Acupuncture 'boosts IVF chances'

The Dutch and US research, published in the British Medical Journal, found for every 10 IVF cycles with acupuncture, there would be one extra pregnancy.

However, the study, which looked at more than 1,300 women, hinted that patients at European clinics might not benefit as strongly.

UK alternative medicine researcher, Professor Edzard Ernst, said he was not convinced by the results: ‘On the face of it, these results sound fantastic. I would, however, be very cautious as much of the observed effect could be due to a placebo response.

'IVF may not seem to be ‘placebo-prone’ but it probably is: if women expect it to be helpful they are more relaxed which, in turn, would affect pregnancy rates.’