Acupuncture and IVF: New Study Suggests No Connection

Acupuncture and IVF - possibly the two most popular medical and traditional methods to help combat infertility.  Acupuncture has played a growing role recently, since it was found that it can increase blood flow.  IVF too has been growing in popularity in the last few decades, as couples wait longer and longer to try to have children.  Couples often try acupuncture and IVF treatments in conjunction, in the hopes that the acupuncture will facilitate the implantation of the embryo in the uterus.  However, a recent review has lead the British Fertility Society (BFS) to state that there is "no evidence" to support the idea that acupuncture leads to an increase in successful pregnancies. 

The review looked at 14 studies, involving a total of 2,670 women, and compared the rates of successful IVF and rates of miscarriage between control groups receiving only IVF and groups receiving acupuncture at a number of different times during IVF cycles.  The review concluded that no matter when acupuncture and IVF treatments were given in relation to on another, there were no measurable gain from using acupuncture. The BFS states that women seeking infertility treatments are being misled into believing that combining acupuncture and IVF treatments, will maximize the chances of IVF success.  The BFS wishes to inform TTC couples that there is no evidence to support this and that they'd be better of saving their money. 

However, according to an article in the BBC News, top acupuncturists like  Dr Xiao-Ping Zhai, of The Zhai Fertility Treatment Clinic, debate the methods of the studies. 

"Certainly for those with unexplained fertility problems in particular, we know acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine can be beneficial. What matters is both the expertise and experience of the practitioner, but most of all the treatment of the patient as an individual. It is the tailored treatment which is key.

"We need clinical trials that take this into account."

Combining acupuncture and IVF might still carry some yet-undetected benefit.  But until there is measurable evidence to support this conjecture, I, at least, would caution you to err on the side of doubt.