Semin Reprod Med. 2016 Mar;34(2):67-73. doi: 10.1055/s-0035-1571194. Epub 2016 Feb 11.
- 1National Institute of Complementary Medicine, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia.
- 2Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Abstract
Complementary
therapies and medicines are a broad and diverse range of treatments,
and are frequently used by women and their partners during the
preconception period to assist with infertility,
and to address pregnancy-related conditions. Despite frequent use, the
evidence examining the efficacy, effectiveness, and safety for many
modalities is lacking, with variable study quality. In this article, we
provide an overview of research evidence with the aim of examining the
evidence to inform clinical practice. During the preconception period,
there is mixed evidence for acupuncture to improve ovulation, or
increase pregnancy rates. Acupuncture may improve sperm quality, but
there is insufficient evidence to determine whether this results in
improved pregnancy and live birth rates. Acupuncture can be described as
a low-risk intervention. Chinese and Western herbal
medicines may increase pregnancy rates; however, study quality is low.
The evaluation of efficacy, effectiveness, and safety during the first
trimester of pregnancy has most commonly reported on herbs, supplements,
and practices such as acupuncture. There is high-quality evidence
reporting the benefits of herbal
medicines and acupuncture to treat nausea in pregnancy. The benefit
from ginger to manage symptoms of nausea in early pregnancy is
incorporated in national clinical guidelines, and vitamin B6 is
recommended as a first-line treatment for nausea and vomiting in
pregnancy. The safety of ginger and vitamin B6 is considered to be well
established, and is based on epidemiological studies. Acupuncture has
been shown to reduce back pain and improve function for women in early
pregnancy. There is little evidence to support the use of cranberries in
pregnancy for prevention of urinary tract infections, and chiropractic
treatment for back pain. Overall the numbers of studies are small and of
low quality, although the modalities appear to be low risk of harm.
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.
