Acupuncture and in vitro fertilisation: recent research and clinical guidelines

Item

Title

Acupuncture and in vitro fertilisation: recent research and clinical guidelines

Description

J of Chin Med (2007), Rosenthal, Lara;Anderson, Belinda.

Abstract

The use of acupuncture to improve the outcome of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) has become widespread over the past five years. Three of four randomised controlled trials (RCT) published since 2002 have shown that acupuncture significantly increases pregnancy rates. Although the research has a number of methodological limitations, it does strongly endorse the use of acupuncture during IVF. Protocols for IVF are complex, involving multiple phases with specific physiological aims. Correspondingly, acupuncture treatments before and during IVF need to be carefully considered in relation to the biomedical aspects that are being manipulated. This article summarises recent research in this area, and provides an explanation of the IVF process and associated acupuncture treatment guidelines.

Alternative Title

J of Chin Med

Creator

Date

Date Created

3/13/2008

Language

English

Source

Subject

Type

Journal Article

issn

0143-8042

issue

84

page end

35

page start

28

Item sets