Effect of Acupressure on Anxiety in Infertile Women Undergoing in vitro Fertilization/Intra Cytoplasmic Insemination Treatments

Aims: This study aimed to determine the acupressure effect on anxiety in infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic insemination treatments. Materials Methods: The present study is a randomized controlled trial of infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic insemination treatment. It was performed at Milad in vitro Fertilization Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, from September 2015 to August 2016. The sample size was 144 participants. The participants were randomly divided into three groups of real acupressure, sham acupressure, and control using a Fleiss randomization table. Acupressure points were P6 and H7 on the participant’s hands. Beck Anxiety Inventory was used for assessing anxiety and a demographic questionnaire. Data were analyzed through paired samples t-test, Chi-square test, Fisher exact, One-way analysis of variance, Kruskal Wallis test, General Linear Model, and Multinomial logistic by SPSS 16. Findings: The mean age of women was 30.84±5.34. There was a significant difference in anxiety reduction rate in all groups (p 0.001). Conclusion: The acupressure intervention at the points of P6 and H7 on the participant’s hands reduces anxiety. Therefore, due to the effect of anxiety on the pregnancy rate in women undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic insemination, acupressure in these women is recommended.