Objective: To observe the success rate of warm acupuncture for tube baby of infertility patients with kidney yang deficiency.
Methods: Sixty patients were randomized assigned into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. Long-term super ovulation was applied in the two groups. While acupuncture was used at Zhongwan (CV 12), Tianshu (ST 25), Daimai (GB 26), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), Zhongji (CV 3), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Xuehai (SP 10), Zusanli (ST 36), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) and Taichong (LR 3) in the observation group, with warm acupuncture at Zigong (EX-CA 1) and Zusanli (ST 36), once a day, and treatment was implemented monthly from 10 days to 1 day before menstruation and continuously for 3 months. After the accomplishment of treatment or waiting, embryo transplantation was operated in the two groups. The success rates of embryo transplantation, the changes before and after treatment of the symptom and sign scores of kidney yang deficiency, menstrual symptom scores and endometrial types were observed.
Results: The pregnancy rate of the observation group was 46.7% (14/30), which was better than 23.3%(7/30) of the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the symptom and sign scores of kidney yang deficiency and the menstrual symptom scores were improved compared with those before treatment in the two groups (all P<0.05), with the lower ones in the observation group (kidney yang deficiency score:5.6±1.8 vs 9.6±2.9, menstrual symptom score:4.1±0.5 vs 5.6±0.9, both P<0.05). After treatment, the endometrial types were superior to those before treatment in the two groups (both P<0.01), with better improvement in the observation group (P<0.05).
Conclusions: Warm acupuncture can improve the success rate of tube baby of infertility patients with kidney yang deficiency, with advantages in symptom and sign of kidney yang deficiency, menstrual and endometrial situations. Its mechanism may be related to the improvement of menstruation and endometrium.
Keywords: fertility; kidney yang deficiency pattern; randomized controlled trial (RCT); tube baby; warm acupuncture.