[Effect of acupuncture on pregnancy outcomes of frozen embryo transfer in patients with anovulatory infertility].

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of conventional ovulation induction protocol and acupuncture combined with conventional ovulation induction protocol on pregnancy outcomes of frozen embryo transfer (FET) in patients with anovulatory infertility.

METHODS

A total of 60 patients with anovulatory infertility were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. In the control group, conventional ovulation induction protocol was applied to prepare endometrium. On the basis of the control group, acupuncture was started on the 2nd day of menstrual cycle in the observation group，Baihui (GV 20), Mingmen (GV 4), Geshu (BL 17), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), etc. were selected, once every other day, until 1 day before transplantation. The clinical pregnancy rate, embryo implantation rate, endometrial morphology on HCG trigger day, ovulation rate and cycle cancellation rate were compared in the two groups. The endometrial thickness before treatment and on HCG trigger day, TCM symptom score before and after treatment were observed in the two groups.

RESULTS

In the observation group, the embryo implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were higher than the control group (P<0.05), endometrial thickness and endometrial morphology on HCG trigger day were superior to the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the TCM symptom score in the observation group was decreased compared with before treatment (P<0.05), and the variation was greater than the control group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

On the basis of the conventional ovulation induction protocol, acupuncture could enhance the embryo implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate of FET, improve the endometrial receptivity of patients with anovulatory infertility.