Objective: To evaluate the effect of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in assisted reproduction therapy (ART) by comparing a group of patients receiving acupuncture treatment shortly before and after embryo transfer with a control group receiving no acupuncture.

Design: Prospective randomized study.

Patients: After giving informed consent, 160 patients who were undergoing ART and who had good quality embryos were divided into the following two groups through random selection: embryo transfer with acupuncture (N=80) and embryo transfer without acupuncture (n=80)

Intervention: Acupuncture was performed in 80 patients 25 minutes before and after embryo transfer. In the control group, embryos were transferred without any supportive therapy.

Main Outcome Measure: Clinical pregnancies were documented in 34 of 80 patients (42.5%) in the acupuncture group, whereas pregnancy rate was only 26.3% (21 out of 80) in the control group.

Conclusion: Acupuncture seems to be a useful tool for improving pregnancy rate after ART.

Paulus, W.E., Zhang, M., Strehler, E., El-Danasouri, I., and Sterzik, K. 2002. Fertility and Sterility. 77(4). 721-724