Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-18T20:22:50.205Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

61 - The Revolution of Assisted Reproductive Technologies: How Traditional Chinese Medicine Impacted Reproductive Outcomes in the Treatment of Infertile Couples

from PART III - ASSISTED REPRODUCTION

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 August 2010

By
Paul C. Magarelli ,
Diane K. Cridennda  and
Mel Cohen
Edited by
Botros R. M. B. Rizk ,
Juan A. Garcia-Velasco ,
Hassan N. Sallam  and
Antonis Makrigiannakis
Botros R. M. B. Rizk
Affiliation:
University of South Alabama
Juan A. Garcia-Velasco
Affiliation:
Rey Juan Carlos University School of Medicine,
Hassan N. Sallam
Affiliation:
University of Alexandria School of Medicine
Antonis Makrigiannakis
Affiliation:
University of Crete
Get access

Summary

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has gained a foothold in the Western medical modalities for pain, sports injuries skin conditions, anesthesia, and overall health maintenance (see WHO report; http://www.who.int/en/). Prior to 1990s, assisted reproductive technologies (ART or IVF – in vitro fertilization) depended on massive technical, pharmaceutical, and medical interventions to produce modest enhancements in expected outcomes (i.e., live births from treatments; see CDC at www.cdc.gov). The scope of the improvement was about 1 percent per year elevation in live births per embryo transfer from 1986 to 2000 (www.cdc.gov and Figure 61.1 SART data).

In 1996, a sentinel paper was published in human reproduction by Stener-Victorin et al. (1), which created a groundswell of interest by TCM practitioners in ways to assist IVF patients. She reported that acupuncture (Ac) in the form of electrostimulation (e-Stim) Ac increased uterine artery blood flow in IVF patients. This was quickly followed by another paper published in Fertility and Sterility (F&S) by Paulus et al. 2002 (2) that demonstrated enhanced pregnancy rates when Ac was used before and quickly after embryo transfer (ET). Although these studies provided important information, Western clinicians considered it far from proven, with editorials expressing condescension about premature adoption of TCM for IVF patients (3, 4).

Although the initial reaction by reproductive endocrinologists and infertility specialists was one of cautious resistance, persistence by D.K.C. in 1999 resulted in the first true collaboration of East and West research in this area.

