| | | Study | Country | Participants | Age (year) | BMI | Acupuncture type | Acupuncture session | Outcomes | | Acu | Control | Acu | Control | Acu | Control | Acu | Control | Acu | Control | |
| | 1 | Wu 2017 | China | Active Acu + clomiphene: 250 | Control Acu + Clomiphene: 250 | Active Acu + clomiphene: 28.2 (3.4) | Control Acu + Clomiphene: 27.8 (3.4) | Active Acu + clomiphene: 23.8 (4.2) | Control Acu + Clomiphene: 24.4 (3.9) | MA + EA | NMA + NEA | Real acu: located in abdominal muscles and leg muscles, and in the hands and head | Sham acu: in each shoulder and upper arm at nonacupuncture points | LBR, RO, conception, pregnancy, and multiple pregnancy, AE | | Active Acu + placebo: 250 | Control Acu + Placebo: 250 | Active Acu + placebo: 27.8 (3.2) | Control Acu + placebo: 28.0 (3.3) | Active Acu + placebo: 24.2 (4.4) | Control Acu + Placebo: 24.6 (4.5) |
| | 2 | SO EW2010 | China HK | 113 | 113 | 35 (3.7) | 35 (2.96) | : 21.6 (2.3) | 21.9 (2.6) | MA | MA (Streitberger placebo-needle) | SAME | SAME | OPR CPR, OPR, LBR, IR, MR |
| | 3 | Smith 2018 | Australia and New Zealand | 424 | 424 | 35.4 (4.3) | 35.5 (4.3) | 25.8 (5.5) | 26.0 (5.8) | MA | Noninsertive acupuncture | Real acu: be beneficial to the uterus and ovaries | Sham acu: away from known acupuncture points and with no known function | LBR, CPR, AE |
| | 4 | QF 2017 | China | TEAS-2 Hz group: 108 | Control group: 109 | TEAS-2 Hz group: 31.22 (5.92) | 29.81 (6.17) | TEAS-2 Hz group: 22.97 (6.59) | 21.53 (6.28) | TEAS-2 Hz group | NO TEAS treatment | SP10, SP8, LR3, ST36, EX-CA1,CY4, PC6,CY12 | NO TEAS treatment | CPR, LBR, IR, NMO, NFO, GQE | | TEAS-100 Hz group: 111 | TEAS-100 Hz group: 21.77 (5.98) | TEAS-100 Hz group: 21.77 (5.98) | TEAS-100 Hz group | | TEAS-2/100 Hz group: 114 | TEAS-2/100 Hz group: 31.16 (6.09) | TEAS-2/100 Hz group: 23.14 (6.55) | TEAS-2/100 Hz group: 114 |
| | 5 | Villahermosa 2013 | Brazil | 28 | 28 | 36.0 (2.7) | 36.2 (2.2) | NR | NR | MA + MB | MA | Real acu: manual manipulation AND moxibustion (the principles of traditional Chinese medicine and the classic point localization, including depth of insertion) | Sham acu: nonmeridian and shallow stimulus AND no moxibustion (performed in the arm and thigh) | BPR, CPR |
| | 6 | Udoff 2014 | USA | 31 | 29 | : 32.4 | 33.2 | NR | NR | MA | MA | Real acu: meridia and manual manipulation | Sham acu: nonmeridian and shallow stimulus | CPR, DR |
| | 7 | Moy 2011 | USA | 86 | 74 | 33.3 (0.307) | 33.16 (0.334) | 24.77 (1.051) | 24.05 (0.582) | MA + AA | MA + AA | Real acu: in qi lines (CV6, SP8, LR3, ST29, GV20, HT7)+AA55, AA50, AA58, AA22 | Sham acu: in non-qi lines (near the acupoints above) + knee, heel, allergic area, mouth | CPR, McG-SPDt |
| | 8 | Andersen 2010 | Denmark | 314 | 321 | 31 (?) | 31.16 (?) | 22.5 (?) | 22.5 (?) | MA | MA (Streitberger placebo-needle) | SAME | SAME | P-HCG, CPR, OPR, LBR |
| | 9 | Dieterle 2006 | Germany | 116 | 109 | 35.1 (3.8) | 34.7 (4.0) | 24.5 (5.1) | 24.1 (4.7) | MA + AA | MA + AA | The true acupuncture treatment was designed to influence fertility closely | The placebo acupuncture treatment was | BPR, CPR, OPR | | designed not to influence fertility |
