Acupuncture and herbal medicine in IVF: a review of the evidence for clinical practice
Acupuncture and herbal medicine in IVF: a review of the evidence for clinical practice
The objectives of this systematic review were to determine the effectiveness of (a) acupuncture and (b) Chinese herbal medicine on the treatment of male and female subfertility by assisted reproductive technologies (ART). All reports from RCTs of acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine in ART were obtained via searches through The Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Sub-fertility Group's Specialised Register of controlled trials, and other major databases. The outcome measures were determined prior to starting the search, and comprised: live birth rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, the incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and multiple pregnancy, miscarriage rate and adverse effects arising from treatment. Overall, 14 trials (a total of 2670 subjects) were included in the meta-analysis. The results provided no evidence of benefit in the use of acupuncture during assisted conception. Further studies should attempt to explore the potential placebo, as well as treatment, effects of this complimentary therapy. Essential elements for a quality RCT will be the size of the trial, the use of a standardised acupuncture method and of placebo needles.
3-12
Cheong, Ying
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Nardo, Luciano G.
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Rutherford, Tony
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Ledger, William
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March 2010
Cheong, Ying
4efbba2a-3036-4dce-82f1-8b4017952c83
Nardo, Luciano G.
f419c890-1982-4fc9-9490-caf0db24ffb0
Rutherford, Tony
a960ddac-44d8-4ff5-ba7e-98ab1e25de91
Ledger, William
adbf5738-98d6-4d1b-a353-97c308141154
Cheong, Ying, Nardo, Luciano G., Rutherford, Tony and Ledger, William
(2010)
Acupuncture and herbal medicine in IVF: a review of the evidence for clinical practice.
Human Fertility, 13 (1), .
(doi:10.3109/14647270903438830).
Abstract
The objectives of this systematic review were to determine the effectiveness of (a) acupuncture and (b) Chinese herbal medicine on the treatment of male and female subfertility by assisted reproductive technologies (ART). All reports from RCTs of acupuncture and/or Chinese herbal medicine in ART were obtained via searches through The Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Sub-fertility Group's Specialised Register of controlled trials, and other major databases. The outcome measures were determined prior to starting the search, and comprised: live birth rate, ongoing pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, the incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and multiple pregnancy, miscarriage rate and adverse effects arising from treatment. Overall, 14 trials (a total of 2670 subjects) were included in the meta-analysis. The results provided no evidence of benefit in the use of acupuncture during assisted conception. Further studies should attempt to explore the potential placebo, as well as treatment, effects of this complimentary therapy. Essential elements for a quality RCT will be the size of the trial, the use of a standardised acupuncture method and of placebo needles.
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Published date: March 2010
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Local EPrints ID: 151175
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/151175
ISSN: 1464-7273
PURE UUID: 91555bd0-f152-499a-8262-3c7db8098da0
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Date deposited: 14 May 2010 11:26
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:53
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Author:
Luciano G. Nardo
Author:
Tony Rutherford
Author:
William Ledger
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