Evaluation of Acupuncture's Effectiveness on Pregnancy Outcomes in Women with Recurrent Implantation Failure RIF: a Large Cohort Study

Summary

Title: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Acupuncture on Pregnancy Outcomes in Recurrent Implantation Failure (RIF) Patients Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): A Large Cohort Study

Objective:

This study aims to assess the efficacy of acupuncture in improving pregnancy outcomes, including clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), ongoing pregnancy rate (OPR), and live birth rate (LBR), in patients who have experienced recurrent implantation failure (RIF) during frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles.

Background:

Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) is a significant challenge in assisted reproductive technologies (ART), affecting approximately 15% of IVF patients. The causes of RIF include uterine factors, embryo quality issues, and immune dysfunctions. Acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medical practice, has gained interest as an adjunctive treatment in IVF, potentially enhancing uterine blood flow, regulating hormones, and alleviating stress. While previous studies suggest a positive impact of acupuncture on IVF outcomes, its role in patients with RIF remains unclear, particularly in Vietnam, where its integration into modern fertility treatments is emerging.

Methods:

Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: IVF Department, Hung Vuong Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City. Participants: 1,969 IVF cycles from RIF-diagnosed patients between January 2019 and December 2023, divided into two groups: those who received acupuncture and those who did not.

Interventions:

Acupuncture sessions were performed 25 minutes before and after embryo transfer, targeting specific acupoints (e.g., Baihui, Guanyuan, Sanyinjiao).

Standardized hormonal protocols (HRT-E+P) and embryology practices were applied uniformly across all participants.

Outcome Measures: CPR, OPR, LBR, biochemical pregnancy rates, and miscarriage rates were analyzed.

Statistical Analysis:

Descriptive statistics summarized baseline characteristics. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between acupuncture and pregnancy outcomes, adjusting for potential confounders such as age, BMI, and number of prior failed cycles.

Results (Preliminary):

The study hypothesizes that patients receiving acupuncture will demonstrate improved CPR, OPR, and LBR compared to non-acupuncture counterparts. Previous research has suggested a trend toward higher clinical pregnancy rates with acupuncture, but statistical significance and the mechanisms behind these effects require further exploration.

Ethical Considerations:

Patient data were anonymized, and the study was approved by the institutional ethics committee. Participation was voluntary, with informed consent obtained prior to treatment.

Conclusions:

This research seeks to provide robust evidence on the integration of acupuncture into fertility treatment protocols for RIF patients, addressing a critical gap in both global and Vietnamese reproductive healthcare. If proven effective, acupuncture could become a valuable complementary therapy in enhancing IVF success rates.

This study represents a crucial step toward combining traditional and modern medical practices to improve reproductive outcomes.

Conditions

• Infertility (IVF Patients)
• Acupuncture

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Intervention Name: Acupuncture Therapy Before and After Embryo Transfer Description: The intervention involves acupuncture therapy performed at two key time points during the IVF cycle: 25 minutes be

Acupuncture Therapy Before and After Embryo Transfer This intervention consists of acupuncture sessions designed to support implantation and improve pregnancy outcomes during frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles. Procedure: Acupuncture is performed using sterile, single-use needles by certified practitioners trained in reproductive health. Sessions occur at two critical time points: Before Embryo Transfer: A 25-minute session targeting acupoints such as Baihui (DU20), Guanyuan (CV4), and Sanyinjiao (SP6) to enhance endometrial receptivity and reduce stress. After Embryo Transfer: A second 25-minute session targeting acupoints such as Zusanli (ST36) and Taichong (LR3) to promote implantation and relaxation. Purpose: Improve uterine blood flow and receptivity. Regulate hormonal balance to optimize the implantation environment. Reduce psychological stress associated with IVF procedures. This intervention is compared retrospectively to standard IVF protocols without acupuncture to asses

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hung Vuong Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• PHUONG HUY TRAN, MSc · IVF Hung Vuong

Study Design

Allocation

NA

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-01-01

Primary Completion

2023-12-31

Completion

2024-01-01

Countries

• Vietnam

Study Locations