| | 10 | Smith 2006 | Australia | 110 | 118 | 35.9 (4.7) | 36.1 (4.8) | 25.4 (4.2) | 26.0 (5.6) | MA | MA (Streitberger placebo-needle) | Acupuncture was administered | These were located close to but not on the real acupuncture points. Because the tip | CPR, OPR, implantation, AE, HS | | with point selection based on the TCM diagnosis. | of the needle is blunted, skin penetration did not occur |
| | 11 | So EW 2009 | China HK | 185 | 185 | 36 (3.704) | 36 (2.963) | 21.6 (2.1) | 21.7 (2.7) | MA | MA (Streitberger placebo-needle) | SAME | SAME | OPR, CPR, OPR, LBR, IR, MR, EPR |
| | 12 | Domar 2009 | America | 78 | 68 | 36.1 (?) | 36.1 (?) | NR | NR | MA | No treatment | The same 22-needle points were chosen for their sedative effect as well as to increase uterine blood flow. | No treatment | CPR, anxiety, optimism. |
| | 13 | Guven 2020 | Turkey | 36 | 36 | 30.3 (3.4) | 31.5 (4) | 24.4 (3.0) | 23.3 (1.9) | MA | No treatment | H7, LI4, GV20, ear AA55, CV3, CV4, CV6, LIV3, ST30, and SP8, bilateral LI4, SP6, SP9, ST36 | No treatment | β-HCG level, CPR, OPR,LBR, anxiety level |
| | 14 | Dehghani 2020 | Iran | ACU1: 62 | 62 | ACU1: 32.1 (5.9) | 31.5 (5.4) | ACU1: 25.1 (3.3) | 26.3 (3.9) | ACU1 : acupuncture 25 min before ET | ET without acupuncture | HT7,PC6, CV6, GV20, SP6,CV4 | No acutreatment | BPR. CPR. OPR | | ACU2: 62 | ACU2: 32.9 (4.8) | ACU2: 25.2 (3.8) | ACU2: acupuncture 25 min before and after ET |
| | 15 | Paulus W.E.2002 | Germany | 80 | 80 | 32.8 (4.1) | 32.1 (3.9) | NR | NR | MA 25 min before and after ET | ET without acupuncture | Before: PC6, SP8, LR3, GV20, ST29. After: ST36, SP6, SP10, LI4 | No acutreatment | CPR |
| | 16 | Ming Ho 2009 | Taiwan | 30 | 14 | 35.5 (4.5) | 34.0 (5.2) | NR | NR | EA | No acupuncture | LR3, SP6, ST28, EX-CA1, CV6, CV4 | No acutreatment | CPR, PI |
| | 17 | Madaschi 2010 | Brazil | 208 | 208 | 35.3 (4.7) | 34.6 (4.6) | 22.4 (3.8) | 22.4 (2.9) | MA 25 min before and after ET | No acupuncture | Before ET PC6, SP8, LR3 GV20, ST29. After ET ST36, SP6, SP10, Li4 | No acutreatment | CPR,IR,AR |
| | 18 | Shuai 2014 | China | 34 | 34 | 29.47 (3.24) | 29.65 (2.60) | 21.99 (2.71) | 22.32 (1.64) | TEAS | Mock TEAS | CV3, CV4. and SP6 and EX-CA1 bilaterally | Same | E Tri-L. ET. IHCs. EV. EVI. SVIP |
| | 19 | Westergaard 2006 | Denmark | ACU 1 : 95 | 87 | ACU 1 : 37 (24–45) | 37 (27–45) | ACU 1 : 23 (16–40) | 23 (18–32) | ACU 1: acupuncture was given on the day of ET ET | No acupuncture | DU20 ST29, SP8, PC6, and LR3. ST36, SP6, SP10, LI 4 | No acutreatment | CPR, OPR | | ACU 2 : 91 | ACU 237 (27–45) | ACU 2 : 22 (18–34) | ACU 2: acupuncture was given on the day of ET and duration 2 days after ET | DU20, ST29, SP8, PC6, and LR3. ST36, SP6, SP10, LI 4, and DU20, Ren 3, ST29, SP10, SP6, ST36, and LI 4. |
| | 20 | Shuai 2017 | China | 61 | 61 | 31.23 ± 3.78 | 31.58 ± 3.07 | 22.01 ± 1.81 | 22.39 ± 2.87 | TEAS | Mock TEAS | SP6, CV3, CV4 and EX-CA1 | Same | IR, CPR, LBR |
| | 21 | CUI 2012 | China | 34 | 32 | 29.3 ± 3.7 | 29.3 ± 3.45 | 24.24 ± 4.13 | 23.96 ± 3.14 | EA | No acupuncture | CV4, CV3, SP6, EX-CA 1, KI3 | No acutreatment | CPR, LBR, FR, CR, CCR, EMR |
| | 22 | QF 2014 | China | 101 | 102 | 31.65 (4.30) | 30.87 (4.12) | 22.08 (3.55) | 21.01 (4.25) | AA | AA (auricular acupressure) | AA : AA55, AA22, AA30 | Sham AA : triple energizer, stomach, large intestine | CPR.LBR.IR |
| | 23 | Zhang 2011 | China | Single TEAS: 110 | Mock TEAS: 99 | 31.9 (5.3) | 31.5 (5.2) | 23.2 (3.0) | 22.6 (3.5) | Single TEAS treatment: 30 minutes after ET | 30 minutes after ET | ST36 and KI3, BL23, RN 4 | Same | CPR, IR, LBR | | Double TEAS: 100 | 32.6 (4.9) | 22.6 (3.4) | 24 hours before ET and 30 minutes after ET |
