Objective: To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of acupoint stimulation in improving pregnancy outcome of patients with repeated implantation failure. METHODS: From the establishment to December 2020, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang database, PubMed and Cochranelibrary were retrieved by computer, and the literatures of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on acupoint stimulation therapy for repeated implantation failure were screened. The Cochrane bias risk assessment tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies and ReviewManager5.3 software was used to perform a meta-analysis of the results. RESULTS: A total of 9 literatures were included, involving 979 patients. The results of Meta-analysis showed that acupoint stimulation was superior to the western medicine treatment group in improving the clinical pregnancy rate and embryo implantation rate, and in improving the clinical pregnancy rate, embryo implantation rate and RI, and in improving the embryo implantation rate and RI, the placebo acupoint stimulation group was superior to the blank group. Conclusion: Acupoint stimulation can improve the pregnancy rate of RIF patients.

Jiayi Guo, Nan Li. The Effect of Acupoint Stimulation on Pregnancy Outcome after Reapted Implantation Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Frontiers in Medicine (2022), Vol. 4, Issue 5: 41-50. https://doi.org/10.25236/IJFM.2022.040509.

[1] Qiao, J. Assisted reproductive technology: translational medicine from basic to clinical. [in Chinese].Journal of Peking University(Health Sciences) 2013,45(06):835-837.

[2] Dyer S, Chambers GM, de Mouzon J, et al. International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technologies world report: Assisted Reproductive Technology 2008, 2009 and 2010. 2016, 31(7):1588–609.

[3] Coughlan C, Ledger W, Wang Q, et al. Recurrent implantation failure: definition and man -agement. Reprod Biomed Online 2014; 28: 14–38.

[4] Simon A, Laufer N. Repeated implantation failure: clinical approach. Fertil Steril. 2012 May;97(5):1039-43. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.03.010. Epub 2012 Mar 30. PMID: 22464086.

[5] Carr D. Somatosensory stimulation and assisted reproduction. Acupunct Med 2015; 33: 2–6. 

[6] Jo J and Lee YJ. Effectiveness of acupuncture in women with poly-cystic ovarian syndrome undergoing in vitro fertilisation or intracy-toplasmic sperm injection: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acupunct Med 2017; 35: 162–170.

[7] Ng EH, So WS, Gao J, et al. The role of acupuncture in the management of subfertility. Fertil Steril 2008; 90: 1–13.

[8] White A. A cumulative review of the range and incidence of significant adverse events associated with acupuncture. Acupunct Med 2004; 22: 122–133.

[9] Shuai Z, Lian F, Li P , et al. Effect of transcutaneous electrical acupuncture point stimulation on endometrial receptivity in women undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer: a single-blind prospective randomised controlled trial. Acupunct Med 2015; 33: 9–15.

[10] Xu, JL. Clinical study on pregnancy outcome treat with stage by stage acupuncture and moxibustion therapy baesd on Chong Channel Being Sea of Blood Theory in Repeated IVF-ET Failure Patients [in Chinese].Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,2018.

[11] Liang Y,Li JJ,Liu M,He FE,Zhang JM,Peng DM. Improvement of Pregnancy Outcome in Patients with Frozen-thawed Embryo Repeated Transplantation Failure by Traditional Chinese Medicine Combined with Transcutaneous Acupoint Electrical Stimulation [in Chinese].Journal of Practical Obstetrics and Gynecology 2020,36(07):550-552.

[12] Xu M,Yang J, Zhao M.Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation on Endometrium Growth and Pregnancy Outcome of Patients Undergoing Frozen-Thawed Transfer after Repeated Implantation Failure [in Chinese].Journal of Reproductive Medicine 2014,23(08):624-627.

[13] Shuai Z, Lian F, Li P, Yang W. Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupuncture Point Stimulation On Endometrial Receptivity in Women Undergoing Frozen-Thawed Embryo Transfer: A Single-Blind Prospective Randomised Controlled Trial. Acupunct Med. 2015 Feb; 33(1):9-15. doi: 10.1136/ acupmed-2014-010572. Epub 2014 Oct 10. PMID: 25303950.

[14] Shuai Z, Li X, Tang X, Lian F, Sun Z. Transcutaneous Electrical Acupuncture Point Stimulation Improves Pregnancy Outcomes In Patients With Recurrent Implantation Failure Undergoing In Vitro Fertilisation and Embryo Transfer: A Prospective, Randomised Trial. Acupunct Med. 2019 Feb; 37(1):33-39. doi: 10.1136/acupmed-2017-011483. Epub 2019 Mar 13. PMID: 30864824.

[15] Deng C, Chen LF, Ma R,Wang YY, Chen YY, Zhen Q, Kong LH. Clinical Observation of Electro acupuncture Therapy in Patients with Repeated Transplantation Failure in IVF-ET. Military Medical Journal of South China [in Chinese] 2020, 34(06):393-396.

[16] Ma JJ, Zhang QH. Clinical Study of Acupuncture on Improving Endometrial Receptivity, Emotion of Anxiety and Depression, and pregnancy Outcome in IVF-ET Repeated Implantation Failure Patients With Syndrome of Kidney Deficiency and Liver Depression [in Chinese].Academic Journal of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2019,33(05):32-38.

[17] Cai L, Li L, Zong DK, Zhong XQ, Liu XR, Huang XX, Tong GQ. Application Effect of Adjuvant Acupuncture Therapy in Infertility Patients with Repeated Implantation Failure Following in Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer [in Chinese].Guangxi Medical Journal 2020,42(21): 2755-2758+2776.

[18] Zhao M,LIU L, Quan XZ, Lan YL, Tian XL, Ji ZS, Yang XZ. Effects of electroacupuncture combined with infrared irradiation on endometrial receptivity, embryo transfer and pregnancy in patients with repeated implantation failure [in Chinese]. Progress in Modern Biomedicine 2019, 19(23): 4549-4552+4535.

[19] Hu RK. Study onTheory of “Heart-Kindney-Uterus Axis” and its Clinical Practice of professor Guicheng Xia [in Chinese].Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine,2015

[20] Chang R, Chung PH and Rosenwaks Z. Role of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Female Infertility. Fertil Steril 2002; 78: 1149–1153.

[21] Ho M, Huang LC, Chang YY, et al. Electro acupuncture Reduces Uterine Artery Blood Flow im-p Edance In Infertile Women. Taiwan j obstet gynecol 2009; 48: 148–151.

[22] Kim j, shin kh, Na CS and Cs N. Effect of Acupuncture Treatment on Uterine Motility and Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression in Pregnant Rats. Gynecol Obstet Invest 2000; 50: 225–230.

[23] Aghajanova L. Leukemia Inhibitory Factor and Human Embryo Implantation. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2004; 1034: 176–183.

[24] Craciunas L, Gallos I, Chu J, Bourne T, Quenby S, Brosens JJ, Coomarasamy A. Conventional and Modern Markers of Endometrial Receptivity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Hum Reprod Update. 2019 Mar 1;25(2):202-223. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmy044. PMID: 30624659.

[25] Lund I,Näslund J, Lundeberg T. Minimal acupuncture is not a Valid Placebo Control in Randomised Controlled Trials of Acupuncture: Aphysiologist’s perspective. Chinese Medicine, 2009, 4(1):55-56

[26] Mao WC, Liu BY, He LY, Liu ZS. Thinking on Controlled Setting Of Plarebo Acupuncture in Clinical Trial Of Acupuncture And Moxibustion [in Chinese].Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2013, 33(04):367-371.