Research
Acupuncture and the Regulation of Stress Hormones
Dr Paul Magarelli’s groundbreaking study has identified that acupuncture regulates the stress hormones which impact on ovulation, and therefore on fertility. It suggests that acupuncture may positively adjust the levels of the stress hormones Cortisol and Prolactin during the stimulation phase of IVF, thereby optimizing chances of conception
Magarelli, M. 2010. Published in Fertility and Sterility Journal. Presented at the Vancouver 2010 Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society Meeting.
Effect of Acupuncture on Rates of Pregnancy
A 2008 study that analysed seven clinical trials discovered that when used as a complement to IVF, acupuncture treatments before and after embryo transfer increased the chances of achieving pregnancy. The results showed that for every 10 women receiving acupuncture treatments, one additional pregnancy was achieved, when compared to control groups.
Manheimer E, Zhang G, Udoff L, et al. 2008. Effect of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilization: systematic review and meta-analysis. British Medical Journal.
The relationship between perceived stress, acupuncture, and pregnancy rates among IVF patients: A pilot study
These researchers at a university IVF clinic in Pittsburgh were interested to investigate the relationship between acupuncture, stress and pregnancy rates. The patients who received acupuncture on the day of embryo of transfer had a pregnancy rate of 55.6% compared with the control group pregnancy rate of 35.5%.
Balk J et al, Compl Therapies in Clinical Practice 2010,16,154–157
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
Relaxation boosts IVF success rate
A study presented by Dr Alice Domar at a meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine suggested that management of stress can improve conception rates, especially during second attempts at pregnancy; the study showed 52% of women who underwent stress management fell pregnant, compared to 20% of the control group. Dr R Dale McClure was quoted as saying that “a holistic approach to infertility care leads to better outcomes for patients.”
Presentation at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 2009. Sourced from ABC Science.
Use of Acupuncture before and after embryo transfer
This report describes outcomes for all patients who attended the The London Bridge Fertility, Gynaecology and Genetics Centre in London over a 2 year period and who had acupuncture . In the acupuncture group positive pregnancy rates/ET were 44.6% comparing favourably with the non-acupuncture historic control group. When they analysed outcomes in different age groups they discovered that acupuncture intervention was particularly effective in woman in the 35 - 39 and the over 40 group.
Dalton-Brewer N et al, Hum Fert 2010 Vol 12 No 4 212 - 255
Human Fertility (abstracts from UK Fertility Societies Conference 2009)
Pre Birth Acupuncture Study
In a 2006 study in New Zealand it was found that by having Pre-birth Acupuncture there was:
1. 35% reduction in number of inductions
2. 31% reduction in epidural rate
3. 32% reduction in emergency Caesareans Betts, D and Lennox, S Acupuncture for Pre birth Treatment.. Journal of Medical Acupuncture. Vol. 17 #3 May 2006
Breech babies study
A 1998 study in Italy showed that 75% of breech babies turn using Acupuncture between 33 and 36 weeks.
Cardini F Weixin H Moxibustion for correction of breech presentation: a randomized control trial. JAmA 1998 Nov11,280 (18): 1580-4
Acupuncture and pelvic pain in pregnancy
Acupuncture was superior to stabilising exercises in the management of pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy, with acupuncture the treatment of choice for patients with one sided sacroiliac pain, one sided sacroiliac pain combined with symphysis pubis pain and bilateral sacroiliac pain.
Elden et al. (2005) published a randomised single blind controlled trial involving 386 pregnant women in the British Medical Journal.
Acupuncture and morning sickness
Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for women who experience nausea and dry retching in early pregnancy
Smith et al. (2002) published two articles from their research on nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. They first looked at the effectiveness of acupuncture and the second at the safety of acupuncture treatment in early pregnancy.
Acupuncture for Depression During Pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Since there is evidence that the use of antidepressants increases the risk of miscarriage there has been much interest in the use of acupuncture to treat depression which occurs in pregnancy.
A number of trials and systematic reviews of the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of depression have been published over the last 5 years and a meta-analysis of these trials concluded that acupuncture is an effective treatment for depression. This trial looked specifically at depression in pregnancy and found that acupuncture was as effective as other standard treatments and worked more quickly.
Manber R et al, Obst and Gynec 2010, 115 (3) 511 - 520
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Acupuncture for pelvic and back pain in pregnancy: a systematic review.
This review of 3 trials examining treatment of back and pelvic pain in pregnancy concludes that acupuncture, as an adjunct to standard treatment, is superior to standard treatment alone and physiotherapy..
Ee CC et al, . 2008 Am J Obstet Gynecol Mar;198(3):254-9.
