Acupuncture reduces stress in women undergoing IVF treatment

A randomised controlled trial to assess the efficacy of acupuncture on pregnancy rates in 150 women undergoing IVF. The women were allocated to acupuncture before and after embryo transfer, while the control group lay quietly.

All the women then completed questionnaires on anxiety and optimism. There were no significant differences in pregnancy rates between the two groups, but the acupuncture patients reported significantly less anxiety post-transfer and reported feeling more optimistic about their cycle and enjoyed their sessions more than the control subjects.

The researchers concluded that the use of acupuncture in patients undergoing IVF was not associated with an increase in pregnancy rates but did help women feel more relaxed and more optimistic.

Reference

Domar, et al. (2009) The impact of acupuncture on in vitro fertilization outcome. Fertil Steril; 91: 723-6.