Auricular acupressure reduces anxiety levels and improves outcomes of in vitro fertilization: a prospective, randomized and controlled study

Fan Qu, Dan Zhang, Lu-Ting Chen, Fang-Fang Wang, Jie-Xue Pan, Yi-Min Zhu, Chun-Mei Ma, Yi-Ting Huang, Xiao-Qun Ye, Sai-Jun Sun, Wen-Jun Zheng, Run-Ju Zhang, Jian Xu, Lan-Feng Xing, He-Feng Huang, Fan Qu, Dan Zhang, Lu-Ting Chen, Fang-Fang Wang, Jie-Xue Pan, Yi-Min Zhu, Chun-Mei Ma, Yi-Ting Huang, Xiao-Qun Ye, Sai-Jun Sun, Wen-Jun Zheng, Run-Ju Zhang, Jian Xu, Lan-Feng Xing, He-Feng Huang

Abstract

The study was to explore whether auricular acupressure (AA) can relieve anxiety during the period from trans-vaginal oocyte retrieval to the embryo transfer in IVF treatment and whether AA can improve the outcomes of IVF. 305 infertile patients with tubal blockage who were referred for IVF were included. The women were randomized into a control group with 102 cases, a Sham-AA group with 102 cases and an AA group with 101 cases. The anxiety levels were rated with Spielberger's State Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale. Data of clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), implantation rate (IR) and live birth rate (LBR) were obtained. The levels of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) in the follicular fluids were detected with ELISA. After treatment, in AA group, the levels of state anxiety, preoperative anxiety and need-for-information were significantly lower, whereas CPR, IR, LBR and NPY levels in the follicular fluids were markedly higher than Sham-AA group and control group. We concluded that AA could help to reduce anxiety levels associated with IVF and improves the outcomes of IVF partly through increasing the levels of NPY in the follicular fluids.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) Neuropeptide Y (NPY) levels in follicular fluids of auricular acupressure (AA) group, Sham-AA group and control group. (B) Transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) levels in follicular fluids of AA group, Sham-AA group and control group. For all panels, results were expressed as mean ± S.D. *P<0.05 (ANOVA).
Figure 2. The flow chart of the…
Figure 2. The flow chart of the progress of participants through the trial.
The subjects of auricular acupressure (AA) group and Sham-AA group were asked to press the acupoints four times a day (08:00, 12:00, 16:00 and 20:00 h respectively) with 15 min each time by themselves. The AA treatment consisted of six days (from 12:00 h of one day before trans-vaginal oocyte retrieval to 20:00 h of the next day of embryo transfer) and was conducted on the two ears simultaneously.
Figure 3. The auricular acupoints selected.
Figure 3. The auricular acupoints selected.
Shenmen (TF4, located at the bifurcation of the crura of antihelix), Endocrine (CO18, located at the bottom part of the incisura intertragica), and Internal Genitals (TF2, located at the middle point of anterior portion of the triangular fossa) were selected in auricular acupressure (AA) group; Triple Energizer (CO17, located in the cavum conchae), Stomach (CO4, located at the commissure of superior concha and inferio concha, just below the disappearance of the crus of the helix) and Large Intestine (CO7, located at the inner 1/3 of the crus of the helix, lying at the lower portion of the superior concha) were selected in Sham-AA group.

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