Akupunkturbehandlungsmodalitäten bei künstlicher Befruchtung - Ein Vergleich der Behandlungspraxis in schweizerischen, deutschen und österreichischen Kinderwunschzentren mit Erhebungen in randomisierten kontrollierten Studien

Forschende Komplementarmedizin

Volume 20, Issue 2, April 2013, Pages 112-118

Modalities of acupuncture treatments in assisted reproductive technology - A comparison of treatment practice in Swiss, German, and Austrian fertility centers with findings from randomized controlled trials  (Article)

[]

Nedeljković, M.^a , 

Bouzas-Ammann, G.^a, 

Zimmermann, L.^a, 

Stute, P.^b, 

Ausfeld-Hafter, B.^a

 

^a  Universität Bern, Kollegiale Instanz für Komplementärmedizin KIKOM, Inselspital, Imhoof-Pavillon 3010 Bern, Switzerland
^b  Universitätsklinik für Frauenheilkunde Bern, Abteilung für Gynäkologische Endokrinologie und Reproduktionsmedizin, Bern, Switzerland 

View references (45)

Abstract

Background: One in 5 couples is affected by infertility. To increase the effectiveness of assisted reproductive technology (ART) adjuvant acupuncture treatments are frequently administered. However, little is known about acupuncture treatment modalities employed in fertility centers. The aim of our study was to assess modalities of acupuncture treatments in fertility centers and compare them with investigated acupuncture treatments in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to ART. Methods: Referring to fertility centers listed on the websites of the Swiss, German, and Austrian national fertility associations, 180 centers were invited to participate in an online survey assessing the provision of acupuncture in ART. Survey results were compared with data from 17 RCTs. Results: Acupuncture was offered by 33 (38.4%) of all responding fertility centers (n = 86; responder rate = 47.8%). In 39.4% the selection of acupuncture points is standardized or semi-standardized (24.2%) and in 27.3% based on individual TCM-diagnosis. Body acupuncture using needle stimulation was mentioned most frequently (84.8%). Some clinics reported additional use of auricular acupuncture (24.2%) and moxibustion (21.2%). Treatment providers were mainly physician-acupuncturists (84.8%). Compared to the RCTs, we found strong differences in point selection, mode of stimulation, and professional background of treatment providers. Conclusions: Less than 40% of all fertility centres in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria offering acupuncture employ standardized acupuncture treatment protocols. To increase external validity of acupuncture research in ART, and to investigate clinical effectiveness of this adjuvant intervention, semi-standardized and individualized point selection should be considered, and treatment provision by non-acupuncturists should be omitted in future trials. Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Author keywords

Acupuncture; Assisted reproductive technology; External validity; Health care providers; Reproductive medicine; Treatment modalities

Indexed keywords

EMTREE medical terms: acupuncture; article; Austria; comparative study; cultural factor; evidence based medicine; female; fertilization in vitro; Germany; human; infertility; intracytoplasmic sperm injection; male; methodology; moxibustion; questionnaire; randomized controlled trial (topic); Switzerland; acupuncture; infertility; procedures

MeSH: Acupuncture Therapy; Austria; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Germany; Humans; Infertility; Male; Moxibustion; Questionnaires; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; Switzerland
Medline is the source for the MeSH terms of this document.

MeSH: Acupuncture Therapy; Austria; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Evidence-Based Medicine; Female; Fertilization in Vitro; Germany; Humans; Infertility; Male; Moxibustion; Questionnaires; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; Switzerland
Medline is the source for the MeSH terms of this document.

ISSN: 16614119Source Type: Journal Original language: German

DOI: 10.1159/000350717 PubMed ID: 23636030Document Type: Article

References (45)

View in search results format

• Page
 
• • Export |
  • Print |
  • E-mail |
  • Create bibliography

• 
  1

  Bundesamt, F.
  (2009) Statistik: Statistik Der Medizinisch Unterstzten Fortpflanzung, 60, p. 22.
  Februar 2011
  

  •  
• 
  2

  Statistik Austria Familien-und Haushaltsstatistik 2010, 2011.
  Wien
  

  •  
• 
  3

  Statistisches bundesamt deutschland
  (2009) Kinderlosigkeit Nimmt Zu. Pressemitteilung, 283.
  Wiesbaden
  

  •  
• 
  4

  Segev, Y., Carp, H., Auslender, R., Dirnfeld, M.

