Recent Advances in Acupoint Stimulation for Pain Relief after Transvaginal Oocyte Retrieval

This review focuses on recent advances in the application of acupoint stimulation for postoperative analgesia following transvaginal oocyte retrieval (TVOR). In recent years, studies have demonstrated that acupuncture, electroacupuncture (EA), transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS), and auricular acupoint therapy can effectively relieve postoperative pain, potentially through the modulation of neurotransmitters, activation of the endogenous opioid system, and regulation of inflammatory responses. This review summarizes the clinical use of these acupoint stimulation techniques in managing pain after TVOR and analyzes their mechanisms of action, therapeutic efficacy, and research progress. Although current evidence suggests that acupoint stimulation has certain analgesic benefits, further high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are still needed to confirm its effectiveness and to optimize treatment protocols for standardized clinical implementation.