BACKGROUND: Numerous randomised studies have reported pregnancy outcome in women who received acupuncture during their in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment cycle. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review with meta-analysis of the trials of acupuncture during IVF treatment on the outcomes of clinical pregnancy and live birth rates. SEARCH STRATEGY: Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, ISI Proceedings and SCISEARCH. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised controlled trials that evaluated the effects of acupuncture compared with no treatment or sham acupuncture in women undergoing IVF-intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Study selection, quality appraisal and data extraction were performed independently and in duplicate. A sensitivity analysis was conducted where the meta-analysis was restricted to trials in which sham acupuncture was used in the control group. Meta-regression analysis was used to explore the association between study characteristics and pregnancy rates. MAIN RESULTS: Thirteen relevant trials, including a total of 2500 women randomised to either acupuncture or control group, were identified. No evidence of publication bias was found (Begg's test, P = 0.50). Five trials (n = 877) evaluated IVF outcome when acupuncture was performed around the time of transvaginal oocyte retrieval, while eight trials (n = 1623) reported IVF outcome when acupuncture was performed around the time of embryo transfer (ET). Meta-analysis of the five studies of acupuncture around the time of egg collection did not show a significant difference in clinical pregnancy (relative risks [RR] = 1.06, 95% CI 0.82-1.37, P = 0.65). Meta-analysis of the eight studies of acupuncture around the time of ET showed no difference in the clinical pregnancy rate (RR = 1.23, 95% CI 0.96-1.58, P = 0.1). Live birth data were available from five of the eight studies of acupuncture around the time of ET. Meta-analysis of these studies did not show a significant increase in live birth rate with acupuncture (RR = 1.34, 95% CI 0.85-2.11). Using meta-regression, no significant association between any of the studied covariates and clinical pregnancy rate was found (P > 0.05 for all covariates). CONCLUSION: Currently available literature does not provide sufficient evidence that adjuvant acupuncture improves IVF clinical pregnancy rate.
BACKGROUND: Numerous randomised studies have reported pregnancy outcome in women who received acupuncture during their in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment cycle. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review with meta-analysis of the trials of acupuncture during IVF treatment on the outcomes of clinical pregnancy and live birth rates. SEARCH STRATEGY: Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, ISI Proceedings and SCISEARCH. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised controlled trials that evaluated the effects of acupuncture compared with no treatment or sham acupuncture in women undergoing IVF-intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Study selection, quality appraisal and data extraction were performed independently and in duplicate. A sensitivity analysis was conducted where the meta-analysis was restricted to trials in which sham acupuncture was used in the control group. Meta-regression analysis was used to explore the association between study characteristics and pregnancy rates. MAIN RESULTS: Thirteen relevant trials, including a total of 2500 women randomised to either acupuncture or control group, were identified. No evidence of publication bias was found (Begg's test, P = 0.50). Five trials (n = 877) evaluated IVF outcome when acupuncture was performed around the time of transvaginal oocyte retrieval, while eight trials (n = 1623) reported IVF outcome when acupuncture was performed around the time of embryo transfer (ET). Meta-analysis of the five studies of acupuncture around the time of egg collection did not show a significant difference in clinical pregnancy (relative risks [RR] = 1.06, 95% CI 0.82-1.37, P = 0.65). Meta-analysis of the eight studies of acupuncture around the time of ET showed no difference in the clinical pregnancy rate (RR = 1.23, 95% CI 0.96-1.58, P = 0.1). Live birth data were available from five of the eight studies of acupuncture around the time of ET. Meta-analysis of these studies did not show a significant increase in live birth rate with acupuncture (RR = 1.34, 95% CI 0.85-2.11). Using meta-regression, no significant association between any of the studied covariates and clinical pregnancy rate was found (P > 0.05 for all covariates). CONCLUSION: Currently available literature does not provide sufficient evidence that adjuvant acupuncture improves IVF clinical pregnancy rate.
Authors: James F Smith; Michael L Eisenberg; Susan G Millstein; Robert D Nachtigall; Alan W Shindel; Holly Wing; Marcelle Cedars; Lauri Pasch; Patricia P Katz Journal: Fertil Steril Date: 2010-03-24 Impact factor: 7.329
Authors: Leah K Hawkins; Brooke V Rossi; Katharine F Correia; Shane T Lipskind; Mark D Hornstein; Stacey A Missmer Journal: J Assist Reprod Genet Date: 2014-01-23 Impact factor: 3.412
Authors: Lee E Hullender Rubin; Michael S Opsahl; Lisa Taylor-Swanson; Deborah L Ackerman Journal: J Altern Complement Med Date: 2013-01-30 Impact factor: 2.579
Authors: Caroline A Smith; Sheryl de Lacey; Michael Chapman; Julie Ratcliffe; Robert J Norman; Neil Johnson; Gavin Sacks; Jane Lyttleton; Clare Boothroyd Journal: Trials Date: 2012-05-18 Impact factor: 2.279
Authors: Sanaa K Bardaweel; Mayadah Shehadeh; Ghadeer A R Y Suaifan; Maria-Vanessa Z Kilani Journal: BMC Complement Altern Med Date: 2013-02-16 Impact factor: 3.659
Authors: Eric Manheimer; Daniëlle van der Windt; Ke Cheng; Kristen Stafford; Jianping Liu; Jayne Tierney; Lixing Lao; Brian M Berman; Patricia Langenberg; Lex M Bouter Journal: Hum Reprod Update Date: 2013-06-27 Impact factor: 15.610