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Acupuncture can help improve the chances of a successful IVF treatment in two ways. First, acupuncture has been shown to improve circulation. When incorporated into an IVF cycle, it can increase blood flow specifically to the reproductive organs. Proper blood flow to the ovaries can promote ovulation of healthy eggs. When should start acupuncture treatments for IVF & IUI support? If you are scheduled or planning to go through an IVF, IUI, or other assisted reproductive technology procedure we recommend that you begin treatment 3 months prior to your IVF cycle as this is the the cycle of egg development. Acupuncture can increase the chances of getting pregnant for women undergoing fertility treatment by 65%, a review of the evidence concludes today… Acupuncture has been shown to improve the blood flow to the uterus. One study showed that it also significantly improved the appearance of the lining) and the rate of embryo implantation, and pregnancy. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a commonly used technique for the treatment of different types of infertility. Despite many recent technological advances, the average success rates with IVF is still about 20-25% (1). Various methods such as controlled ovarian stimulation, prescription of antioxidants such as Vitamin C or folic acid (2), and acupuncture have been introduced to increase the efficacy of IVF (3). Acupuncture has been applied as a useful therapeutic mean in the treatment of many diseases (4). It has become more popular among western world on account of low side-effects, convenience, and great effect on general well-being. Acupuncture is based on meridians where qi and blood flow within the body. There are specific points alongside these meridians known as acupoints. Acupuncture can regulate the flow of qi and blood in the meridian system by using acupoints stimulation. It regulates the disturbance of the organs' function in the body and restores their normal functions (5). Zhongji (CV3), Guanyuan (CV4), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Zigong (EX-CA1) are commonly chosen acupoints to treat infertility (6). The suggested mechanisms that acupuncture affects the women's infertility include: A common sympathoinhibitory effect by increasing the blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, which improves implantation conditions (7) and central stimulation of β-endorphin secretion (8), resulting in gonadotrophin and steroid secretion (9). Many studies claim positive effect of the acupuncture in the treatment of female infertility. In a prospective, randomized study by Stener-Victorin and co-worker (10), it was shown that electro-acupuncture during oocyte aspiration in IVF treatment can result in a significant higher implantation rate and successful delivery as compared with alfentanil administration. In another prospective randomized trial, Westergaard and colleagues (11) revealed using acupuncture can significantly improve IVF outcome on the day of embryo transfer (ET). In a meta-analysis study of 10 randomized clinical trial (RCT) studies, (6) a significant increase in pregnancy rate (PR) of IVF treatment was considered especially when acupuncture was administered on the day of ET. Paulus and colleagues showed a significantly increased clinical PR in the patients received acupuncture on the day of ET as compared with patients not received acupuncture treatment (7).

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