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"Acupuncture linked to IVF success"

ABC Health and Wellbeing

Source: ABC Health and Wellbeing

Published: 05 Jun 2006

Category: Other

Rating: (2 stars)

what they said (Hover the mouse cursor over underlined words for more info)

Researchers in Adelaide have found that giving acupuncture to IVF patients can substantially increase pregnancy rates.

The original article can be found at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/health/sophie_scott/newsitems/s1655702.htm

how did it rate? (more information)

Criteria Rating
Total Score 3 of 9
Novelty of Treatment Satisfactory (?)
Availability of Treatment Not Satisfactory (?)
Treatment Options Satisfactory (?)
Disease Mongering Satisfactory (?)
Evidence Not Satisfactory (?)
Quantification of Benefits of Treatment Not Satisfactory (?)
Harms of Treatment Not Satisfactory (?)
Costs of Treatment Not Satisfactory (?)
Sources of Information Not Satisfactory (?)
Relies on Press Release Not Applicable

what we said (Hover the mouse cursor over underlined words for more info)

This story provides a tantalising lack of key information on study methods. Was it a randomised controlled trial? How many subjects were involved? What was the success rate? Where were the results published (or presented)? Have the findings been peer reviewed? What would an independent expert have said? Are there potential harms? On the latter topic will the report engender false hope in many infertile couples? If acupuncture really does have an effect, this seems unlikely to able help people with blocked tubes or low sperm counts as a cause of infertility. More discussion would have been helpful.

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