Acupuncture as an adjunct therapy for enhancing endometrial receptivity in female infertility: a literature review
Infertility remains a global challenge, with female factors accounting for the majority of cases. Endometrial receptivity (ER), the ability of the endometrium to accept and support embryo implantation, is a critical determinant of successful conception. Traditional Chinese medicine, specifically acu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1548737/full |
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| author | Shike Zhang Shike Zhang Hui He Jingyuan Wang Li Ma Xiaoyu Wei Mingxing Zhang Mingxing Zhang Mingxing Zhang Yi Guo Yi Guo |
| author_facet | Shike Zhang Shike Zhang Hui He Jingyuan Wang Li Ma Xiaoyu Wei Mingxing Zhang Mingxing Zhang Mingxing Zhang Yi Guo Yi Guo |
| author_sort | Shike Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Infertility remains a global challenge, with female factors accounting for the majority of cases. Endometrial receptivity (ER), the ability of the endometrium to accept and support embryo implantation, is a critical determinant of successful conception. Traditional Chinese medicine, specifically acupuncture, has been widely adopted as an adjunct therapy for enhancing ER and improving reproductive outcomes in infertile women. This literature review explores the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of acupuncture in promoting ER by focusing on key areas, including improvements in endometrial morphology, increasing uterine blood flow, adjustment to hormone levels, regulation of molecular markers, modulating endometrial immune-inflammatory microenvironment, and probably activating the somatosensory-autonomic reflex pathway. Although promising, existing studies on acupuncture and ER often face limitations in sample size and methodological rigor, highlighting the need for larger, high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCT). Furthermore, the safety profile of acupuncture in infertility treatment is favorable, with few reported adverse effects. These findings suggest that acupuncture could be a viable complementary therapy for improving pregnancy outcomes in women with compromised ER, although further research is essential to establish definitive protocols and mechanisms. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9b40d24df0ee45a798b328bbaea59ae1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-9b40d24df0ee45a798b328bbaea59ae12025-08-20T03:45:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2025-08-011610.3389/fphys.2025.15487371548737Acupuncture as an adjunct therapy for enhancing endometrial receptivity in female infertility: a literature reviewShike Zhang0Shike Zhang1Hui He2Jingyuan Wang3Li Ma4Xiaoyu Wei5Mingxing Zhang6Mingxing Zhang7Mingxing Zhang8Yi Guo9Yi Guo10Research Center of Experimental Acupuncture, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaNational Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, ChinaDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaDepartment of Reproductive Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, ChinaResearch Center of Experimental Acupuncture, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaSchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaResearch Center of Experimental Acupuncture, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaNational Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, ChinaSchool of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaResearch Center of Experimental Acupuncture, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaNational Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, ChinaInfertility remains a global challenge, with female factors accounting for the majority of cases. Endometrial receptivity (ER), the ability of the endometrium to accept and support embryo implantation, is a critical determinant of successful conception. Traditional Chinese medicine, specifically acupuncture, has been widely adopted as an adjunct therapy for enhancing ER and improving reproductive outcomes in infertile women. This literature review explores the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of acupuncture in promoting ER by focusing on key areas, including improvements in endometrial morphology, increasing uterine blood flow, adjustment to hormone levels, regulation of molecular markers, modulating endometrial immune-inflammatory microenvironment, and probably activating the somatosensory-autonomic reflex pathway. Although promising, existing studies on acupuncture and ER often face limitations in sample size and methodological rigor, highlighting the need for larger, high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCT). Furthermore, the safety profile of acupuncture in infertility treatment is favorable, with few reported adverse effects. These findings suggest that acupuncture could be a viable complementary therapy for improving pregnancy outcomes in women with compromised ER, although further research is essential to establish definitive protocols and mechanisms.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1548737/fullfemale infertilityendometrial receptivityacupunctureendometrial morphologyendometrial blood flowhormone levels |
| spellingShingle | Shike Zhang Shike Zhang Hui He Jingyuan Wang Li Ma Xiaoyu Wei Mingxing Zhang Mingxing Zhang Mingxing Zhang Yi Guo Yi Guo Acupuncture as an adjunct therapy for enhancing endometrial receptivity in female infertility: a literature review Frontiers in Physiology female infertility endometrial receptivity acupuncture endometrial morphology endometrial blood flow hormone levels |
| title | Acupuncture as an adjunct therapy for enhancing endometrial receptivity in female infertility: a literature review |
| title_full | Acupuncture as an adjunct therapy for enhancing endometrial receptivity in female infertility: a literature review |
| title_fullStr | Acupuncture as an adjunct therapy for enhancing endometrial receptivity in female infertility: a literature review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Acupuncture as an adjunct therapy for enhancing endometrial receptivity in female infertility: a literature review |
| title_short | Acupuncture as an adjunct therapy for enhancing endometrial receptivity in female infertility: a literature review |
| title_sort | acupuncture as an adjunct therapy for enhancing endometrial receptivity in female infertility a literature review |
| topic | female infertility endometrial receptivity acupuncture endometrial morphology endometrial blood flow hormone levels |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1548737/full |
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