Auricular acupressure improves implantation rate of in vitro fertilization

INTERVENTION: Auricular acupressure (AA) Shenmen (TF4, located at the bifurcation of the crura of antihelix), Endocrine (CO18, located at the bottom part of the incisura intertragica), and Internal Genitals (TF2, located at the middle point of the anterior portion of the triangular fossa) were selected as the auricular acupoints . Shenmen (TF4) functions to relieve anxiety. Endocrine (CO18) and Internal Genitals (TF2) improve functions of the endocrine system and regulate functions of the female reproductive system. After the above acupoints were sterilized with 75% alcohol, AA was performed by using acupressure seeds named Semen vaccariae. The seed was kept in place by a piece of opaque adhesive patch and fixed onto the acupoint selected. The subjects were asked to press the acupoints four times a day (08:00, 12:00, 16:00 and 20:00 h respectively) with 15 min each time by themselves. The strength should make the local auricle congestive, flushed, hot and ache. The AA was conducted on the two ears simultaneously. The AA treatment consisted of 6 days (from 12:00 h of the last day of TVOR to 20:00 h of the next day of ET). CONDITION: anxiety implantation rate in in vitro fertilization PRIMARY OUTCOME: The levels of state anxiety, preoperative anxiety (including anesthesia related anxiety and surgery related anxiety) and the need‐for‐information were rated with State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS) SECONDARY OUTCOME: Data of implantation rate (defined as the number of gestational sacs per number of transferred oocytes) for all the women were obtained from the medical records. Data of clinical pregnancy rate (defined as the presence of at least one gestational sac or fetal heartbeat, confirmed by trans‐vaginal ultrasound) for all the women were obtained from the medical records. INCLUSION CRITERIA: The women were healthy women with regular menstrual cycles and normal sex hormone levels. No structural abnormalities of uterus and ovaries were found by vaginal ultrasound or laparoscopy. None of the women had received any assisted reproductive technology (ART) therapy before.