  Is there a place for adjuvant therapy in IVF?
  (2010) Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey, 65 (4), pp. 260-272. Cited 6 times.
  http://journals.lww.com/obgynsurvey
  doi: 10.1097/OGX.0b013e3181dbc53f
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  5

  Coughlan, C., Ledger, B., Ola, B.

  In-vitro fertilization
  (2011) Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, 21 (11), pp. 303-310.
  doi: 10.1016/j.ogrm.2011.09.005
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  6

  Bundesministerium, F.
  (2011) Gesundheit: IVF-Register Jahresbericht 2010
  Wien
  

  •  
• 
  7

  Bler, K., Bals-Pratsch, M., Blumenauer, V., Dahncke, W., Felberbaum, R., Fiedler, K., Gnoth, C., (...), Wendelken, M.
  Dir annual 2010
  (2011) J Reproduktionsmed Endokrinol, (8), pp. 253-280.
  

  •  
• 
  8

  Hammarberg, K., Astbury, J., Baker, H.W.G.

  Women's experience of IVF: A follow-up study
  (2001) Human Reproduction, 16 (2), pp. 374-383. Cited 167 times.
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  9

  Van Den Broeck, U., Holvoet, L., Enzlin, P., Bakelants, E., Demyttenaere, K., D'Hooghe, T.

  Reasons for dropout in infertility treatment
  (2009) Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation, 68 (1), pp. 58-64. Cited 27 times.
  doi: 10.1159/000214839
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  10

  Eugster, A., Vingerhoets, A.J.J.M.

  Psychological aspects of in vitro fertilization: A review
  (1999) Social Science and Medicine, 48 (5), pp. 575-589. Cited 205 times.
  doi: 10.1016/S0277-9536(98)00386-4
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  11

  Weiss, D.A., Harris, C.R., Smith, J.F.

  The use of complementary and alternative fertility treatments
  (2011) Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 23 (3), pp. 195-199. Cited 4 times.
  doi: 10.1097/GCO.0b013e3283455246
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  12

  Paulus, W.E., Zhang, M., Strehler, E., El-Danasouri, I., Sterzik, K.

  Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy
  (2002) Fertility and Sterility, 77 (4), pp. 721-724. Cited 132 times.
  doi: 10.1016/S0015-0282(01)03273-3
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  13

  Bovey, M., Lorenc, A., Robinson, N.

  Extent of acupuncture practice for infertility in the United Kingdom: Experiences and perceptions of the practitioners
  (2010) Fertility and Sterility, 94 (7), pp. 2569-2573. Cited 12 times.
  doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.03.072
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  14

  Dieterle, S., Ying, G., Hatzmann, W., Neuer, A.

  Effect of acupuncture on the outcome of in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a randomized, prospective, controlled clinical study
  (2006) Fertility and Sterility, 85 (5), pp. 1347-1351. Cited 91 times.
  doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.09.062
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  15

  Westergaard, L.G., Mao, Q., Krogslund, M., Sandrini, S., Lenz, S., Grinsted, J.

  Acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer significantly improves the reproductive outcome in infertile women: a prospective, randomized trial
  (2006) Fertility and Sterility, 85 (5), pp. 1341-1346. Cited 99 times.
  doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.08.070
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  16

  Andersen, D., Løssl, K., Nyboe Andersen, A., Fürbringer, J., Bach, H., Simonsen, J., Larsen, E.C.

  Acupuncture on the day of embryo transfer: A randomized controlled trial of 635 patients
  (2010) Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 21 (3), pp. 366-372. Cited 32 times.
  doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2010.03.029
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  17

  Benson, M.R., Elkind-Hirsch, K.E., Theall, A., Fong, K., Hogan, R.B., Scott, R.T.
  Impact of acupuncture before and after embryo transfer on the outcome of in vitro fertilization cycles: A prospective singleblind randomized study
  (2006) Fertil Steril, 86, p. S135. Cited 20 times.
  

