[Effect of acupuncture intervention at different time points on the pregnancy rate of frozen embryo transfer].

Researchers in China studied whether acupuncture could improve pregnancy rates for women undergoing frozen embryo transfer (FET), a common fertility procedure. The study included 99 women with secondary infertility (difficulty getting pregnant after a previous successful pregnancy) who were divided into three groups based on their preferences. One group received acupuncture only on the day of embryo transfer (before and after the procedure), another group received weekly acupuncture for five weeks leading up to transfer plus treatment on transfer day, and a third group received no acupuncture. All groups underwent standard frozen embryo transfer procedures. The acupuncture treatments used specific points including Zigong (a point near the uterus), Guanyuan, Taichong, and Hegu. The results showed that women who received acupuncture throughout the five-week cycle before transfer had significantly higher pregnancy rates compared to women who received no acupuncture. Interestingly, receiving acupuncture only on the day of transfer did not show the same benefit. This suggests that timing matters when using acupuncture to support fertility treatments. For women undergoing frozen embryo transfer, starting acupuncture several weeks before the procedure may offer better results than waiting until transfer day. The study indicates that regular acupuncture treatments during the preparation phase could be a valuable addition to conventional fertility care. If considering acupuncture for fertility support, seek a licensed acupuncturist experienced in reproductive health treatments.

This prospective comparative study evaluated acupuncture timing effects on IVF-FET outcomes in 99 secondary infertility patients divided into three groups (n=33 each): transplantation-day acupuncture (treatment 1 hour pre-transfer and 30 minutes post-transfer), transplantation cycle acupuncture (weekly treatments for 5 weeks pre-FET plus transfer day), and no acupuncture control. Points included Zigong (EX-CA 1), Guanyuan (CV 4), Taichong (LR 3), and Hegu (LI 4). The transplantation cycle acupuncture group demonstrated significantly higher biochemical and clinical pregnancy rates compared to controls (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between transplantation-day acupuncture and control groups, or between the two acupuncture intervention groups (P>0.05). Clinical takeaway: Extended acupuncture treatment throughout the pre-transfer cycle appears more effective than single-day intervention for improving FET pregnancy outcomes in secondary infertility patients, suggesting cumulative physiological effects require sustained treatment protocols.