Acupuncture Can Make IVF More Comfortable, Study Says
By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, June 25, 2025 — Ancient Chinese medicine techniques could prove extremely helpful in modern fertility treatment, a new study says.
Acupuncture significantly relieved stress and pain in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), researchers report.
“Our study demonstrates that acupuncture and whole-systems TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) can serve as a valuable tool to decrease pain, stress and anxiety – ultimately contributing to both improved outcomes and a more positive, holistic patient experience,” senior researcher Christine Kaiser, director of reproductive well-being at University Hospitals Connor Whole Health in Cleveland, said in a news release.
For the study, researchers tracked the use of acupuncture, acupressure and light therapy techniques on 146 women during 202 embryo transfers.
Overall, more than 88% of IVF cycles included these treatments on the day of embryo transfer, and about 65% of cycles featured treatments in the weeks leading up to embryo transfer, the study says.
Women reported clinically significant relief in their feelings of anxiety, stress and pain following acupuncture and other such treatments, results show.
On a 10-point rating scale, women’s anxiety dropped by an average 2.2 points, stress by 2.1 points, and pain by 1.4 points, results show.
The study also noted specific acupuncture and acupressure points that appeared to have the most benefit.
More IVF clinics are starting to incorporate acupuncture and other such practices into their reproductive health services, researchers said.
“Our patients often ask how complementary therapies impact IVF outcomes, and this study is a critical step toward providing high-quality data to guide those decisions,” researcher Dr. Rebecca Flyckt, division director of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at University Hospitals, said in a news release.
“Collaborative research like this helps us to better support patients not only medically, but emotionally and physically throughout their fertility treatments,” Flyckt added.
The new study appears in the journal Global Advances in Integrative Medicine and Health.
Sources
- University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, news release, June 19, 2025
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted June 2025
Read this next
Consistent Physical Activity Lowers Risk Of Death
TUESDAY, July 15, 2025 — Adults who are consistently physically active have an overall lower risk of premature death, even if they pick up the habit later, a new evidence...
New Bride Survived Removal Of A 40-Pound Tumor
MONDAY, July 14, 2025 — A young woman became a June bride months after surviving complex surgery to remove a 40-pound tumor from her body, Cedars-Sinai doctors...
Killer Whales Show a Softer Side, Sharing Food With People
SATURDAY, July 12, 2025 — They’re known as "killer whales," but orcas have a surprisingly soft and even generous side. "Orcas often share food with each other &mdash...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.