International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Chinese herbal medicines and acupuncture used alongside IVF do not help a woman's chances of getting pregnant, according to experts.

No proof has been found by the British Fertility Society (BFS) that the complementary treatments can improve conception.

A systematic review was carried out by the BFS of all reliable published trials that looked at acupuncture carried out at the same time as fertility treatment.

"We conclude that there is currently no evidence that acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine, when used in conjunction with assisted fertility treatment, have any beneficial effect on live birth rate, pregnancy rate or miscarriage rate," Professor Adam Balen, who chairs the BFS Policy and Practice Committee, said.

Last month, a study carried out at Stanford University School of Medicine, US, suggested acupuncture specifically designed for depression may reduce symptoms during pregnancy.