Acupuncture during IVF: does it work?
A fertility expert at Greenslopes Private Hospital has
co-authored a publication in the Journal of the American
Medical Association about the link between acupuncture
and In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF).
The randomised clinical trial investigated
transfer. The sham control used a
whether acupuncture increases the
non-invasive needle which was directed
likelihood of a live birth in women
away from the true acupuncture points.
undergoing IVF.
The results showed the rate of live births
Dr Clare Boothroyd said the study involved
was 18.3% among women who received
more than 800 women with an average
acupuncture and 17.8% among women
age of 35 years in Australia and New
who received sham acupuncture.
Zealand. They underwent fresh IVF cycles
“This amounted to a non-significant
through 16 IVF centres (including Care
difference. In other words, the use
Fertility at Greenslopes Private Hospital).
of acupuncture when administered
“In this trial, 405 women were
during ovarian stimulation and embryo
administered acupuncture while 404
transfer did not appear to improve the
received sham control during the IVF
rate of live births.”
process,” said Dr Boothroyd.
“However, a woman can still use
The first of three treatments was
acupuncture if it reduces her stress
administered during follicle stimulation;
levels, as this type of treatment does
the second and third treatments were
not reduce the chance of achieving a
delivered before and after embryo
live birth.”
Dr Boothroyd said having treatment
for infertility is a stressful time so it is
important for couples to have treatment
at a supportive unit and be provided with
individually tailored programs.
Dr Boothroyd’s practice, Care Fertility,
is celebrating its 10th anniversary in
August 2018.
AMA Woman in Medicine 2018
4 | GPH News – August 2018 Greenslopes Private Hospital
urogynaecologist, Professor Judith Goh AO,
has been named the Australian Medical
Association's Woman in Medicine for 2018.
Prof Goh has spent about three
months every year for 23 years
training doctors in third world
countries.
AMA President Dr Michael
Gannon said Prof Goh's
nominators described her
career as both humbling and
inspirational.
“To carry out her work within a
dedicated team of professionals,
Professor Goh often has to
brave political unrest, and
perform surgery in challenging
environments, as well as deal with
the emotional and social injuries
to her patients due to
war, rape, domestic violence,
poverty, shame, and grief,"
Dr Gannon said.
“Her work has changed lives
for the better for hundreds of
affected women, correcting
their often long-standing and
preventable obstetric trauma,
including vesico-vaginal and
recto-vaginal fistulae, with the
minimum of overhead costs
to maximise the reach of her
services."
The Australian Medical
Association said the Woman in
Medicine Award is presented to
a woman who has made a major
contribution to the medical
profession by showing ongoing
commitment to quality care,
or through her contribution to
medical research, public health
projects, or improving the
availability and accessibility of
medical education and medical
training for women.
Dr Michael Gannon presents award to Prof Judith Goh AO