Comparison of outcomes in women who accepted or rejected acupuncture treatment during in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF) R.W. Ke, M. Xu, W.H. Kutteh Fertility Associates of Memphis, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN; Xu Wellness Center, Germantown, TN P-542 Wednesday, October 19, 2011 Objective To observe differences in IVF outcomes in women who were offered and either accepted or rejected adjunctive acupuncture treatment. Design Retrospective study of patients who underwent fresh, non-donor IVF. Materials and Methods Prior to IVF, all patients were offered a free consultation with a certified acupuncturist. Subjects were grouped to those who accepted and completed at least 3 sessions of acupuncture during IVF and at least one session after embryo transfer (Group A). Subjects in Group B presented to the consultation but either did not start or complete the prescribed acupuncture regimen. Exclusion criteria included cycles cancelled before embryo transfer and the use of third party reproduction. The primary outcome variables were implantation and pregnancy rate. Additional IVF/ET variables observed were maximum estradiol reached during ovarian hyperstimulation, oocytes retrieved, and fertilization rate. Student’s t and chi-square tests were used to calculate significant differences between means. Results During January, 2009 to July, 2010, 368 fresh, non-donor cycles were started. Of these, 106 attended the acupuncture consultation and 96 completed the embryo transfer. Fifty-six subjects completed acupuncture treatment through embryo transfer (Group A). Compared to the group who did not start or complete acupuncture (Group B, n = 40), Group A subjects had an increased ongoing pregnancy rate (41.7% vs. 20%, OR 1.8, 95%CI 1.1–7.1) but no difference in pregnancy rate (44.6% vs. 27.5%, OR 2.1, 0.9–5.1). Group A subjects were older (34.6 ± 4.4 yrs vs. 32.8 ± 4.2 yrs, P=0.1) and had fewer antral follicles (13.2 ± 5.7 vs. 15.3 ± 6.1, P=0.08) but this did not reach statistical significance. Similarly, no significant differences were observed in maximum estradiol, oocytes retrieved, fertilization rate, implantation rate or use of ICSI. Conclusion Use of acupuncture as adjunctive treatment during IVF improved ongoing pregnancy as compared to patients who declined acupuncture treatment.
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