Study finds acupuncture not helpful for IVF

Acupuncture is used to treat many conditions -- from migraine headaches to arthritis to backaches. It's also sometimes recommended as an companion to in-vitro fertilization (IVF). It was thought to improve blood flow, subsequently improving the chance of embryo implantation. However, recent data from London suggests that acupuncture may not be helpful to IVF at all.

The researchers evaluated 13 separate trials involving nearly 2,500 women. Five of the trials evaluated the efficacy of acupuncture at the time of egg retrieval. Eight studies evaluated acupuncture at the time of embryo implantation. Some women who were getting acupuncture treatments did need less pain medication during egg retrieval, but none of the studies showed a difference in pregnancy rates among the women who received acupuncture, those who received a "sham" version of acupuncture, and those who didn't get acupuncture at all.