Research on Acupuncture for Fertility
Posted: June 19, 2014
http://www.eastwindsacupuncture.com/
One of their findings was that the optimal number of acupuncture treatments for women pursuing IVF.
Their research indicates a total of eleven treatments optimized IVF: twice a week for five weeks, then once 12-24 hours before retrieval and again one hour after embryo transfer. In cases where five weeks of treatment prior to retrieval was not possible, completing all nine treatments prior to retrieval is still optimal.
The combination of acupuncture with IVF in this study resulted in significantly higher “take-home” babies than with IVF alone as well as fewer multiple birth pregnancies. Their data showed improved cortisol and prolactin levels in the women who received acupuncture over those who used IVF alone. IVF medications tend to have negative effects on both cortisol and prolactin which appears to have been improved by the use of acupuncture.
This study also suggests that those who are most helped by the addition of acupuncture to IVF include women over 38 as well as those with PCOS.