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Effect of Acupuncture on Endometrial Blood Flow in Women Undergoing in vitro Fertilization Embryo Transfer: A Single Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

  • Acupuncture Research
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the effect of manual acupuncture on endometrial blood flow parameters by three-dimensional (3D) power Doppler ultrasound in women undergoing in vitro fertilization embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

Methods

Seventy patients undergoing IVF-ET were equally randomized into traditional or sham acupuncture treatment group for totally 4 days (from the day of oocyte aspiration to the day of embryo transfer) of treatment by random envelope method at the Reproductive Medicine Center and Outpatient Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medicine College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 2013 to December 2015. Patients in the traditional acupuncture group accepted traditional acupuncture methods with manual acupuncture, and Zhongji (CV3), Qihai (CV 6), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Taichong (LR 3), Tianshu (ST 25), Guilai (ST 29) and Zusanli (ST 36) were chosen. Patients at the sham acupuncture group accepted shallow acupuncture methods at 4 non-meridian points at each shoulder and upper arm. Outcome measures included endometrial ultrasonic indices such as vascularization index (VI), flow index (FI) and vascularization flow index (VFI), endometrial thickness and volume, subendometrial VI (sVI), subendometrial FI (sFI), subendometrial VFI (sVFI), implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, abortion rate, live birth rate and number of live births.

Results

Finally, 34 patients in the traditional acupuncture group and 35 in the sham acupuncture group completed this trial. VI, FI and VFI of the traditional acupuncture group were significantly higher than those in the sham acupuncture group (P<0.05). No significant differences were found in endometrial thickness, endometrial volume, sVI, sFI, sVFI, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, abortion rate, live birth rate and number of live births (P>0.05).

Conclusions

Manual acupuncture performed after oocyte aspiration and before transplantation improved the endometrial blood flow parameters VI, RI and VFI in women who underwent IVF-ET, instead of sVI, sFI and sVFI. Therefore, acupuncture might be beneficial in women undergoing IVF-ET by increasing endometrial blood flow and endometrial receptivity. (Registration No. ChiCTR2100053354)

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the Reproductive Medicine Center and Outpatient Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital at Wuhan for providing research sites for recruitment and acupuncture.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China

    Hao-xu Dong, Xiao Wu & Ming-min Zhang

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China

    Qin Zhou

  3. Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China

    Dong-mei Huang & Guang-ying Huang

  4. Department of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China

    Wei Yang

Authors
  1. Hao-xu Dong
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  2. Xiao Wu
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  4. Dong-mei Huang
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  5. Ming-min Zhang
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Contributions

Yang W was in charge of randomization of this study. Yang W and Huang GY designed and drafted this study. Dong HX wrote the manuscript. Dong HX and Huang DM were the acupuncturists in charge of acupuncture treatment. Wu X was in charge of recruiting and screening. Zhou Q carried on ultrasound examination for the subjects. Statistical analysis of the data was performed by Dong HX. Huang GY and Zhang MZ revised the manuscript strictly. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wei Yang.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81202827)

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Dong, Hx., Wu, X., Zhou, Q. et al. Effect of Acupuncture on Endometrial Blood Flow in Women Undergoing in vitro Fertilization Embryo Transfer: A Single Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 30, 10–17 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-023-3731-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-023-3731-4

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