ABSTRACT
Objective:To observe the effects of acupuncture at the follicular phase on ovarian blood supply and pregnancy outcomes in patients who received in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embry transfer (IVF/ICSI-ET) of assisted reproductive technology (ART).Methods:A total of 169 IVF/ICSI-ET female recipients from the Reproductive Center of Xiehe Hospital,Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science & Technology were randomized into an observation group (57 cases),a placebo group (54 cases) and a control group (58 cases).The observation group received acupuncture during the follicular phase,meanwhile the placebo group received placebo-acupuncture,and the control group did not receive acupuncture.The hemodynamic index,biochemical pregnancy rate and clinical pregnancy rate of each group were observed,respectively.Results:As to the ovarian arterial hemodynamic index,the pulsatility index (PI),resistance index (RI),and the systolic-to-diastolic peak velocity ratio (S/D) of the observation group were (0.819±0.131),(0.552±0.055) and (2.306±0.512),respectively,obviously lower than those in the placebo group and the control group,and the differences were statistically significant (all P＜0.05),but there were no statistically significant differences between the placebo group and the control group (all P＞0.05).As to the biochemical pregnancy rate and clinical pregnancy rate,the biochemical pregnancy rate in the observation group was 64.9％ and the clinical pregnancy rate was 52.6％,which were significantly higher than those in the placebo group and the control group,and the differences were statistically significant (all P＜0.05),while there were no significant differences between the placebo group and the control group (both P＞0.05).Conclusion:Acupuncture treatment during the follicular phase can improve ovarian blood supply and pregnancy rate in those receiving IVF/ICSI-ET.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of various methods of multifetal pregnancy reduction (MFPR) and to determine which method produces better outcomes. One hundred and forty-eight patients with multiple pregnancies resulting from assisted reproduction programs and underwent MFPR were included. According to the use of potassium chloride (KCl), patients were divided into 'KCl', and 'non- KCl' groups, and based on gestational age at the time of procedures, patients were divided into 'Early' (before 8 weeks of gestation) and 'Late' (at 8 weeks or later) groups. Firstly, to clarify the effect of each component of MFPR procedure, data were analyzed between 'KCl' and 'non-KCl' groups, and between 'Early' and 'Late' groups with adjustments. Secondly, comparison between 'Early, non-KCl' and 'Late, KCl' groups was performed to evaluate the combinative effect of both components. Non-KCl groups showed a significantly higher take-home-baby rate, and lower risk of extreme prematurity and preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) than KCl groups. Early groups showed a lower immediate loss rate than Late groups. As compared with 'Late, KCl' group, 'Early, non-KCl' group was superior in terms of immediate loss, pregnancy loss, take-home-baby, and PPROM rates. Our data suggest that the 'Early, non-KCl' method may be a better option for MFPR.
