Improving IVF Pregnancy Outcomes: The Role of Acupuncture in Recurrent Implantation Failure
In the realm of fertility treatments, the quest for effective interventions for recurrent implantation failure (RIF) during in vitro fertilisation-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) has led researchers to explore alternative therapies. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis by Li et al. (2021) delved into the efficacy of acupuncture in addressing this challenging issue, shedding light on promising outcomes.
The study, published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, analysed randomised controlled trials (RCTs) focusing on acupuncture's impact on pregnancy outcomes in RIF patients undergoing IVF-ET. Seven carefully selected studies were included in the analysis, providing a comprehensive view of acupuncture's potential benefits.
One of the standout findings of the meta-analysis was the significant improvement in clinical pregnancy rates among women receiving acupuncture compared to those in the control group. The acupuncture group exhibited nearly double the clinical pregnancy rate, indicating a substantial positive effect on successful pregnancies.
Moreover, the meta-analysis revealed a notable increase in the biochemical pregnancy rate with acupuncture. This rate, which reflects the early stages of pregnancy detected through biochemical markers, showed an approximately 60% higher likelihood of pregnancy in the acupuncture group compared to the control group.
Another crucial aspect assessed was the embryo implantation rate, a critical factor in successful pregnancies. Acupuncture demonstrated a remarkable impact here, with almost twice as many embryos successfully implanting in the uterus of women receiving acupuncture compared to those without acupuncture.
Furthermore, acupuncture was found to positively influence endometrial thickness, an essential factor for embryo implantation and development. The analysis showed that the acupuncture group had an average increase of 1 to 1.5 millimetres in endometrial thickness compared to the control group, indicating a favourable environment for embryo implantation and growth.
These findings highlight the potential of acupuncture as a complementary therapy to improve pregnancy outcomes in RIF patients undergoing IVF-ET. The study suggests that acupuncture can enhance the chances of successful pregnancies by promoting embryo implantation, improving endometrial thickness, and ultimately increasing clinical and biochemical pregnancy rates.
However, it's essential to note that while the results are promising, the study also emphasises the need for further high-quality, double-blind RCTs with larger sample sizes to strengthen the evidence base and validate these findings. Nonetheless, acupuncture stands out as a promising treatment option deserving consideration in clinical practice for patients facing recurrent implantation failure during IVF-ET.
Reference:
Li, M., Liu, Y., Wang, H., Zheng, S., Deng, Y., & Li, Y. (2021). The effects of acupuncture on pregnancy outcomes of recurrent implantation failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2021.