Acupuncture for Unexplained Subfertiliy

NCT ID: NCT02624076

Last Updated: 2015-12-21

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

1423 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2015-12-31

Brief Summary

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Infertility affects one in six couples. In a quarter of them, routine tests of semen quality, ovulation or tubal patency fail to reveal any abnormalities and the cause of infertility is unexplained. Acupuncture is being increasingly used by couples with all types of infertility and initial trials have suggested that it could be potentially beneficial in some cases. A number of systematic reviews of acupuncture in IVF have shown conflicting results, but there is no evidence to inform best practice in unexplained infertility. In addition, as an intervention, acupuncture is not cost neutral as it involves multiple visits for treatment sessions delivered by a skilled practitioner. Thus, while acupuncture could have the potential to increase live birth rates in women with unexplained infertility, the clinical and cost effectiveness of acupuncture needs to be confirmed in the context of a large randomized controlled trial.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Unexplained Infertility

Keywords

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unexplained infertility Acupuncture

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Acupuncture plus expectant management

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Acupuncture

Intervention Type OTHER

semi-fixed protocol will be used including four local core points; conception vessel (CV) 3, CV 6, and stomach (ST) 29 bilaterally and four in the leg/feet; spleen (SP) 6, and SP 9 bilaterally. The core points CV 3, CV 6, ST 29, SP 6, and SP 9 are thereafter connected to electrical stimulator (Hwoto, China) and stimulated with low-frequency, 2Hz, 0.5 ms

expectant management

Intervention Type OTHER

one initial counselling session, an information leaflet on timed intercourse, access to a telephone helpline for queries and ad hoc support on demand from the fertility clinic over a period of 4 months post randomization.

expectant management

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

expectant management

Intervention Type OTHER

one initial counselling session, an information leaflet on timed intercourse, access to a telephone helpline for queries and ad hoc support on demand from the fertility clinic over a period of 4 months post randomization.

Interventions

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Acupuncture

semi-fixed protocol will be used including four local core points; conception vessel (CV) 3, CV 6, and stomach (ST) 29 bilaterally and four in the leg/feet; spleen (SP) 6, and SP 9 bilaterally. The core points CV 3, CV 6, ST 29, SP 6, and SP 9 are thereafter connected to electrical stimulator (Hwoto, China) and stimulated with low-frequency, 2Hz, 0.5 ms

Intervention Type OTHER

expectant management

one initial counselling session, an information leaflet on timed intercourse, access to a telephone helpline for queries and ad hoc support on demand from the fertility clinic over a period of 4 months post randomization.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Women aged 18-40 years
2. Bilateral patent tubes demonstrated by hysterosalpingogram, hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography or laparoscopy
3. Regular menses 21 to 35 days Normal semen parameters :Total motile sperm count ≥10 million. (World Health Organization criteria, 2010)

Exclusion Criteria

1. Unwillingness to accept either of the two interventions
2. Contra-indications to acupuncture: pacemaker use or bleeding disorder
3. Received acupuncture before 2 months for other diseases which are not related to unexplained infertility.
4. Previously received acupuncture for unexplained infertility
5. Use of hormonal or other medication (including Chinese Herbal prescriptions) which may affect the outcome in the past 2 months.
6. Patients who anticipate taking longer than a one month break from treatment during the trial (i.e. 4 months from randomization).
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

40 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Xiaoke Wu

Director of obstetrics and gynecology

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Xiaoke Wu, MD.PhD.

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

The First Affliated Hospital,Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine

Locations

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Guangzhou Medical School First Affiliated Hospital

Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

Site Status

The Daqing Oilfield General Hospital

Daqing, Heilongjiang, China

Site Status

Daqing Longnan hospital

Daqing, Heilongjiang, China

Site Status

Daqing Oilfield General Hospital

Daqing, Heilongjiang, China

Site Status

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,First Affliated Hospital,Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine .

Harbin, Heilongjiang, China

Site Status

Obstetrics and Gynecology,Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine

Harbin, Heilongjiang, China

Site Status

First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese

Changsha, Hunan, China

Site Status

Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Xuzhou

Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China

Site Status

Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine Affiliated Hospital

Nanchang, Jiangxi, China

Site Status

First Hospital, Jiangxi college of Chinese Medicine

Nanchang, Jiangxi, China

Site Status

Shanxi Chinese Medicine Hospital

Shangxi, Shanxi, China

Site Status

Shanxi Hospital of Chinese Medicine

Taiyuan, Shanxi, China

Site Status

Tianjin Tanggu Maternity and Child Care Center

Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, China

Site Status

First Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Chinese Medicine

Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, China

Site Status

Wenzhou Chinese Medicine Hospital

Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China

Site Status

Hangzhou Chinese Medicine Hospital

Hangzhou, , China

Site Status

Countries

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China

Central Contacts

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Hui Chang, MD

Role: CONTACT

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

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Xiaoke Wu, MD.PhD.

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

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AURIS2015

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id