dieterle S et al, Fertil Steril 2006 Vol 85, pg 1347-1351
Benson M. R. et al, Fertil Steril 2006 Vol 86, Suppl 1, pg S135
Udoff L. C. et al, Fertil Steril 2007 Vol 86, Suppl 1, pg S145
Teshima D.R.K. et al, Fertil Steril 2007 Vol 88, Suppl 1, pg S330

Sammanfattningsvis visar dessa undersökningar att akupunktur ökar möjligheten för en positiv graviditet.