ABSTRACT
The global average of couples with fertility problems is 9{44c7f096ae4a0f956ab9167e2bacde9c804851a57290d0086ec17557d44e93e0}. Assisted reproductive technologies are often inaccessible. Evidence points to acupuncture offering an opportunity to promote natural fertility.
This study asked whether providing a multiphasic fertility acupuncture protocol to women with sub/infertility would increase their awareness of fertility and achieve normalisation of their menstrual cycle compared with a lifestyle control. In a pragmatic randomised controlled trial sub/infertile women were offered an intervention of acupuncture and lifestyle modification or lifestyle modification only.
There was a statistically significant increase in fertility awareness in the acupuncture group (86.4{44c7f096ae4a0f956ab9167e2bacde9c804851a57290d0086ec17557d44e93e0}, 19) compared to 40{44c7f096ae4a0f956ab9167e2bacde9c804851a57290d0086ec17557d44e93e0} ( n = 8 ) of the lifestyle only participants (Relative Risk (RR) 2.38, 95{44c7f096ae4a0f956ab9167e2bacde9c804851a57290d0086ec17557d44e93e0} confidence interval (CI) of 1.25, 4.50), with an adjusted p value of 0.011. Changes in menstrual regularity were not statistically significant. There was no statistical difference in the pregnancy rate with seven women (adjusted p = 0.992 ) achieving pregnancy during the course of the study intervention. Those receiving the acupuncture conceived within an average of 5.5 weeks compared to 10.67 weeks for the lifestyle only group ( p = 0.422 ).
The acupuncture protocol tested influenced women who received it compared to women who used lifestyle modification alone: their fertility awareness and wellbeing increased, and those who conceived did so in half the time.
Authors: SuzanneCochrane, CarolineA.Smith, AlphiaPossamai-Inesedy, and Alan Bensoussan published in Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2016(4):1-11 · January 2016
Quelle: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/301830427
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