This summary of the best protocols for IVF and IUI is handy, and given the hazards of hormone dosing, acupuncture allows for safer, better conception results. I find it interesting that they put more emphasis on the timing of the acupuncture treatments, and do not mention electroacupuncture.
Best Acupuncture Protocols for Infertility IVF and IUI
22 July 2012
Technorati
…ART(Assisted Reproductive Technology) has been used in the USA since 1981 to help women become pregnant. Although acupuncture and Chinese medicine for the treatment of infertility is a time honored practice, the combination of acupuncture with ART has emerged in recent years as an effective approach for improving pregnancy and live birth rates. In this study, researchers administered three rounds of questionnaires to fifteen international acupuncture fertility experts to determine if a consensus exists on best practice protocols.
The investigation revealed that several key components are central to acupuncture in combination with ART. The timing of an acupuncture treatment in relation to the menstrual cycle is of great importance. An acupuncture treatment administered between day 6 and 8 of the “stimulated ART cycle” is optimal. In addition, it is ideal to have two acupuncture treatments “on the day of embryo transfer.” Pre-transfer acupuncture points of high priority are SP8, SP10, Liv3, ST29 and CV4. Post-transfer points include GV20, K3, SP6, P6 and K3. Auricular acupuncture points Shenmen and Zigong were also determined to be of high priority.
