A study comparing the effects of acupuncture on pregnancy rates during assisted reproduction, such as IVF, found that placebo acupuncture is associated with a higher overall pregnancy rate.

The study published in Human Reproduction, the medical journal, looked at real and placebo acupuncture given on the day of embryo transfer in 370 patients. Researchers found the overall pregnancy rate for placebo acupuncture was 55.1 per cent compared with 43.8 per cent for real acupuncture. The scientists who worked on the study – based at the University of Hong Kong – say results suggest placebo acupuncture may be having a real effect.