| | 24 | Rashidi 2013 | Iran | 31 | 31 | 31.03 ± 4.82 | 32.10 ± 4.68 | 27.83 ± 4.61 | 26.10 ± 4.15 | MA | No acupuncture | LI4, SP6, LR3, CV4, GV20, ST36 | No acutreatment | BPR, CPR, OPR, MR |
| | 25 | Moring 2017 | America | Needle acu: 200 | 203 | NR | NR | NR | NR | Needle acu | No acupuncture | CV6, SP8, LR3, GV20, ST29. After ET : ST36, SP6, SP10, LI4 | No acutreatment | BPR, CPR, EPR, MR | | Laser acu: 202 | Laser acu | | Sham laser acu: 198 | Sham laser acu |
| | 26 | Pastuszek 2013 | Poland | Group 1 : 148 | Group 3 : 142 | 32.9 (3.2) | 32.7 (3.4) | 21.9 (2.4) | 22.5 (2.8) | MA during stimulation and on the day of ET | No acupuncture | ST6, HE7 PC6 KI6 or KI3 AA22 AA55 AA58, GV20, EX18, Ren3, Ren4, Ren5, Ren6 | No acutreatment | IR, CPR, LBR | | Group 2 : 142 | 33.2 (3.3) | 22.0 (2.5) | MA only on the day of ET; | HE7, PC6, EX1, GV20 AA22, AA58 ST29 or ST30, KI6, Ren3, Ren4, Ren5, Ren6; and after ET (30 min): LI4, EX1, GV20, AA22, ST36 KI3 or KI6, LR2, LR3, Ren15 |
| | 27 | Wang 2005 | America | 32 | 32 | 37.9 | 36.7 | NR | NR | MA | No acupuncture | CX6, GB8 GB9, ST36 SP10, SP8LIV3 S29, R4, R6. After ET : ST36 SP10 SP9, LIV3, BL23 | No acutreatment | CPR, LBR |
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BMI, body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared); Acu, acupuncture; MA, manual acupuncture; EA, electric acupuncture; NMA, nonmanual acupuncture; NEA, nonelectric acupuncture; NR, no record; LBR, live birth rate; RO, rates of ovulation; AE, adverse events; OPR, overall pregnancy rate; CPR, clinical pregnancy rate; OPR, ongoing pregnancy rate; LBR, live birth and rate; IR, implantation rate; MR, miscarriage rate; NMO, number of mature oocytes; NFO, normally fertilized oocytes; GQE, good-quality embryos; BPR, biochemistry pregnancy rates; DR, delivery rate; McG-SPD, the McGill survey of pain and discomfort; P-HCG, positive human chorionic gonadotrophin; HS, health status; EPR, ectopic pregnancy rate; β-HCG, beta human chorionic gonadotrophin; PI, pulsatility index; AR, abortion rates; E Tri-L, endometrial triple-line; ET, endometrial thickness. IHCs, immunohistochemistry score (percentage of immunostained cells × intensity of nuclear staining); EV, endometrial volume; EVI, endometrial vascularization index; SVIP, subendometrial vascularization index pattern; FR, fertilization rate; CR, cleavage rate; CCR, cycle cancellation rate; EMR, early miscarriage rate; ET, embryo transfer; TCM, Traditional Chinese Medicine; TEAS, transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation; AA, auricular acupressure. Acupuncture session: HE7 (Shenmen); PC6 (Neiguan); SP8 (Diji); SP6 (Sanyingjiao); SP9 (Yinlingquan); SP10 (Xuehai); LR3 (Taichong); LIV3(Taichong); DU20 (Baihui); GV20 (Baihui); ST29 (Guilai); ST36(Zusanli); ST6 (Jiache); ST28 (Shuidao); ST30 (Qichong); LI4 (He gu); RN3 (Zhongi); RN4 (Guanyuan); RN5 (Shimen); RN12 (Zhongwan); RN15 (Jiuwei); CV3(Zhongji); CV4(Guan yuan); CV6 (Qihai); EX1 (Taiyang); EX-CA1 (Zigong); EX18 (Dongming); KI3 (Taixi); KI6 (Zhaohai); BL23(Shenshu); GB8(Shuaigu); GB9(Tianchong); AA22 (Neifenmi); AA55 (Shenmen); AA58 (Zigong); AA30 (Genitals); AA50 (Sympathetic).
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