An Australian New Zealand study just published in the Journal of the American Medical Association has cast doubts on the effectiveness of acupuncture during IVF treatment. The randomised clinical trial of 824 women undergoing IVF treatment was performed to investigate if acupuncture increased the likelihood of a live birth.
The research showed that acupuncture did not improve the likelihood of a live birth in women undergoing IVF. However chief investigator, Professor Caroline Smith from the National Institute of Complementary Medicine reported that the use of acupuncture during fertility treatment may have a psycho-social benefit.
Although numerous studies have shown no link between compromised fertility treatment and emotional distress, maximising emotional and physical wellbeing during treatment is extremely important, as it can be a physically and emotionally demanding time for women and their partners.
Acupuncture can be used to help alleviate stress, anxiety and depression, which can occur during fertility journeys. So though acupuncture might not improve the chances of a baby after an IVF cycle, it most certainly doesn’t affect it negatively and can have physical and psycho-social benefits during treatment.
