Effects of Combining Acupuncture and Kampo Medicine in Patients Trying to Conceive over the Course of Two or more In Vitro Fertilization Treatments
- VernacularTitle:難治性不妊症患者に対する鍼治療と漢方薬の併用効果について
- Author:
Ayako YAMAMOTO
1
;
Satoru YAMAGUCHI
1
;
Tomokazu KIKUCHI
2
;
Ai KOUCHI
1
;
Go HORIBE
1
;
Hideyuki ISOBE
3
Author Information
- Keywords: infertility; acupuncture treatment; kampo medicine; in vitro fertilization
- From:Journal of the Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion 2024;74(3):186-193
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
- Abstract: [Introduction] The effects of combining acupuncture and kampo medicine on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate their combined effects on promoting conception in patients with multiple IVF attempts.[Methods] Participants with at least two IVF attempts who gave informed consent were included in this study. Administering acupuncture and kampo medicine, the study was conducted across three facilities from 2013 to 2017 using a case series design． Case 1: A 40-year-old woman presented after 13 months of infertility, having experienced a natural conception and subsequent miscarriage 10 months prior, which led to IVF. After a second embryo transfer, she miscarried again 3 months before visiting. She began kampo medicine and acupuncture for support in our department. Case 2: A 46-year-old woman with a 36-month infertility history did not achieve pregnancy after three IVF cycles． Case 3: A 37-year-old woman with a 20-month infertility history failed to conceive after two IVF attempts． Case 4: A 26-year-old woman, new to infertility treatment, received acupuncture for fertility preservation, experiencing headache, shoulder stiffness, and widespread pain. Case 5: A 38-year-old woman with a 108-month infertility history suffered from shoulder stiffness due to prolonged IVF therapy. The main outcome measured was pregnancy. Standard acupuncture points utilized included L14 (Hegu), CV12 (Zhongwan), CV7 (Yinjiao), ST27 (Daju), ST29 (Guilai), BL18 (Ganshu), BL20 (Pishu), BL23 (Shenshu), BL33 (Zhongliao), SP10 (Xuehai), ST36 (Zusanli), and SP6 (Sanyinjiao)． [Results] Four out of five participants achieved pregnancy． [Discussion] Our findings reveal a positive effect of combining acupuncture and kampo medicine on enhancing pregnancy rates in patients undergoing multiple IVF treatments, suggesting clinical effectiveness in fostering an appropriate environment for conception．
