Evaluation of "Energy Resonance by Cutaneous Stimulation" Among Women Treated by In Vitro Fertilization.

J Altern Complement Med. 2018 Jun;24(6):578-583. doi: 10.1089/acm.2017.0155. Epub 2018 Mar 19. Gay C1, Cros A1, Berbis J2, Bretelle F1,3, Perrin J1,4, Courbiere B1,4. Author information 1 1 Department of Gynecology-Obstetric and Reproductive Medicine , AP-HM, Hôpital La Conception-Hôpital Nord, Marseille, France . 2 2 EA 3279 - Public Health, Chronic Diseases and Quality of Life - Research Unit, Aix Marseille University , Marseille, France . 3 3 Aix Marseille University, CNRS UMR 7278, Inserm U1095 , Marseille, France . 4 4 Aix Marseille University, CNRS, IRD, Avignon University , IMBE UMR 7263, Marseille, France . Abstract OBJECTIVES: Pregnancy rate in in vitro fertilization (IVF) depends on many factors, such as the characteristics of the couple and the clinicobiological parameters. Interest in alternative and complementary medicine (ACM) for IVF is discussed because of the lack of scientific evidence. Energy resonance by cutaneous stimulation (ERCS), an acupuncture-like technique, consists of skin stimulation to transmit vibratory messages. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ERCS on live birth rates (LBRs) in IVF. DESIGN: A prospective observation study was performed in the Unit of Assisted Reproductive Technologies of a University Teaching Hospital. Every woman who agreed to participate in this study and received a fresh embryo transfer (ET) after IVF or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) was included. Patients randomly underwent an ERCS session on the day of ET according to the schedule of the midwife performing this technique. The control group consisted of women undergoing ET under usual conditions. The main outcome measure was the LBR per transfer. RESULTS: Three-hundred-eighteen women were included, 120 in the ERCS + ET group and 198 in the ET without ERCS group. None of the women dropped out. The clinical characteristics in both groups were comparable. There was a significant difference in the clinical pregnancy rates, 31.7% in the ERCS group versus 21.7% in the No ERCS group (p = 0.037). The LBR in the ERCS group was nearly significantly higher, 29.2% versus 20.7% in the No ERCS group (p = 0,059). CONCLUSIONS: Women undergoing ERCS on the day of ET had a significantly higher IVF pregnancy rate. However, this methodology made not possible to draw conclusions about the mechanisms that induced the increase of IVF LBRs: placebo effect, "cocooning," or ERCS self-effect? Further well-conducted studies are strongly needed to assess ERCS efficacy. KEYWORDS: ERCS; IVF; RESC; Résonance Energétique par Stimulation Cutanée; alternative and complementary medicine; energy resonance by cutaneous stimulation; infertility