  •  
• 
  18

  Domar, A.D., Meshay, I., Kelliher, J., Alper, M., Powers, R.D.

  The impact of acupuncture on in vitro fertilization outcome
  (2009) Fertility and Sterility, 91 (3), pp. 723-726. Cited 57 times.
  doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.01.018
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  19

  Moy, I., Milad, M.P., Barnes, R., Confino, E., Kazer, R.R., Zhang, X.

  Randomized controlled trial: Effects of acupuncture on pregnancy rates in women undergoing in vitro fertilization
  (2011) Fertility and Sterility, 95 (2), pp. 583-587. Cited 26 times.
  doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2010.05.024
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  20

  Paulus, W.E., Zhang, M., Strehler, E., Sterzik, K.
  Motility of the endometrium after acupuncture treatment
  (2003) Fertil Steril, 80, p. S131. Cited 10 times.
  

  •  
• 
  21

  Smith, C., Coyle, M., Norman, R.J.

  Influence of acupuncture stimulation on pregnancy rates for women undergoing embryo transfer
  (2006) Fertility and Sterility, 85 (5), pp. 1352-1358. Cited 80 times.
  doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2005.12.015
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  22

  Wing Sze So, E., Ng, E.H.Y., Yeuk Wong, Y., Shu Biu Yeung, W., Chung Ho, P.

  Acupuncture for frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles: A double-blind randomized controlled trial
  (2010) Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 20 (6), pp. 814-821. Cited 14 times.
  doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2010.02.024
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  23

  Craig, L.B., Criniti, A.R., Hansen, K.R., Marshall, L.A., Soules, M.R.
  Acupuncture lowers pregnancy rates when performed before and after embryo transfer
  (2007) Fertil Steril, 88, p. S40. Cited 31 times.
  

  •  
• 
  24

  So, E.W.S., Ng, E.H.Y., Wong, Y.Y., Lau, E.Y.L., Yeung, W.S.B., Ho, P.C.

  A randomized double blind comparison of real and placebo acupuncture in IVF treatment
  (2009) Human Reproduction, 24 (2), pp. 341-348. Cited 68 times.
  doi: 10.1093/humrep/den380
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  25

  El-Thourky, T., Khalaf, Y.
  A new study of acupuncture in ivf: Pointing in the right direction
  Reprod Biomed Online, 2010 (21), pp. 278-279.
  

  •  
• 
  26

  El-Toukhy, T., Khalaf, Y.

  The impact of acupuncture on assisted reproductive technology outcome
  (2009) Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 21 (3), pp. 240-246. Cited 19 times.
  doi: 10.1097/GCO.0b013e3283292491
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  27

  So, E.W.S., Ng, E.H.Y., Wong, Y.Y., Lau, E.Y.L., Yeung, W.S.B., Ho, P.C.

  Reply: RCT of real versus placebo acupuncture in IVF
  (2009) Human Reproduction, 24 (5), p. 1238. Cited 2 times.
  doi: 10.1093/humrep/dep056
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  28

  Kaptchuk, T.J.
  (2009) Das Groe Buch Der Chinesischen Medizin. Cited 9 times.
  Frankfurt/M. Fischer
  

  •  
• 
  29

  Shi, Z., Ma, L., Yang, Y., Li, X., Wang, S., Lu, W., Zhao, X.

  Acupuncture: When classical meets modern
  (2011) Fertility and Sterility, 95 (7), p. e33. Cited 2 times.
  doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2011.03.039
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  30

  Kaptchuk, T.J.

  Acupuncture: Theory, efficacy, and practice
  (2002) Annals of Internal Medicine, 136 (5), pp. 374-383. Cited 436 times.
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  31

  Liu, T.

