Human Reproduction, Vol. 11, No. 6, pp. 1314-1317, 1996
© 1996 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
research-article |
Reduction of blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries of infertile women with electro-acupuncture
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Sweden 2Fertility Centre Scandinavia, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Sweden 3Department of Physiology, University of Gothenburg S-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
Correspondence: 1To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, KvinnokJiniken, Sahlgrenska sjukhuset, S-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
In order to assess whether electro-acupuncture (EA) can reduce a high uterine artery blood flow impedance, 10 infertile but otherwise healthy women with a pulsatility index (PI) 
3.0 in the uterine arteries were treated with EA in a prospective, non-randomized study. Before inclusion in the study and throughout the entire study period, the women were down-regulated with a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) in order to exclude any fluctuating endogenous hormone effects on the PL The baseline PI was measured when the serum oestradiol was 
0.1 nmol/1, and thereafter the women were given EA eight times, twice a week for 4 weeks. The PI was measured again closely after the eighth EA treatment, and once more 10–14 days after the EA period. Skin temperature on the forehead (STFH) and in the lumbosacral area (STLS) was measured during the first, fifth and eighth EA treatments. Compared to the mean baseline PI, the mean PI was significantly reduced both shortly after the eighth EA treatment (P < 0.0001) and 10–14 days after the EA period (P < 0.0001). STFH increased significantly during the EA treatments. It is suggested that both of these effects are due to a central inhibition of the sympathetic activity.
Key words: electro-acupuncture/pulsatility index (PI)/trans-vaginal colour Doppler curve/uterine artery blood flow
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