The current systematic review and meta-analysis of 24 trials (n = 5807 participants) was conducted to evaluate the effect of acupuncture on in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. Subjects included women undergoing IVF in randomized controlled trials who were evaluated for the effects of acupuncture on IVF outcomes. The intervention groups used manual, electrical, and laser acupuncture techniques and the control groups consisted of no, sham, and placebo acupuncture. The major outcomes were clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and live birth rate (LBR). The pooled CPR (23 studies), but not the LBR (six studies) from the acupuncture groups was significantly greater than that from all of the control groups. The results differed with type of control used; the CPR and LBR differences between groups were more obvious and the LBR results tended to be significant when the acupuncture was performed around the time of oocyte aspiration or controlled ovarian hyperstimulation when the studies using the Streitberger control were ignored. The authors concluded that based on the results of studies that do not include the Streitberger control, acupuncture seems to improve CPR and LBR among women undergoing IVF. Fertil Steril. 2012 Jan 11. PMID: 22243605
