[Effect of warming acupuncture on uterine blood perfusion in patients with failed high-quality freeze-thawed embryo transfer].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of warming acupuncture on uterine blood perfusion in the patients with failed high-quality freeze-thawed embryo transfer (FET) and explore its effect mechanism on the improvement of clinical pregnancy rate after re-tranfer. METHODS: A total of 72 patients of failed high-quality FET were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 36 cases in each one. In the observation group, after the menstrual period ended, warming acupuncture started at the acupoints located on the abdomen, e.g. Qihai (CV 6), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongji (CV 3) and Qugu (CV 2) and those on the lumbar sacral region, e.g. Shenshu (BL 23), Mingmen (GV 4) and Yaoyangguan (GV 3), 50 min in each treatment, once daily, at the interval of 1 day after 4-day treatment. The treatment was discontinued till the patients were at the ovulatory stage. In the control group, nuangong yunzi capsules were taken orally and continuously after the end of menstrual period, 3 capsules each time, three times a day and stopped at the ovulatory stage. The treatment of one menstrual cycle was taken as one course and the treatment for 3 menstrual cycles was required. Before and after treatment, the uterine artery pulsation index (PI), endometrial thickness, endometrial type, uterine blood perfusion, the recovery time of sufficient uterine blood flow, the endomentrial receptivity (ER) during the implantation window period and the clinical pregnancy rate were observed in the two groups. RESULTS: After treatment, the endometrial thickness was increased and PI decreased obviously in the two groups (P<0.05) and PI in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the proportion of type a and type A of endometrium was increased markedly in the two groups (P<0.05) and the proportion in the observation group was higher than the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the case proportion of sufficient uterine blood flow was increased obviously in the two groups (P<0.05) and the value in the observation group was higher than the control group [83.3% (30/36) vs 69.4% (25/36), P<0.05]. After treatment, the proportion of ER during the implantation window period was increased remarkably in the two groups (P<0.05) and the value in the observation group was higher than the control group [72.2% (26/36) vs 50.0% (18/36), P<0.05]. The recovery time of sufficient uterine blood flow in the observation group was shorter than the control group (P<0.05) and the clinical pregnancy rate was higher than the control group [47.2% (17/36) vs 33.3% (12/36), P<0.05]. CONCLUSION: Warming acupuncture enhances uterine blood perfusion and improves uterine endometrial receptivity so that the clinical pregnancy rate is increased after re-transfer in the patients with failed high-quality freeze-thawed embryo transfer.

[Effect of wheat-grain moxibustion at Yinbai (SP 1) on the menstrual period prolongation after IVF-ET down-regulation treatment].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effect between wheat-grain moxibustion at Yinbai (SP 1) and oral administration of dydrogesterone tablet for menstrual period prolongation after down-regulation treatment of in vitro fertilization embryo transfer (IVF-ET). METHODS: A total of 54 patients with prolonged menstrual period after down-regulation treatment of IVF-ET were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 27 cases in each one. In the observation group, when the menstrual period delayed more than 7 days, the wheat-grain moxibustion at Yinbai (SP 1) was performed, once a day, with an interval of 1 day between two 3-day treatments; when the menstrual blood was cleaned, the ovulation was continued and the eggs were taken. In the control group, when the menstrual period delayed more than 7 days, the oral administration of dydrogesterone tablet was provided, 10 mg each time, twice a day; when the menstrual blood was cleaned, the ovulation was continued and the eggs were taken. The number of days for menstrual blood to be cleaned, the area change of uterine cavity hemorrhage, the morphology of endometrium, the blood supply of endometrium, the number of oocytes obtained, the grade of frozen embryo and the clinical effect were observed between the two groups after treatment. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the number of days for menstrual blood to be cleaned was shorter in the observation group after treatment (P<0.05); the area of uterine cavity hemorrhage in the observation group was smaller than that in the control group (P<0.05); the morphology of endometrium and the supply of blood flow in the observation group were superior to those in the control group (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the number of oocytes obtained and available frozen embryo between the two groups (P>0.05). The cured rate in the observation group was 100.0% (27/27), higher than 33.3% (9/27) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The wheat-grain moxibustion at Yinbai (SP 1) could more effectively treat prolonged menstrual period after IVF-ET down-regulation treatment, which is beneficial to the preparation of the endometrium, and has no effect on the oocyte collection and embryo culture.

[Effect of electroacupuncture at Shaoze (SI 1) on breast milk volume and composition in postpartum hypogalactia].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture at Shaoze (SI 1) on breast milk volume and nutrient composition in postpartum hypogalactia. METHODS: A total of 62 women with postpartum hypogalactia were randomized into an observation group (31 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a control group (31 cases, 3 cases dropped off). Electroacupuncture was exerted at Shaoze (SI 1) in the observation group and at Shangyang (LI 1) in the control group, 10 Hz in frequency, 30 min each time, once a day. The treatment for 5 times as one course and 3 courses of treatment were required totally. Separately, before treatment and at the end of 1 course and 3 courses of treatment, the breast milk volume was measured and the composition was analyzed. The breast milk volume, nutrient composition (lactose, fat and protein), breast milk energy and density were observed in the two groups. After treatment, the clinical effect was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In the observation group, after 1 course of treatment, the breast milk volume and the values of lactose and protein in the breast milk were increased as compared with those before treatment, the breast milk energy and density were increased as compared with those before treatment (all P<0.05). After 3 courses of treatment, the breast milk volume and the values of nutrient composition (lactose, fat and protein) were improved as compared with those before treatment, and the breast milk energy and density were increased obviously as compared with those before treatment in the observation group (all P<0.05). In the control group, after 1 course and 3 courses of treatment, only breast milk volume was increased obviously as compared with that before treatment (both P<0.05). After 1 course of treatment, the nutrient composition (lactose and protein), breast milk energy and density in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05). After 3 courses of treatment, the levels of breast milk volume, nutrient composition (lactose, fat and protein), breast milk energy and density in the observation group were all higher than those in the control group (all P<0.05). The effective rate was 92.9% (26/28) in the observation group, which was higher than 17.9% (5/28) in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture at Shaozhe (SI 1) increases breast milk volume in patients with postpartum hypogalactia and promotes the production of the nutrient composition in breast milk, as well as the breast milk energy and density.