CLEVELAND – A new study from University Hospitals Connor Whole Health and the UH Fertility Center identified factors associated with using Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine (WS‑TCM) during in-vitro fertilization (IVF). WS-TCM includes services like acupuncture, lifestyle medicine, counseling, and nutritional guidance with herbs and supplements. Women with chronic pain conditions such as migraine/headache, musculoskeletal pain, and pelvic pain, as well as a history of recurrent pregnancy loss were more likely to utilize WS-TCM during IVF. The findings from this study were recently published in F&S Reports .
"Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a personalized, whole-person approach that integrates evidence-informed therapies, such as acupuncture and lifestyle modifications, alongside conventional fertility treatment to support patients throughout their fertility journey," said Christine Kaiser, DACM, LAc, FABORM , Connor Endowed Director of Reproductive Well-being and Licensed Acupuncturist. "What is especially meaningful about these findings is that they highlight the needs of patients who may be facing additional challenges in their fertility journey, including chronic pain and recurrent pregnancy loss. By understanding who utilizes Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine, we can continue to improve access to integrative fertility care and ensure more patients have the opportunity to benefit from comprehensive whole-person care."
Dr. Kaiser leads a deeply integrated reproductive medicine program that brings together licensed acupuncturists, Chinese herbal specialists, and fertility‑focused lifestyle medicine clinicians to support women through menstrual health, fertility treatment, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and menopause across the UH system.
At UH, WS‑TCM is integrated directly into the fertility clinic, enabling close collaboration between integrative medicine practitioners and the clinic's multidisciplinary clinical and laboratory teams throughout the frozen embryo transfer process. Their prior research demonstrated how WS-TCM is integrated within the UH Fertility Center and its impacts on reducing patients' pain, stress, and anxiety.
"As interest in integrative approaches to fertility care continues to grow, understanding who utilizes these services and why – is critical. This research not only advances our understanding of patient needs but also helps identify opportunities to reduce barriers and ensure that more individuals have access to comprehensive, patient-centered reproductive care," said Dr. Kristi Artz, MD, FACLM, CCMS , Vice President of Connor Whole Health and Christopher M. and Sara H. Connor Chair in Integrative Health.
Led by Co-Principal Investigators Samuel Rodgers‑Melnick, PhD, MPH, LPMT, MT‑BC and Lee Hullender Rubin, DAoM, MS, LAc, FABoRM , the study team conducted a retrospective review of 799 women who underwent autologous frozen embryo transfers at UH between 2019 and Spring 2024. The team examined sociodemographic characteristics, reproductive history, pain‑related diagnoses, mental health conditions, and previous assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles to identify factors associated with WS‑TCM utilization.
After accounting for sociodemographic and clinical variables, the study found that women living in higher‑income neighborhoods had greater odds of utilizing WS‑TCM, and those with recurrent pregnancy loss were more than twice as likely to engage in treatment. Patients who had undergone three or more prior ART cycles were also significantly more likely to use WS‑TCM, and pain‑related diagnoses like migraine, musculoskeletal pain, and pelvic or genital pain were more prevalent among WS‑TCM users. In contrast, higher body mass index, use of preimplantation genetic testing, and having a history of pelvic inflammatory disease or high‑risk pregnancy supervision were associated with lower odds of WS‑TCM utilization.
"Our research helps people with infertility and their providers better understand who might use acupuncture and Whole Systems-Traditional Chinese Medicine in support of their Frozen Embryo Transfer in the real world," said Dr. Hullender Rubin, Co-Principal Investigator and internationally recognized acupuncture researcher.
Patients undergoing IVF frequently explore integrative therapies to manage stress, improve well‑being, and optimize their chances of pregnancy, yet little U.S. research has examined WS‑TCM utilization patterns, especially in frozen embryo transfer cycles which now account for many IVF treatments nationwide.
You can read the article, "Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine Utilization Among Women Undergoing Frozen Embryo Transfers at an Academic Fertility Center" by clicking here .
This research was supported by the Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Foundation.
