RecruitingACTRN12609000923268

Acupuncture and reproductive health outcomes: building evidence in an integrated care setting.

A pilot study to examine evidence of an immune response from acupuncture when administered to women undergoing a fresh in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle on the day of an embryo transfer

Sponsor

University of Western Sydney

Enrollment

40 participants

Start Date

Jan 18, 2010

Study Type

Interventional

Conditions

Reproductive Health Immune System Health

Summary

There is promising evidence that acupuncture improves pregnancy and live birth rates for women when administered as an adjunct to IVF on the day of ET. The aim of this study is to build a research framework to further investigate the evidence for acupuncture administered within an integrated care setting in reproductive health care. The integrative care proposal is a partnership between IVF Australia, The Acupuncture IVF Support Clinic and The University of Western Sydney. We will conduct early phase research to examine a potential mechanism for acupuncture when administered as an adjunct to IVF.

Eligibility

Sex: FemalesMin Age: 18 YearssMax Age: 42 Yearss

Inclusion Criteria1

Women aged less than 43 years, undergoing a fresh IVF or ICSI cycle, with two unsuccessful ETs (includes previous cleavage or blastocyst stage transfers (fresh or frozen), of quality embryos deemed by the embryologist to have been suitable for freezing by standard criteria), and undergoing a stimulated cycle.

Exclusion Criteria1

Women undergoing a frozen ET, women less than 18 years, previous acupuncture during this IVF cycle, planning pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, or receiving donor eggs.

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Interventions

We will seek two groups of women to parctipate in the research, women using acupuncture and a group not receiving acupuncture. The acupuncture group will require women to attend for acupuncture on t

We will seek two groups of women to parctipate in the research, women using acupuncture and a group not receiving acupuncture. The acupuncture group will require women to attend for acupuncture on the day of an embryo transfer (ET). Two acupuncture treatments will be administered for 25 minutes on the day of ET, immediately before and after ET. The acupuncture is based on the Paulus protocol and include an initial set of ten acupuncture points, and four auricular points. The control group receives standard care only.