IVF + Acupuncture = Baby?

As IVF treatments increase for women seeking pregnancy later in life, alternative medicine for fertility has become increasingly common. Several studies have been conducted in recent years to determine the effects of acupuncture on fertility. A team from the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine aggregated various Dutch and US studies to quantify the effectiveness of acupuncture treatments used in conjunction with IVF.

The team analyzed 108 trials and included all but 7 in the meta-analysis. Studies were required to maintain proper methodologies to be included. The results, which included data from over 1,300 women, showed that acupuncture combined with IVF led to a 65% increase in pregnancy, an 87% increase in maintaining pregnancy, and a 91% increase in live births. Amazing results; however, the researchers stressed in their report that success rates of subjects were high even if they did not receive acupuncture treatments. The researchers concluded that for every 10 women receiving acupuncture, there would be one additional successful birth.

While there are still some critics who consider the benefits to be from a placebo effect, we can be fairly sure that receiving acupuncture treatments with IVF doesn’t hurt.