The potential benefits of acupuncture for women with fertility difficulties will be examined in a unique clinical trial at the University of Western Sydney.

As part of the three-month trial women of reproductive age with fertility problems will be asked to make changes to their diet and exercise habits and will have their health and fertility monitored.

Fifty per cent of the women will also be randomly selected to receive weekly acupuncture treatments.

Associate Professor Caroline Smith, from the UWS Centre for Complementary Medicine (CompleMED) says acupuncture has had a long history of being used as a fertility treatment and has become an increasingly popular option for Australian women.

Modern women are delaying child-rearing to later in life and as a result encountering more difficulties as they are then less fertile, says Associate Professor Smith, who is a leading expert on acupuncture and the chief investigator on the UWS trial.

Acupuncture may have a role with helping to enhance fertility by restoring normal functioning of the body. However, currently there is not enough scientific evidence to support its use a key clinical treatment.

Ms Sue Cochrane, a PhD candidate with CompleMED and a key member of the trial team, says the results from the study will provide important guidance for clinicians using acupuncture to assist fertility.

This is a unique trial which will provide fundamental information to help clinicians treating patients and it will also help researchers shape future, larger, clinical trials, says Ms Cochrane, who is also an experienced acupuncturist.

Participants in the trial will receive their treatments - administered by experienced acupuncturists - at clinics in Campbelltown, the Eastern Suburbs, the Sydney CBD or in Nowra, on the South Coast of NSW.

Women wishing to find out more, or to register, please contact the research team on 0450 920 976 oracupuncturewellnessstudy@uws.edu.au

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Article Source: http://pubapps.uws.edu.au/news/index.php?act=view&story_id=2611

Medicine