Blood flow to the reproductive organs

But sometimes comes at a cost that could buy two more cycles of IVF.
Professor Adam Balen, head BFS policy and practice committee, said patients should be aware of the lack of evidence of acupuncture and herbs before signing up for treatment.

There were "many differences", he added, in a way in which the trial was designed and the type of acupuncture used.

"Any future controlled trial randomized in this area should ensure that they are using the standard method of acupuncture, has a large sample size and include adequate controls to account for any placebo effect."

One high-profile practitioners, Dr Xiao-Ping Zhai, Zhai Fertility The Treatment Clinic, says there's a problem with the way in which this experiment was designed and different analysis will show its benefits.

"Of course, for those unexplained fertility problems, in particular, we know that acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine can be beneficial. What is important is that both the expertise and experience of practitioners, but most of all patient care as an individual. This is a customized treatment is key.
"We need clinical trials that take this into account."

A statement from the British Acupuncture Council noted: "Fertility is focused acupuncture treatment has been found to help increase blood flow to the reproductive organs, balance hormone levels, regulate menstrual cycles and help improve the lining of the uterus and the quality of eggs released.

"Practitioner BACC recognizes that there are many factors that can cause infertility such as stress, irregular hormone levels and interfere with the menstrual cycle. As a holistic therapy, acupuncture will help to identify health problems that can cause a fundamental disruption of the body's natural balance, so that symptoms such as infertility. "

But one of the nation's leading experts on the efficacy of complementary medicine, Professor Edzard Ernst from Pensinsula Medical School, described the new guidelines as "long overdue clarification".

"Infertile women have been led astray for some time now to think that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can help them become pregnant. The analysis shows two things very clear: the totality of the trial of acupuncture do not support this idea, and for Chinese herbs, we do not have evidence at all.

"This will help infertile women not to waste their money or disappointed by TCM practitioners who behave less than responsible when recommending this treatment."