Acupuncture is an alternative Chinese therapy that uses the insertion of needles into the skin. Proponents claim that acupuncture is a viable option to treat pain, disease and infertility. However, medical evidence showing acupuncture to be either beneficial or detrimental to pregnancy is inconclusive. Some acupuncture points are believed to cause contraction of the uterus, which may induce miscarriage. While pregnant, consult a physician for any medical care.
Stress and Infertility
Acupuncture is used as an alternative therapy for stress in women undergoing infertility treatment, according to an article in the December 2010 issue of "Acupuncture in Medicine." In this study, researchers investigated the effects of acupuncture in more than 500 women receiving sperm injections. The participants of the study divided equally into two groups: a control group and an acupuncture group. The study found no influence of acupuncture on the outcome of pregnancy if preformed before or after the implantation of the embryos.
Frequency of Miscarriage
A study in the February 2010 issue of "The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine" evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture and herbal medicine on infertility in 104 Korean women. The researchers measured the number of participants achieving pregnancy and having complications bringing the fetus to term. Of the 14 reported pregnancies, there were 10 births without complications and four miscarriages. However, the authors did not state whether acupuncture was in any way involved in the miscarriages.
Acupuncture and Fertility
A review article appearing in the March 2010 issue of "Human Fertility" investigated the effectiveness of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine on infertility. The authors evaluated 14 studies involving 2,670 participants and found no evidence of any benefit in using acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine during conception. However, the study also found no correlation to miscarriage. The authors concluded that the studies lacked consistency and that future studies must be conducted using standardized procedures and a placebo control group.
Acupuncture Points
A study published in a Chinese medical journal, "Acupuncture Research," noted an increased frequency of miscarriage due to stimulation of acupuncture points labeled LI4 and SP6. LI4 is located on the fleshy part of the hand between the forefinger and thumb, and SP6 is located on the inside of the lower leg, one hand width above the tip of the ankle bone, on the back of the shin bone. The study found that stimulation of these points may lead to the contraction of the uterus, thereby causing a spontaneous miscarriage. The authors concluded that a pregnant woman's uterus is more sensitive to acupuncture in the early stages of pregnancy, and advised the cautious use of acupuncture during this time.
References
- "Acupuncture Research"; On the Prohibition of Acupuncture of Hegu (LI 4) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) during Pregnancy; C. Jin, et al.; March 2003
- "Human Fertility"; Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine in In Vitro Fertilization: A review of the Evidence fro Clinical Practice; Y. Cheong, et al.; March 2010
- "The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine"; Unexplained Infertility Treated with Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine in Korea; J. Park, et al.; February 2010
- "Acupuncture in Medicine"; Effect of Acupuncture on Assisted reproduction Treatment Outcomes; C. Madaschi, et al.; December 2010
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