laser AP has effect, standard AP no effect on pregnancy rates in ART

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doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.07.1252

 

Copyright 2008 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Published by

Elsevier Inc.

 

Oral Presentation

 

Laser acupuncture before and after embryo transfer improves ART

delivery rates: results of a prospective randomized double-blinded

placebo controlled five-armed trial involving 1000 patients

 

J.L. Fratterellia, M.R. Leondiresa, K. Fonga, A. Thealla, S.

Locatellia and R.T. Scotta

 

aReproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey, Morristown, NJ

 

O-285. Available online 14 September 2008.

 

OBJECTIVE: Acupuncture has been advocated for the treatment of

infertility, including immediately prior to and after transfer.

Unfortunately, data are conflicting and adequate studies with

appropriate controls are lacking. This study evaluates 2 forms of

acupuncture on outcomes in ART patients.

 

DESIGN: Prospect randomized double blind and placebo controlled.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS: On the day of transfer, participants were

randomly assigned to a study group; needle acupuncture (AC), laser

acupuncture (LZ AC), sham laser acupuncture (LZ sham), relaxation

(RX), or no treatment (NT). The AC and LZ AC puncture groups were

considered treatment groups, the RX controls for the additional rest

before and after transfer, and NT is the non-intervention group. Most

significantly, the LZ Sham group provided an important control group.

The laser acupuncture device was randomly preprogrammed per case to

either fire (and provide LZ AC) or to not fire and thus provide a true

double blind control group (LZ sham). It was not possible for the

patient or acupuncturist to know if the laser fired. No contact oocurs

with the patient in laser acupuncture so there is no acupressure

effect or contact with the wrong meridians. All treatments were

administered for 25 minutes before and after embryo transfer. Outcomes

were compared by Chi-square and multiple logistic regression analysis

to control for the potential confounders including female age, embryo

quality, and day of transfer (Table 1).

 

RESULTS: All treatments were well tolerated. No differences in terms

of patient demographics, cycle type, stimulation outcomes, embryo

number and quality, day of embryo transfer, transferring physician, or

acupuncturist were found between the 5 study groups. Implantation

rates were significantly improved with laser acupuncture. Traditional

needle acupuncture had outcomes equivalent to the 3 control groups.

Subanalyses of patient age and embryo transfer day produced similar

findings with laser acupuncture enhancing outcome rates.

 

CONCLUSIONS: This large prospective randomized and well controlled

study consistently demonstrated benefit to LZ AC. Treatment was well

tolerated and significantly improved implantation rates.

 

Table 1.

 

Clinical Outcomes (%)

 

 

 

Rates

AC (n=200)

LZ AC (n=202)

LZ Sham (n=198)

RX (n=203)

NT (n=197)

P Values

 

Implantation

28.9

33.7

26.8

24.9

30.2

< 0.05

 

Chemical Pregnancy

61.5

60.9

53.0

53.7

60.4

0.22

 

Clinical Pregnancy

51.5

54.5

43.9

45.3

50.3

0.19

 

Ongoing Pregnancy/Delivery

39.0

42.1

35.4

37.4

39.6

0.71

 

 

 

 

Supported by: EMD Serono.

 

 

 

Fertility and Sterility

 

Volume 90, Supplement 1, September 2008, Page S105

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.07.1254

 

Copyright 2008 American Society for Reproductive Medicine Published by

Elsevier Inc.

 

Oral Presentation

 

RCT: Effects of acupuncture on pregnancy rates in women undergoing

assisted reproductive technologies

 

I. Moya, M. Milada, R. Kazera, E. Confinoa, R. Barnesa and J. Zhanga

 

aObstetrics & Gynecology, McGaw Medical Center Prentice Women's Hosp.,

Chicago, IL; McGaw Medical Center NMFF, Chicago

 

O-287. Available online 14 September 2008.

 

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of true versus sham acupuncture

on pregnancy rates in women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies.

 

DESIGN: Randomized-controlled trial. Single-blinded (evaluator and

patient blinded) with independent observer.

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women aged 18 to 38 years old undergoing

in-vitro fertilization with or without intracytoplasmic sperm

injection were recruited at Northwestern IVF, Chicago IL from August

2006 until the present time. Women actively undergoing acupuncture or

previously randomized to the trial were excluded. Subjects were

randomly allocated to study or control group and underwent acupuncture

(in Qi-lines vs. non-Qi lines, respectively) 25 minutes before and

after embryo transfer at the IVF center. The primary outcome was

clinical pregnancy demonstrated by fetal heart activity on an

ultrasound scan. Expected enrollment: 220.

 

RESULTS: Thus far, 124 women undergoing day 3 embryo transfer

following IVF with or without ICSI were randomized to receiving either

true or sham acupuncture. The clinical pregnancy rate was 43.9% in the

true arm and 55.2% in the sham arm (P= 0.214). The chemical pregnancy

rate was 48.9% in the true arm and 60.3% in the sham arm (P=0.188). Of

the patients in the true acupuncture arm, 76.9% of subjects corrently

guessed their group allocation compared to 24.1% in the sham arm.

Patients allocated to the true study group complained of significantly

more pain and discomfort as well as tiredness and fearfulness (P=

0.005 and 0.017 respectively).

 

CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in the pregnancy rate between

groups during this interim analysis. There were no adverse effects

observed during the study suggesting that acupuncture was safe for

women undergoing embryo transfer. Patients in the study group (true

arm) reported more pain, discomfort, fear, and tiredness.

 

Supported by: Grant from the Northwestern Memorial Faculty Foundation.

 

 

 

Fertility and Sterility

 

Volume 90, Supplement 1, September 2008, Page S106

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kristin Lorent

 

Pack Lab

 

University of Pennsylvania

 

BRB II/III, Room 1226

 

421 Curie Blvd

 

Philadelphia, PA 19104

 

USA

 

phone: 1-215-898-6659