Key Finding
A meta-analysis of 13 RCTs found that acupuncture significantly improved clinical pregnancy rate, high-quality embryo rate, and live birth rate in women with PCOS undergoing IVF, while also reducing gonadotropin requirements and OHSS incidence.
If you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and are going through in vitro fertilization (IVF), you may have heard that acupuncture could help. But does the research actually support this? A new scientific review took a close look at the evidence to find out.
Researchers analyzed 13 high-quality clinical trials involving 1,203 women with PCOS who were undergoing IVF. By pooling the results of these studies, they were able to draw stronger conclusions than any single study could provide on its own.
The findings were encouraging. Women who received acupuncture alongside their IVF treatment were significantly more likely to achieve a clinical pregnancy and a live birth compared to those who did not receive acupuncture. Their embryos were also more likely to be rated as high quality — an important factor in IVF success.
Acupuncture also appeared to make the hormonal stimulation phase of IVF gentler. Women who had acupuncture needed lower doses of gonadotropin (the hormone medication used to stimulate egg production) and required fewer days of stimulation. Perhaps most importantly, they had a lower rate of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a potentially serious side effect of IVF that women with PCOS are especially prone to developing.
Not everything was different between the two groups. Measures like the number of eggs retrieved, endometrial thickness, and miscarriage rate were similar whether or not women received acupuncture.
Overall, this review suggests that adding acupuncture to your IVF protocol may meaningfully improve your chances of success while reducing some of the risks — a meaningful combination for anyone navigating the emotional and physical demands of fertility treatment.
If you are considering acupuncture during IVF, seek out a licensed acupuncturist with specific experience in reproductive health and fertility support.
This systematic review and meta-analysis (13 RCTs, n = 1,203) evaluated acupuncture as an adjunct to IVF-ET in patients with PCOS, drawing on data from eight databases through April 2024. Acupuncture significantly improved clinical pregnancy rate, high-quality embryo rate, and live birth rate (all P < 0.01). Notably, acupuncture reduced total gonadotropin dose (P = 0.0002) and duration (P = 0.005), and significantly decreased OHSS incidence (P < 0.01) — a clinically relevant finding given the elevated OHSS risk in PCOS populations. No statistically significant differences were observed in fertilization rate, oocyte yield, endometrial thickness, serum progesterone, LH, E2, miscarriage rate, or cycle cancellation rate. The authors conclude that acupuncture is a viable adjunctive intervention for PCOS patients undergoing IVF, with a favorable safety and efficacy profile. Clinicians should consider integrating acupuncture protocols into IVF management for this population.
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