Eight out of ten miscarriages happen in the first three months of pregnancy. Acupuncture has been used for over 3,000 years to treat a myriad of conditions and symptoms.
Research One
The two treatment arms were similar in terms of age and diagnosis. There were no differences between the two groups in terms of fertilization rate, pregnancy or implantation rates, and endometrial thickness on the day of HCG administration. The number of oocytes retrieved and the number of first trimester miscarriages was however significantly lower in the group receiving acupuncture (P<.001). Conclusion There were fewer first trimester miscarriages in the acupuncture group. This could be secondary to stress relief caused by the treatment as most patients expressed a sense of well-being and relaxation. It could also be related to improved uterine blood flow as previously reported. – Reference – acupuncture and miscarriages
Patient getting Acupuncture
Research Two
Effect of acupuncture on the outcome of in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a randomized, prospective, controlled clinical study
The results of this study support the significance of acupuncture for the outcome of IVF/ICSI. Even if further evidence has to be accumulated, acupuncture might be a complementary option for patients undergoing IVF/ICSI.
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Research Three
The miscarriage rate was almost halved in the acupuncture group (8% vs. 14%).
Acupuncture in IVF Linked to Lower Miscarriage and Ectopic Rates
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Research Four
Acupuncture as a therapeutic treatment option for threatened miscarriage
CAM practitioners who offer women emotional support, diet and lifestyle advice, including relaxation tools, have the potential to be seen as providing supportive care as part of their practice and maybe ideally placed to assist women presenting with threatened miscarriage to moderate their stress levels. In addition to offering treatment women have found to be beneficial in assisting them to moderate their stress responses acupuncture as a specific therapy may also have benefits in terms of promoting specific hormonal responses in early pregnancy. To further explore possible beneficial outcomes research in the form of a mixed-methods study is currently been undertaken to examine the effects of acupuncture for women presenting with threatened miscarriage in Wellington New Zealand.
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Acupuncture as a therapeutic treatment option for threatened miscarriage