The effects of acupuncture on the secondary outcomes of anxiety and quality of life for women undergoing IVF: A randomized controlled trial
CA Smith et al, AOGS 2019, 98, 460 – 469
Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
Relationship between psychological stress and reproductive outcome in women undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment: Psychological and neurohormonal assessment
Yuan An et al, J Assist Reprod Genet. 2013 Jan; 30(1): 35–41
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics
Effect of Acupuncture on Symptoms of Anxiety in Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilisation
Isoyama D et al, Acupunct Med. 2012 Jun;30(2):85-8.
Acupuncture in Medicine (BMJ)
Auricular Acupressure and Anxiety Levels and Outcomes of in Vitro Fertilization
Fan Qu et al, Sci Rep Nature, (2014), 4, Article number: 5028
Scientific Reports, Nature Publishing
The effect of medical clowning on pregnancy rates after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer
Friedler S et al, Fertility and Sterility 2011, Vol 95, Issue 6 , Pg 2127
Fertility and Sterility
Emotional distress in infertile women and failure of assisted reproductive technologies: meta-analysis of prospective psychosocial studies
Boivin J et al, BMJ 2011;342:d223
British Medical Journal
Stress reduces conception probabilities across the fertile window: evidence in support of relaxation.
Buck Louis GM et al, Fertil Steril. 2011, 95, 7, pg 2184 – 2189
Fertility and Sterility
In a prospective cohort study involving 274 women, stress marker levels were assessed and related to conception rate. The study showed a clear relationship with higher stress levels (as measured by alpha-amylase) and reduced conception rates. Read More →
The relationship between perceived stress, acupuncture, and pregnancy rates among IVF patients: A pilot study
Balk J et al, Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2010 Aug;16(3):154-7).
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
In a small prospective cohort study of 57 IVF patients, some investigators aimed to determine if acupuncture affects the levels of perceived stress at the time of embryo transfer, and whether either acupuncture or changes in stress levels play a role in the success rate in IVF. The patients who received acupuncture in this study had both higher rates of pregnancy, and lower levels of stress both before and after embryo transfer. They postulated that reducing stress at the time of embryo transfer could result in less vasoconstriction and improved uterine receptivity. Read More →
The relationship between perceived stress, acupuncture, and pregnancy rates among IVF patients: A pilot study
Balk J et al, Compl Therapies in Clinical Practice 2010,16,154–157
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
A pilot study at a university IVF clinic in Pittsburgh investigated the relationship between acupuncture, stress and pregnancy rates in IVF patients. They cautiously concluded that a lower stress level may contribute to higher pregnancy rates and that acupuncture was associated with this result.
The Impact of Acupuncture on In Vitro Fertilization Outcome.
Domar A et al Fertil Steril 2009 Vol 91 Issue 3 pg 723 – 6
Fertility and Sterility
One of the early RCTs that investigated the effect of acupuncture on IVF pregnancy rates (and found no effect) also collected data on the subjective experience of these women. The authors note that acupuncture patients reported significantly less anxiety post-transfer and reported feeling more optimistic about their cycle and enjoyed their sessions more than the control subjects”.