Acupuncture and IVF Part 3: Increase Odds of a Live Birth
In Acupuncture & IVF Part 2: Improve Pregnancy Rates, I discussed research on how acupuncture can improve the pregnancy rate in those undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). In the study referenced, patients in the test group received an acupuncture treatment before and after embryo transfer. While this resulted in higher pregnancy rates than the control group, who received no treatment, other studies have investigated the effects of not only acupuncture but also Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine (WS-TCM). Acupuncture is one facet of Chinese medicine.
In one study, 1,069 IVF patients were divided into three groups:
The WS-TCM group received acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and dietary or lifestyle recommendations before embryo transfer. They also received acupuncture treatments before and after the embryo transfer.
The acupuncture group received one treatment before and after embryo transfer.
The control group received no additional treatment.
The results found that there was a significantly higher rate of live births in the WS-TCM compared to the acupuncture and control groups. The number of biochemical pregnancies was lower in the WS-TCM group than the acupuncture and control groups. There was no significant difference in the number of miscarriages between the groups.
While research has shown that acupuncture treatments before and after embryo transfer improves rates of success, this study demonstrates that it may be even more effective to receive holistic Chinese medicine specific to your individual needs.
Instead of only receiving treatments directly before and after, Chinese medicine practitioners often recommend receiving treatments up to 3–6 months prior to IVF transfer.
Curious to experience Chinese medicine for yourself? Reach out or book an appointment here.