[Effect of acupuncture therapy on pregnancy outcomes in women with diminished ovarian reserve undergoing IVF-ET: a cohort study].

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of acupuncture therapy (acupuncture for regulating menstruation and promoting pregnancy) on pregnancy outcomes in patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

METHODS

Eighty women with DOR were divided into an observation group (40 cases, 1 case dropped out) and a control group (40 cases, 1 case dropped out) according to whether acupuncture therapy was given or not. In the control group, IVF-ET was delivered. In the observation group, before IVF-ET, acupuncture therapy was given. Two groups of acupoints were used alternatively, including Baihui (GV 20), Shenting (GV 24), Benshen (GB 13), Zhongwan (CV 12), Guanyuan (CV 4), and bilateral Tianshu (ST 25), Shenshu (BL 23), Ciliao (BL 32), etc. Acupuncture was operated once every other day, three interventions a week, for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was clinical pregnancy rate (CPR). Secondary outcomes included the total days and amount of gonadotropin (Gn) used, the number of oocytes retrieved, the number of oocytes in metaphase of second meiosis (MⅡ), the number of transferable embryos, the number of high-quality embryos, the cycle cancellation rate, the positive rate of human choriogonadotropin (HCG), the embryo implantation rate, live birth rate (LBR), the basal serum levels of sex hormones (follicular stimulating hormone [FSH], estradiol (E2), FSH/luteinizing hormone [LH]) and antral follicle count (AFC).

RESULTS

CPR in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (53.8% [21/39] . 17.9% [7/39], <0.05). The results of the number of oocytes retrieved, the number of oocytes in MⅡ, the number of transferable embryos, the number of high-quality embryos, the positive rate of HCG, the embryo implantation rate, and LBR in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (<0.05). The serum level of FSH and FSH/LH in the observation group were lower thau those in the control group (<0.05). The differences were not significant statistically in the total days and amount of Gn used, the cycle cancellation rate, serum level of E2 and AFC between the two groups (>0.05). Logic regression analysis showed that CPR increased in the observation group when compared with that of the control group ( = 5.33, 95%: 1.90-14.97, = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Acupuncture can improve the pregnancy outcomes of DOR women undergoing IVF-ET.