American Jnl Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dr Paul Magarelli’s groundbreaking study has identified that acupuncture regulates the stress hormones which impact on ovulation, and therefore on fertility. It suggests that acupuncture may positively adjust the levels of the stress hormones Cortisol and Prolactin during the stimulation phase of IVF, thereby optimizing chances of conception
Magarelli, M. 2010. Published in Fertility and Sterility Journal. Presented at the Vancouver 2010 Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society Meeting.
Effect of Acupuncture on Rates of Pregnancy
A 2008 study that analysed seven clinical trials discovered that when used as a complement to IVF, acupuncture treatments before and after embryo transfer increased the chances of achieving pregnancy. The results showed that for every 10 women receiving acupuncture treatments, one additional pregnancy was achieved, when compared to control groups.
Manheimer E, Zhang G, Udoff L, et al. 2008. Effect of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilization: systematic review and meta-analysis. British Medical Journal.
The relationship between perceived stress, acupuncture, and pregnancy rates among IVF patients: A pilot study
These researchers at a university IVF clinic in Pittsburgh were interested to investigate the relationship between acupuncture, stress and pregnancy rates. The patients who received acupuncture on the day of embryo of transfer had a pregnancy rate of 55.6% compared with the control group pregnancy rate of 35.5%.
Balk J et al, Compl Therapies in Clinical Practice 2010,16,154–157
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
Relaxation boosts IVF success rate
A study presented by Dr Alice Domar at a meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine suggested that management of stress can improve conception rates, especially during second attempts at pregnancy; the study showed 52% of women who underwent stress management fell pregnant, compared to 20% of the control group. Dr R Dale McClure was quoted as saying that “a holistic approach to infertility care leads to better outcomes for patients.”
Presentation at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, 2009. Sourced from ABC Science.
Use of Acupuncture before and after embryo transfer
This report describes outcomes for all patients who attended the The London Bridge Fertility, Gynaecology and Genetics Centre in London over a 2 year period and who had acupuncture . In the acupuncture group positive pregnancy rates/ET were 44.6% comparing favourably with the non-acupuncture historic control group. When they analysed outcomes in different age groups they discovered that acupuncture intervention was particularly effective in woman in the 35 - 39 and the over 40 group.
Dalton-Brewer N et al, Hum Fert 2010 Vol 12 No 4 212 - 255
Human Fertility (abstracts from UK Fertility Societies Conference 2009)
Pre Birth Acupuncture Study
In a 2006 study in New Zealand it was found that by having Pre-birth Acupuncture there was:
1. 35% reduction in number of inductions
2. 31% reduction in epidural rate
3. 32% reduction in emergency Caesareans Betts, D and Lennox, S Acupuncture for Pre birth Treatment.. Journal of Medical Acupuncture. Vol. 17 #3 May 2006
Breech babies study
A 1998 study in Italy showed that 75% of breech babies turn using Acupuncture between 33 and 36 weeks.
Cardini F Weixin H Moxibustion for correction of breech presentation: a randomized control trial. JAmA 1998 Nov11,280 (18): 1580-4
Acupuncture and pelvic pain in pregnancy
Acupuncture was superior to stabilising exercises in the management of pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy, with acupuncture the treatment of choice for patients with one sided sacroiliac pain, one sided sacroiliac pain combined with symphysis pubis pain and bilateral sacroiliac pain.
Elden et al. (2005) published a randomised single blind controlled trial involving 386 pregnant women in the British Medical Journal.
Acupuncture and morning sickness
Acupuncture is a safe and effective treatment for women who experience nausea and dry retching in early pregnancy
Smith et al. (2002) published two articles from their research on nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. They first looked at the effectiveness of acupuncture and the second at the safety of acupuncture treatment in early pregnancy.
Acupuncture for Depression During Pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Since there is evidence that the use of antidepressants increases the risk of miscarriage there has been much interest in the use of acupuncture to treat depression which occurs in pregnancy.
A number of trials and systematic reviews of the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of depression have been published over the last 5 years and a meta-analysis of these trials concluded that acupuncture is an effective treatment for depression. This trial looked specifically at depression in pregnancy and found that acupuncture was as effective as other standard treatments and worked more quickly.
Manber R et al, Obst and Gynec 2010, 115 (3) 511 - 520
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Acupuncture for pelvic and back pain in pregnancy: a systematic review.
This review of 3 trials examining treatment of back and pelvic pain in pregnancy concludes that acupuncture, as an adjunct to standard treatment, is superior to standard treatment alone and physiotherapy..
Ee CC et al, . 2008 Am J Obstet Gynecol Mar;198(3):254-9.
American Jnl Obstetrics and Gynecology
