Assisted
Reproduction Therapy (IVF)
Erectile
Dysfunction
Inducing
Ovulation with Electro-Acupuncture for PCOS
Infertility
Study
Low
Sperm Quality
Male
Sterility
Menopause
Sperm
Density
Infertility
Studies
The use of acupuncture
in reproductive medicine has not been well investigated to date.
A review of the literature reveals only a few studies, most of which
are flawed by poor design, and a lack of valid outcome measures
and diagnostic criteria, which make it difficult to interpret the
results. However, in recent years the effect of acupuncture on different
conditions (pain and diseases) has been studied from a Western scientific
perspective and the results show that acupuncture has both a physiological
and a psychological impact. The aim of the studies presented below
was to investigate whether acupuncture has a role in reproductive
medicine.
Auricular
Acupuncture in the Treatment of Female Infertility
by Gerhard I;
Postneek F.
Auricular
acupuncture in the treatment of female infertility. Gynecological
Endocrinology, 1992 Sep, 6(3):171-81.
(UI: 93071204)
(Requested library location(s) not linked. Try F PE .)
Abstract
Following a complete gynecologic--endocrinologic workup, 45 infertile
women suffering from oligoamenorrhea (n = 27) or luteal insufficiency
(n = 18) were treated with auricular acupuncture. Results were compared
to those of 45 women who received hormone treatment. Both groups
were matched for age, duration of infertility, body mass index,
previous pregnancies, menstrual cycle and tubal patency.
Women treated
with acupuncture had 22 pregnancies, 11 after acupuncture, four
spontaneously, and seven after appropriate medication. Women treated
with hormones had 20 pregnancies, five spontaneously, and 15 in
response to therapy. Four women of each group had abortions. Endometriosis
(normal menstrual cycles) was seen in 35% (38) of the women of each
group who failed to respond to therapy with pregnancy. Only 4 of
the women who responded to acupuncture or hormone treatment with
a pregnancy had endometriosis, and 7% had normal cycles. In addition,
women who continued to be infertile after hormone therapy had higher
body mass indices and testosterone values than the therapy responders
from this group.
Women who became
pregnant after acupuncture suffered more often from menstrual abnormalities
and luteal insufficiency with lower estrogen, thyrotropin (TSH)
and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) concentrations than the
women who achieved pregnancy after hormone treatment. Although the
pregnancy rate was similar for both groups, eumenorrheic women treated
with acupuncture had adnexitis, endometriosis, out-of-phase endometria
and reduced postcoital tests more often than those receiving hormones.
Twelve of the
27 women (44%) with menstrual irregularities remained infertile
after therapy with acupuncture compared to 15 of the 27 (56%) controls
treated with hormones, even though hormone disorders were more pronounced
in the acupuncture group. Side-effects were observed only during
hormone treatment. Various disorders of the autonomic nervous system
normalized during acupuncture. Based on our data, auricular acupuncture
seems to offer a valuable alternative therapy for female infertility
due to hormone disorders.
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