Acupuncture as part of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is used for a very long time as a treatment for infertility issues. Through the specific acupoints located on the meridians, with the acupuncture treatment the Qi and blood flow can be regulated and the whole body energy balanced. Acupuncture increases the blood flow to the ovaries and uterus, improving the implantation condition, the ovarian and follicular function and balancing the hormones. In this research, it is presented a case of 32-year-old woman who has already had an unsuccessful in vitro cycle, 6 months before starting acupuncture treatments. The patient has done 8 acupuncture treatments in our clinic before starting the second cycle of embryo transfer. The treatments were done twice monthly in a period of 4 months. Before starting the first embryo transfer, the FSH was at high levels: 11 mIU/mL (1.98 - 11.6). After the acupuncture treatments, it was normalized to 8.11 mIu/mL. The second embryo transfer was successful and so far the patient is in good health. Acupuncture treatment as part of the TCM, helps the female reproductive system to function properly, especially in an important periods of fertilization, keeping the pregnancy rates high.
References
[1]
Dehghani, A.S., et al. (2020) The Effect of Acupuncture on the Day of Embryo Transfer on the in Vitro Fertilization Outcomes: An RCT. International Journal of Reproductive BioMedicine, 18, 209-214.
[2]
Zhu, J., Arsovska, B. and Kozovska, K. (2018) Acupuncture Treatment for Fertility. Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences, 6, 1685-1687. https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2018.379
[3]
(2022) Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Infertility FAQs. http://www.cdc.gov/
[4]
Longbottom, J. (2008) The Use of Acupuncture with in Vitro Fertilization: Is There a Point? Journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Women’s Health, 103, 29-38.
[5]
Paulus Wolfgang, E., Zhang, M.M., Erwin, S., El-Danasouri, I. and Karl, S. (2002) Influence of Acupuncture on the Pregnancy Rate in Patients Who Undergo Assisted Reproduction Therapy. Fertility and Sterility, 77, 721-724. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0015-0282(01)03273-3
[6]
Westergaard Lars, G., Mao, Q.H., Marianne, K., Steen, S., Suzan, L. and Jørgen, G. (2006) Acupuncture on the Day of Embryo Transfer Significantly Improves the Reproductive Outcome in Infertile Women: A Prospective, Randomized Trial. Fertility and Sterility, 85, 1341-1346. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.08.070
[7]
Benson, M.R., Elkind-Hirsch, K., Theall, A., Fong, K., Hogan, R. and Scott, R. (2006) Impact of Acupuncture before and after Embryo Transfer on the Outcome of in Vitro Fertilization Cycles: A Prospective Single Blind Randomized Study. Fertility and Sterility, 86, S135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2006.07.362