Acupuncture Treatment For Infertile Women Undergoing Intracytoplasmic Sperm injection

Background Little information exists regarding the use of acupuncture in combination with allopathic treatment of infertility. Objective To describe the use of acupuncture to stimulate follicle development in women undergoing in vitro fertilization. Design, Setting, and Patients Prospective case series of 6 women receiving intracytoplasmic sperm injection and acupuncture along with agents for ovarian stimulation. Main Outcome Measures Number of follicles retrieved, conception, and pregnancy past the 1st trimester before and after acupuncture treatment. Results No pregnancies occurred in the non-acupuncture cycles. Three women produced more follicles with acupuncture treatment (mean, 11.3 vs 3.9 prior to acupuncture; P=.005). All 3 women conceived, but only 1 pregnancy lasted past the 1st trimester. Conclusion Acupuncture may be a useful adjunct to gonadotropin therapy to produce follicles in women undergoing in vitro fertilization.