- 2026
- Expert reviews in molecular medicine 28
- Lina Yi
- Haolin Zhang
- Tian Tian
- Yaodong Zhang
- Yanru Lou
- Jialin Li
- Chenhong Liu
- Caihong Ma
- Ping Liu
- Rong Li
- Jie Qiao
- Shuo Huang
- Rui Yang
Study Design
- Type
- Meta-Analysis
- Sample size
- n = 203
- Population
- patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing IVF-ET
- Methods
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of 13 RCTs with 1,203 patients; eight databases searched from inception until April 1, 2024
Background
Acupuncture is increasingly used during in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET), but its therapeutic benefits for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) remain uncertain.Methods
Eight databases were investigated from the inception until April 1, 2024. We screened randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using acupuncture undergoing IVF-ET, the population was patients with PCOS.Results
We analyzed 13 RCTs with 1,203 patients. Acupuncture significantly improved clinical pregnancy rate (P < 0.01), high-quality embryo rate (P < 0.01), and live birth rate (P < 0.01). It also reduced gonadotropin (Gn) dose (P = 0.0002), Gn duration (P = 0.005), and OHSS incidence (P < 0.01). No significant differences were seen in fertilization rate, oocyte yield, endometrial thickness, progesterone, LH, E2, miscarriage rate, or cycle cancellation rate.Conclusions
Our results showed that acupuncture therapy could increase the high-quality embryo rate, live birth rate and also the clinical pregnancy rate in PCOS patients undergoing IVF. Acupuncture could reduce the dose and duration of Gn. It also decreased the incidence of OHSS. Based on the result of this meta-analysis, acupuncture therapy is suggested in the IVF process for PCOS patients.