Observation of the therapeutic effect of needling combined with herb-separated moxibustion on recurrent implantation failure of kidney deficiency and blood stasis.

Objectives: To observe the therapeutic effect of needling combined with herb-separated moxibustion on the patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) of kidney deficiency and blood stasis undergoing frozen embryo transfer of the conventional hormone replacement therapy cycle.

Methods: Sixty RIF of kidney deficiency and blood stasis patients who planned for frozen embryo transfer were randomly divided into a combined treatment group (30 cases) and a western medication group (30 cases). In the western medication group, the conventional hormone replacement therapy was performed for endometrial preparation during transfer cycle. On the basis of treatment as the western medication group, in the combined treatment group, needling combined with herb-separated moxibustion was adopted. Regarding needling, the acupoint prescription for (promoting the governor vessel and regulating the spirit, e.g. Dazhui [GV 14], Ganshu [BL 18], Shenshu [BL 23] and back- points) and that for (conducting back to the primary, e.g. Zhongwan [CV 12], Qihai [CV 6], Guanyuan [CV 4] and front- points) were selected. Acupuncture was delivered at these two prescriptions alternatively each time. After acupuncture, the herb-separated moxibustion (in which, the herbal powder was prepared with the modified decoction for cultivating the kidney essence and promoting pregnancy) was operated at Shenque (CV 8). This combined therapy was delivered once every two days, 3 sessions a week till the day of embryo transfer. The pregnancy outcomes (positive rate of human chorionic gonadotropin [β-HCG] and clinical pregnancy rate) were compared between the two groups, as well as the TCM syndrome score, serum estradiol (E) and progesterone (P) levels, endometrial thickness and type, endometrial blood flow index (pulsatility index [PI], resistance index [RI]) before and after treatment.

Results: After treatment, the clinical pregnancy rate of the combined treatment group was 40.0% (12/30), higher than that of the western medication group (16.7%, 5/30, <0.05); and the difference in the positive rate of β-HCG was not significant statistically between the two groups (>0.05). After treatment, the serum levels of E and P were elevated (<0.05), the endometrial thickness was thickened (<0.05); the scores of TCM syndrome, and the levels of PI and RI were reduced (<0.05) when compared with those before treatment in the two groups. The proportion of type A endometrium increased compared with that before treatment in the combined treatment group (<0.05). Except the levels of E and P, the above indexes in the combined treatment group were superior to the western medication group (<0.05).

Conclusions: On the basis of frozen embryo transfer of conventional hormone replacement cycle, the intervention of needling combined with herb-separated moxibustion can effectively relieve the clinical symptoms, increase the endometrial blood flow and its thickness, and improve the endometrial receptivity, thereby ameliorate pregnancy outcomes in RIF patients of kidney deficiency and blood stasis.