Mechanism Of Acupuncture On IVF-ET Treatment

Objective This study aimed to investigate the effects of acupuncture on in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatment and the possible influencing mechanism.Methods 304 patients under the treatment of IVF-ET/ICSI were randomly allocated to acupuncture group or control group. Both groups were treated with long protocol of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a). The patients in acupuncture group received acupuncture from the first day of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation to embryo transfer day (exclude the day of oocyte retrieval). Dose of GnRH-a and gonadotropin (Gn), days of treatment were observed. Levels of serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) were detected by chemiluminescence. Compared the number of oocytes, the rate of Mâ…¡oocytes, clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate and incidence of OHSS.Results 1. The clinical pregnancy rate of acupuncture group showed no difference with control group (52.90% versus 50.74%, respectively, p>0.05); No significant differences were found in miscarriage rate between the two groups (10.96 % versus 10.14%, respectively, p>0.05);2. The number of follicles (>16mm) was higher in the control group than that in acupuncture group (p<0.05). But the rate of Mâ…¡oocytes was opposite, acupuncture group higher than control group (p<0.05); 3. Serum E2 of the embryo transfer day was significantly lower in the acupuncture group than that in the control group (p<0.05); 4. Compared with the control group, the incidence of OHSS significantly reduced in acupuncture group (7.33% versus 2.03%, respectively, p=0.030<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture used during IVF treatment may promote the maturation of oocytes, and acupuncture for the role of regulating the serum E2 might be one of the mechanism of reducing OHSS.