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61 - The Revolution of Assisted Reproductive Technologies: How Traditional Chinese Medicine Impacted Reproductive Outcomes in the Treatment of Infertile Couples

from PART III - ASSISTED REPRODUCTION

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 August 2010

By
Paul C. Magarelli ,
Diane K. Cridennda  and
Mel Cohen
Edited by
Botros R. M. B. Rizk ,
Juan A. Garcia-Velasco ,
Hassan N. Sallam  and
Antonis Makrigiannakis
Botros R. M. B. Rizk
Affiliation:
University of South Alabama
Juan A. Garcia-Velasco
Affiliation:
Rey Juan Carlos University School of Medicine,
Hassan N. Sallam
Affiliation:
University of Alexandria School of Medicine
Antonis Makrigiannakis
Affiliation:
University of Crete
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Summary

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has gained a foothold in the Western medical modalities for pain, sports injuries skin conditions, anesthesia, and overall health maintenance (see WHO report; http://www.who.int/en/). Prior to 1990s, assisted reproductive technologies (ART or IVF – in vitro fertilization) depended on massive technical, pharmaceutical, and medical interventions to produce modest enhancements in expected outcomes (i.e., live births from treatments; see CDC at www.cdc.gov). The scope of the improvement was about 1 percent per year elevation in live births per embryo transfer from 1986 to 2000 (www.cdc.gov and Figure 61.1 SART data).

In 1996, a sentinel paper was published in human reproduction by Stener-Victorin et al. (1), which created a groundswell of interest by TCM practitioners in ways to assist IVF patients. She reported that acupuncture (Ac) in the form of electrostimulation (e-Stim) Ac increased uterine artery blood flow in IVF patients. This was quickly followed by another paper published in Fertility and Sterility (F&S) by Paulus et al. 2002 (2) that demonstrated enhanced pregnancy rates when Ac was used before and quickly after embryo transfer (ET). Although these studies provided important information, Western clinicians considered it far from proven, with editorials expressing condescension about premature adoption of TCM for IVF patients (3, 4).

Although the initial reaction by reproductive endocrinologists and infertility specialists was one of cautious resistance, persistence by D.K.C. in 1999 resulted in the first true collaboration of East and West research in this area.

Keywords

acupunctureassisted reproductive technologyin vitro fertilizationstressWestern researchtraditional chinese medicine
Type
Chapter
Information
Infertility and Assisted Reproduction , pp. 576 - 603
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2008

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References

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