Use of Acupressing in Reproductive Medicine

Interest of Acupressing in the Treatment of Preoperative Anxiety and Comfort of Patients Undergoing Oocyte Retrieval in Outpatient Surgery

The objective of this preliminary study is therefore to assess the feasibility, safety and reduction of perioperative anxiety thanks to acupressing. In addition, patients undergoing oocyte retrieval often present postoperatively with nausea, abdominal pain and discomfort. Acupuncture could also help these patients.

Infertility can lead to the realization of follicular puncture or oocytes in order to obtain an embryo for medically assisted procreation. It is a long treatment for the couples concerned and this intervention, relatively simple in young patients, is associated with a very high level of anxiety. According to studies, the incidence of preoperative anxiety ranges from 11% to 80% in adult patients. In patients undergoing outpatient surgery, anxiolytics are not administered before anesthesia in outpatient surgery, as this would risk altering their "fitness for the street" and preventing their return home. Studies have shown a benefit of acupressing in the treatment of preoperative anxiety. This technique could therefore be an alternative to drug anxiety before surgery. Acupressing could also help these patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients over 18 years old
• Scheduled to undergo an oocyte retrieval in outpatient surgery
• Anxiety score ≥ 3 when they arrived in the outpatient unit
• Subject is willing and able to provide informed consent
• Covered by a national healthcare insurance

Non-Inclusion Criteria:

• Ear's pavilion infection
• Wrist infection
• Previous treatment with auriculotherapy or acupuncture
• With a planned intervention that does not allow the delay of 45 min delay (+/- 15 min) between the acupuncture treatment and the STAI assessment
• Being deprived of liberty or under guardianship

Exclusion criteria

• Patient having recourse to any treatment or method of anxiolysis the morning of the procedure, after having given her consent
• Patient wishing to withdraw from the study