Acupuncture & Herbs Raise IVF Live Birth Rate

In vitro fertilization (IVF) live birth success rates increase with traditional Chinese medicine adjuvant care, including both acupuncture and herbal medicine. Researchers investigated 1,231 IVF patient records and compared live birth outcomes for patients receiving IVF only and patients receiving IVF plus Chinese medicine. Acupuncture combined with herbal medicines plus Chinese medicine dietetics, lifestyle, and nutritional recommendations resulted in significant increases in live birth rates. The research team used the term whole-systems traditional Chinese medicine (WS - TCM) for the integrated protocol.

The Chinese medicine live birth rate increases were for both fresh donor and non-donor embryo transfers. Patients receiving integrated Chinese medicine adjuvant care had an 85.7% live birth rate. Patients receiving only IVF standard biomedicine care had a 62.5% live birth rate. All integrated Chinese medicine treatments were individualized to each patient.

The researchers note that Chinese medicine focuses on regulating the menstrual cycle in four phases for the treatment of reproductive concerns: menses, follicular, ovulation, luteal. During the menstrual cycle, treatment focuses on regulating the menses and alleviating dysmenorrhea. The follicular phase focuses on regulating reproductive hormones plus endometrial and follicular development. The ovulation phase focuses on ovulation induction and the luteal phase involves regulating hormones.

The integrated Chinese medicine care included differential diagnostics and recommendations made by licensed acupuncturists. Acupuncture included both body style and auricular acupuncture. Needles ranged from 0.18 mm - 0.25 mm in diameter and 30 - 40 mm in length for all body style acupuncture points. Several brands of needles were used in the study: Vinco, Sierin, DBC. Electroacupuncture devices were the ES-2 (Heliomed, China) and the Electrostimulator 4c (Pantheon Research, Venice, CA). Tuina massage, moxibustion and far infrared TDP heat lamps were also used. Herbal medicines were distributed to patients in granular or tablet form. Recommendations for supplements included prenatal vitamins, antioxidants, probiotics, and essential fatty acids. 

The Oregon College of Oriental Medicine Institutional Review Board approved this study and reproductive outcome data was obtained by the Northwest Center for Reproductive Sciences (Kirkland, Washington). Acupuncture was applied by licensed acupuncturists certified by the National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM®). 

Patients receiving fresh donor and non-donor embryos were included in the study. Also, pre-implantation genetic screening testing or intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycle patients were included. The researchers note that “all biomedical diagnoses were included” to reduce selection bias. This included FSH issues related to diminished ovarian reserve, antral follicle count concerns and anti-Müllerian hormone concerns. Frozen embryo or embryos from frozen oocyte patients were excluded from the study.

- From http://www.healthcmi.com/Acupuncture-Continuing-Education-News/1437-acupuncture-herbs-raise-ivf-live-birth-rate#sthash.nMfF8i86.dpuf