Acupuncture 'increases IVF success'

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Experts found evidence of success for women who had acupuncture within one day of embryo transfer.

The study, by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in the US and the VU University Amsterdam, involved a review of seven published trials.

A total of 1,366 women undergoing IVF were included in the trials, which compared acupuncture given within one day of embryo transfer, sham acupuncture where needles are inserted away from points used in genuine acupuncture, and no additional treatment.

Women of various ages with different causes of infertility were included.

The timing of the acupuncture sessions in relation to embryo transfer differed somewhat among trials.

However, all the women received acupuncture immediately before or immediately after the embryo transfer.

The review found a 65% increased chance of falling pregnant with acupuncture compared with sham acupuncture or no treatment.

But the researchers warned that this odds ratio "significantly overestimates" the rate ratio in this context.

The review, published online in the British Medical Journal, found that, in trials where the baseline pregnancy rates were already high, the benefit of acupuncture was smaller and non-significant.