Keywords

acupunctureassisted reproductive technologyin vitro fertilizationstressWestern researchtraditional chinese medicine
Type
Chapter
Information
Infertility and Assisted Reproduction , pp. 576 - 603
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Stener-Victorin, E, Waldenstrom, U, Andersson, SA, Wikland, M. Reduction of blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries of infertile women with electro-acupuncture. Hum Reprod 1996; 11:1314–1317.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Paulus, WE, Zhang, M, Stehler, E, El-Danasouri, I, Sterzik, K. Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy. Fertil Steril 2002;77:721–724.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McDonough, P.Editorial Comments. Fertil Steril 2004;78:4.Google Scholar
Opher, C. Clinical decision-making when science is uncertain. Fertil Steril 2002;78:891.Google Scholar
Magarelli, P, Cridennda, D. Acupuncture and IVF poor responders: A cure?Fertil Steril 2004;81:S20.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Magarelli, P, Cohen, M, Cridennda, D. Acupuncture and good prognosis IVF patients: synergy. Fertil Steril 2004;82:S80–S81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Magarelli, P, Cohen, M, Cridennda,, D. Acupuncture: impact on pregnancy outcomes in IVF patients. 12th World Congress on Human Reproduction, Venice, Italy, March 2005.Google Scholar
Magarelli, P, Cohen, M, Cridennda, D. Improvement of IVF outcomes by acupuncture: are egg and embryo qualities involved?Fertil Steril 2005;83:S9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cridennda, D, Magarelli, P, Cohen, M. Acupuncture and in vitro fertilization: does the number of treatments impact reproductive outcomes?Society for Acupuncture Research, 2005.Google Scholar
Magarelli, P, Cridennda, D, Cohen, M. Proposed mechanism of action of acupuncture on IVF outcomes. Fertil Steril 2006;86: S174–S175.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Magarelli, P, Cridennda, D, Cohen, M. The Demographics of Acupuncture's Impact on IVF Outcomes: Infertility Diagnosis and SART/CDC /age Groups. Fertil Steril 2007;87:S10–S11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Steptoe, PC, Edwards, RG. Birth after the reimplantation of a human embryo. Lancet 1978;2:366.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Horsey, K. Progress Educational Trust 2006. 3,000,000 IVF Babies Born Worldwide Since 1979. Presented at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) 2006.Google Scholar
Speroff, L, Fritz, M. Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility. 7th Edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 1013–1020.
Arslan, M, Bocca, S, Mirkin, S, Barrososo, G, Stadtmauer, L, Oehninger, S., Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation protocols for in vitro fertilization: two decades of experience after the birth of Elizabeth Carr. Fertil Steril 2005;84:555–569.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Paulus, WE, Zhang, M, Strehler, E, Sterzik, K. Motility of the endometrium after acupuncture treatment. Fertil Steril 2003; 80:S131.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Osaki, T, Takahashi, K, Kurioka, H, Miyaki, K. Influence of midluteal serum prolactin on outcome of pregnancy after IVF-ET: A preliminary study. CAT.INIST.FR. Kuwer/Plenum publisher NY 1992.Google Scholar
Keay, SD, Harlow, CR, Wood, PJ, Jenkins, JM, Cahill, DJ. Higher cortisol:cortisone ratios in the preovulatory follicle of completely unstimulated IVF cycles indicate oocytes with increased pregnancy potential. Hum Reprod 2002;17(9):2410–2414.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Westergaard, LG, Mao, Q, Krogslund, M, Sandrini, S, Lenz, S, Grinsted, J. Acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer significantly improves the reproductive outcome in infertile women: a prospective, randomized trial. Fertil Steril 2006;85:1341–1346.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smith, C, Coyle, M, Norman, RJ. Influence of acupuncture stimulation on pregnancy rates for women undergoing embryo transfer. Fertil Steril 2006;85:1352–1358.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dieterle, S, Ying, G, Hatzmann, W, Neuer, A. Effect of acupuncture on the outcome of in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a randomized, prospective, controlled clinical study. Fertil Steril 2006;85:1347–1351.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Quintero, R. A randomized, controlled, double-blind, cross-over study evaluating acupuncture as an adjunct to IVF. Fertil Steril 2004;81:S11–S12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chang, R, Chung, PH, Rosenwaks, Z. Role of acupuncture in the treatment of female infertility. Fertil Steril 2002;78:1149–1153.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tekay, A, Martikainen, H, Jouppila, P. Blood flow changes in uterine and ovarian vasculature, and predictive value of transvaginal pulsed color Doppler ultrasonography in an in-vitro fertilization program. Hum Reprod, 1995;10:688–693.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Steer, CV, Campbell, S, Tan, SL et al. Transvaginal colour flow imaging after in vitro fertilization to identify optimum uterine conditions before embryo transfer. Fertil Steril 1992;57: 372–376.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Paulus, WE, Zhang, M, Stehler, E, Seybold, B, Sterzik, K. Placebo-controlled trial of acupuncture effects in assisted reproduction therapy.Letter to the Editor. Fertil Steril 2002;78: No. 4.Google Scholar
Streitberger, K, Kleinhenz, J. Introducing a placebo needle into acupuncture research. Lancet 1998;352:364–365.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Emmons, SL, Patton, P. Acupuncture treatment for infertile women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Medical Acupuncture, A Journal For Physicians By Physicians Spring/Summer 2000- Volume 12/Number 2.Google Scholar
Maciocia, G. Women's Pathology in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Chinese Medicine. Churchill Livingstone, 1998; pp. 31–32.Google Scholar
Gallinelli, A, Roncaglia, R, Matteo, M, Ciaccio, I, Volpe, A, Facchinetti, F. Immunological changes and stress are associated with different implantation rates in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer. Fertil Steril 2001;76:85–91.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smeenk, J, Verhaak, C, Vingerhoets, A, Sweep, C, Merkus, J, Willemsen, S, Minnen, A, Straatman, H, Braat, D. Stress and outcome success in IVF: the role of self-reports and endocrine variables. Hum Reprod 2005;20(4):991–996.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Klonoff-Cohen, H, Chu, E, Natarajan, L, Sieber, W. A prospective study of stress among women undergoing in vitro fertilization or gamete intrafallopian transfer. Fertil Steril 2001;76:675–687.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Facchinetti, M, Matteo, M, Artini, G, Volpe, A, Genazzani, A. An increased vulnerability to stress is associated with a poor outcome of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer treatment. Fertil Steril 1997;67:309–314.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stener-Victorin, E, Wikland, M, Waldenstrom, U, Lundeberg, T. Alternative treatments in reproductive medicine: much ado about nothing. Acupuncture – a method of treatment in reproductive medicine: lack of evidence of an effect does not equal evidence of the lack of effect. Hum Reprod 2002;17(8):1942–1946.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dickey, RP, Holtkamp, D. Development, pharmacology and clinical experience with Clomiphene citrate. Human Reprod Update 1996;2(6):483–506.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Latov, N. Evidence Based Guidelines: Not Recommended. J Am Phys Surg 2005; 10(1).Google Scholar
Meyers, E. Acupuncture as adjunctive therapy in assisted reproduction: remaining uncertainties Fertil Steril 2006;85:1362–1363.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Domar, A. Acupuncture and infertility: we need to stick to good science. Fertil Steril 2006;85:1359–1361.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Collins, J. The play of chance. Fertil Steril 2006;85:1364–1367.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Christensen BV et al. Acupuncture treatments of severe knee osteoarthritis; a long-term study. Acta Anesthesiol Scandinavia 1992;36:519–525.CrossRef
Johansson, K et al. Can sensory stimulation improve the functional outcome in stroke patients?Neurology 1994;43:2189–2192.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gunn, CC et al. Dry needling of muscle motor points for chronic low-back pain. Spine 1980;5:279–291.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ballegaard, et al. Acupuncture treatment results in avoidance of surgery, fewer hospital visits and greater return to employment. Acupunct Electrother Res 1996;21:187–197.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×