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Acupuncture Enhances Chances of Pregnancy in Unexplained Infertile Patients Who Undergo A Blastocyst Transfer in A Fresh-Cycle

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Abstract

Objective

To analyze the effects of acupuncture on in vitro fertilization patients with unexplained infertility.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the charts of a total of 302 cycles performed in 273 patients attending Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Centre from August 2013 to August 2016. During the study period, embryo transfer with acupuncture (Acupuncture group, 46 cases) and without acupuncture (Control group, 42 cases) were applied. Prior to embryo transfer, the following points were used in the acupuncture group: Neiguan (CX 6), Diji (SP 8), Taichong (Liv 3), Baihui (Gv 20), and Guilai (S 29). These sessions were carried out two times before and after embryo transfer in a single day. In addition, auricular acupuncture was also performed at ear points, including ear point 55 (Shenmen), ear point 58 (Zhigong), ear point 22 (Neifenmi) and ear point 34 (Naodian). The biochemical pregnancy rate and clinical pregnancy rate after transplantation were compared between two groups.

Results

The clinical pregnancy rate in the acupuncture group was higher than that in the control group [60.9% (28/46) vs. 33.3% (14/42), respectively, P<0.05]. Likewise, the live birth rate in the acupuncture group was also higher than that in the control group [71.7% (33/46) vs. 31.0% (12/42), P<0.01).

Conclusion

Administration of acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer dramatically improved fertility results in women who underwent in vitro fertilization/intra-cytoplasm sperm injection for reproduction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Diyarlife IVF Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Diyarbakır, Turkey

    Hakan Çoksüer

  2. Harran University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Şanlıurfa, Turkey

    Mert Ulaş Barut, Sibel Sak & Mustafa Demir

  3. Bahcesehir University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, VM Medikalpark Pendik Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

    Murat Bozkurt

  4. Dicle University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Diyarbakır, Turkey

    Elif Agacayak

  5. Bahcesehir University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Istanbul, Turkey

    Eray Calıskan

Authors
  1. Hakan Çoksüer
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  2. Mert Ulaş Barut
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  3. Murat Bozkurt
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  4. Elif Agacayak
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  5. Sibel Sak
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  6. Mustafa Demir
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  7. Eray Calıskan
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Correspondence to Mert Ulaş Barut.

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Çoksüer, H., Barut, M.U., Bozkurt, M. et al. Acupuncture Enhances Chances of Pregnancy in Unexplained Infertile Patients Who Undergo A Blastocyst Transfer in A Fresh-Cycle. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 25, 298–302 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-018-2918-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-018-2918-6

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