  Role of acupuncturists in acupuncture treatment
  (2007) Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 4 (1), pp. 3-6. Cited 23 times.
  doi: 10.1093/ecam/nel061
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  32

  Schweizerische Gesellschaft Reproduktionsmedizin
  www.sgrm.org
  

  •  
• 
  33

  Deutsches IVF-Register. Cited 2 times.
  www.deutsches-ivf-register.de
  

  •  
• 
  34

  Sterreichische Gesellschaft F Reproduktionsmedizin und Endokrinologie
  www.oegrm.at
  

  •  
• 
  35

  Cheong, Y.C., Hung Yu Ng, E., Ledger, W.L.

  Acupuncture and assisted conception
  (2008) Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (1), art. no. CD006920. Cited 50 times.
  http://www.mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD006920/pdf_fs.html
  doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006920
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  36

  Stener-Victorin, E., Manheimer, E.

  Commentary on the Cochrane review of acupuncture and assisted conception
  (2011) Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing, 7 (2), pp. 120-123. Cited 3 times.
  doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2010.12.016
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  37

  Gejervall, A.-L., Stener-Victorin, E., Möller, A., Janson, P.O., Werner, C., Bergh, C.

  Electro-acupuncture versus conventional analgesia: A comparison of pain levels during oocyte aspiration and patients' experiences of well-being after surgery
  (2005) Human Reproduction, 20 (3), pp. 728-735. Cited 48 times.
  doi: 10.1093/humrep/deh665
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  38

  Humaidan, P., Stener-Victorin, S.

  Pain relief during oocyte retrieval with a new short duration electro-acupuncture technique - An alternative to conventional analgesic method
  (2004) Human Reproduction, 19 (6), pp. 1367-1372. Cited 44 times.
  doi: 10.1093/humrep/deh229
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  39

  Sator-Katzenschlager, S.M., Wölfler, M.M., Kozek-Langenecker, S.A., Sator, K., Sator, P.-G., Li, B., Heinze, G., (...), Sator, M.O.

  Auricular electro-acupuncture as an additional perioperative analgesic method during oocyte aspiration in IVF treatment
  (2006) Human Reproduction, 21 (8), pp. 2114-2120. Cited 56 times.
  doi: 10.1093/humrep/del110
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  40

  Stener-Victorin, E., Waldenström, U., Nilsson, L., Wikland, M., Janson, P.O.

  A prospective randomized study of electro-acupuncture versus alfentanil as anaesthesia during oocyte aspiration in in-vitro fertilization
  (1999) Human Reproduction, 14 (10), pp. 2480-2484. Cited 84 times.
  doi: 10.1093/humrep/14.10.2480
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  41

  Stener-Victorin, E., Waldenström, U., Wikland, M., Nilsson, L., Hägglund, L., Lundeberg, T.

  Electro-acupuncture as a peroperative analgesic method and its effects on implantation rate and neuropeptide Y concentrations in follicular fluid
  (2003) Human Reproduction, 18 (7), pp. 1454-1460. Cited 54 times.
  doi: 10.1093/humrep/deg277
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  42

  Ellis, A., Wiseman, N., Boss, K.
  (1991) Fundamentals Of Chinese Acupuncture. Cited 67 times.
  Taos Paradigm Publications
  

  •  
• 
  43

  Willich, S.
  Randomisierte kontrollierte studien: Pragmatische ansze erforderlich
  (2006) Dtsch Arztebl, 103, pp. A2525-A2530. Cited 2 times.
  

  •  
• 
  44

  Rothwell, P.M.

  External validity of randomised controlled trials: "to whom do the results of this trial apply?"
  (2005) Lancet, 365 (9453), pp. 82-93. Cited 851 times.
  doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(04)17670-8
  

  • View at Publisher
• 
  45

  MacPherson, H., Altman, D.G., Hammerschlag, R., Youping, L., Taixiang, W., White, A., Moher, D.

  Revised Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA): Extending the CONSORT statement
  (2010) Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 16 (10), pp. ST1-ST14. Cited 20 times.
  doi: 10.1089/acm.2010.1610
  

  • View at Publisher

  Universität Bern, Kollegiale Instanz für Komplementärmedizin KIKOM, Inselspital, Imhoof-Pavillon 3010 Bern, Switzerland
© Copyright 2013 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.