Specific Acupuncture Improved the Implantation Rates of Assisted Reproduction Technology

In the history of reproductive medicine, fertilization rate in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) increased through intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and pregnancy rate in artificial insemination with husband’s sperm (AIH) is advocated to increase through the sperm energy index (SEI). However, no treatment exists to increase implantation rate in assisted reproduction technology (ART). One group of 35 subjects underwent 3 or more acupuncture sessions at this Hospital from January 2016 to March 2017 to improve the pregnancy rate of 50 cycles of single blastocyst transfer.

Acupuncture was performed and embryos were transferred using the same technique. The same acupuncture treatment, such as that in as current study, ameliorates symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome. Acupuncture was performed by only tapping the portion protruded from the guide tube at fixed points, so the treatment can be performed in a short amount of time. Very thin needles are inserted slightly without inducing needling sensation, so there is no pain during insertion and patients are more amenable to the treatment.

Over 50 transfer cycles, subjects had a biochemical pregnancy rate per transfer cycle of 62.0% and a clinical pregnancy rate of 52.0%. A biochemical pregnancy rate per transfer cycle increased 1.35 times and a clinical pregnancy rate increased 1.42 times by current acupuncture.

Results suggested that slight insertion through only tapping of acupuncture needles at fixed points markedly improved the pregnancy rate of in-vitro fertilization. A combination of specific acupuncture and SEI will contribute to reproductive medicine in the near future.