Clinical Delivery of Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine and Impacts Upon Patient Reported Outcomes During IVF

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Abstract
Background: Several clinical trials support the efficacy of Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine (WS-TCM) modalities, including acupuncture, for improving outcomes among women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), but few studies have described its real-world integration within an academic medical setting or its immediate effects on pain, stress, and anxiety. Objective: To characterize the clinical delivery of WS-TCM and assess its effects on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) among patients receiving WS-TCM while undergoing IVF. Methods: A retrospective review of patients who received ≥1 WS-TCM treatment associated with ≥1 embryo transfer at a single center was conducted. A linear mixed model adjusting for the random effect of patients seen over multiple treatments was used to calculate PRO changes among those with pre-treatment PROs ≥1 on a 0-10 numeric rating scale. Results: 1896 WS-TCM treatments were provided during 202 embryo transfers among 146 patients. Patients (mean age 35.76 ± 4.37) were predominantly white (79.5%), and 26.7% had a documented mental health diagnosis. Of the 202 embryo transfers, 64.9% included pre-transfer treatment, 88.6% included day-of-transfer treatment, and 32.2% included post-transfer treatment. Patients reporting pre-treatment PROs ≥1 reported clinically significant mean [95% CI] reductions in pain (−1.38 [−1.70, −1.07]), stress (−2.11 [−2.47, −1.74]), and anxiety (−2.22 [−2.63, −1.81]) within a single treatment. Conclusions: This study supports the integration of WS-TCM within IVF and its benefits for reducing acute pain, stress, and anxiety. WS-TCM may improve patient experiences and be a useful treatment for psychosocial concerns that often accompany IVF.
Funding Information
  • The Connor Foundation

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