Trends in acupuncture for infertility: a scoping review with bibliometric and visual analysis
Journal article
Tian, Z., Zhang, C., Liao, X., Yang, S., Hong, Y., Shi, A., Yan, F., Pan, T., Zhang, J., Meng, Y., Robinson, N., Bai, P. and Gang, W. (2024). Trends in acupuncture for infertility: a scoping review with bibliometric and visual analysis. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 15, p. 1351281. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2024.1351281
Authors | Tian, Z., Zhang, C., Liao, X., Yang, S., Hong, Y., Shi, A., Yan, F., Pan, T., Zhang, J., Meng, Y., Robinson, N., Bai, P. and Gang, W. |
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Abstract | Background: Unexplained recurrent implantation failure and the high cost of assisted reproductive techniques for those experiencing infertility have increasingly resulted in the use of acupuncture. However, the trends and research status of acupuncture on infertility resulting in natural conception have not been systematically summarized. This scoping review and knowledge graph analysis aimed to summarize existing clinical studies on acupuncture for infertility that resulted in natural conception. Methods: Seven databases, namely, PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang Data, and SinoMed, were searched up to August 2023 (updated on 1 April). Two authors independently identified related clinical studies and systematic reviews, and extracted data from included studies on acupuncture for infertility; any discrepancies were resolved by discussion or judged by a third author. A meta-analysis was conducted based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and data were synthesized using risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Of the 310 articles meeting the inclusion criteria, 274 were primary studies, 7 were systematic reviews, and 29 were case reports. Reported adverse events included mild ovarian irritation and early signs of miscarriage. Out of the 274 primary studies, there were 40 (14.60%) cases of male infertility and 234 (85.40%) cases of female infertility. Current research highlights on acupuncture for infertility focused on female infertility caused by polycystic ovary syndrome, ovulation disorder, and luteinized unruptured follicle syndrome (LUFS), while acupuncture for male infertility was a hotspot in the early research stage. The meta-analysis also suggested that acupuncture was more effective than human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) [RR = 1.89, 95% CI (1.47, 2.42), 11 RCTs, 662 participants]. Acupuncture combined with HCG was comparable to HCG [RR = 2.33, 95% CI (1.53, 3.55), four RCTs, 259 participants]. Compared with no treatment, acupuncture resulted in a higher pregnancy rate [RR = 22.12, 95% CI (1.39, 353.09), one RCT, 47 participants]. There was no statistical difference between acupuncture combined with HCG plus letrozole and HCG plus letrozole [RR = 1.56, 95% CI (0.84, 2.89), one RCT, 84 participants]. Conclusion: Current research highlights on acupuncture for infertility resulting in natural conception focused on female infertility caused by polycystic ovary syndrome, ovulation disorder, and LUFS, while studies on male infertility and female infertility caused by blockage in the fallopian tube, thin endometrium, and other factors were insufficient. Well-designed confirmatory clinical studies are still needed as the research hypotheses of most studies were unclear. |
Keywords | infertility; acupuncture; scoping review; bibliometric and visual analysis; natural conception |
Year | 2024 |
Journal | Frontiers in Endocrinology |
Journal citation | 15, p. 1351281 |
Publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
ISSN | 1664-2392 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2024.1351281 |
Web address (URL) | https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2024.1351281/full |
Publication dates | |
Online | 04 Jun 2024 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 08 May 2024 |
Deposited | 03 Jul 2024 |
Publisher's version | License File Access Level Open |
Publisher's version | License File Access Level Open |
Additional information | Corrigendum added 28 June 2024 |
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