Acupuncture for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Overview

Journal Medicine (Baltimore)

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2017 Jun 8

PMID 28591042

Citations 24

Authors

Junyoung Jo

Yoon Jae Lee

Hyangsook Lee

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: This systematic review aimed at summarizing and evaluating the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using acupuncture to treat polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), specifically focusing on ovulation rate, menstrual rate, and related hormones.

Methods: Fifteen databases were searched electronically through February 2016. Our review included RCTs of women with PCOS; these RCTs compared acupuncture with sham acupuncture, medication, or no treatment. Two reviewers independently extracted data. Data were pooled and expressed as mean differences (MDs) for continuous outcomes and risk ratios for dichotomous outcomes, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a random-effects model.

Results: We found a low level of evidence that acupuncture is more likely to improve ovulation rate (MD 0.35, 95% CI: 0.14-0.56) and menstruation rate (MD 0.50, 95% CI: 0.32-0.68) compared with no acupuncture. We found statistically significant pooled benefits of acupuncture treatment as an adjunct to medication in luteinizing hormone (LH), LH/follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio, testosterone, fasting insulin, and pregnancy rates, but the level of evidence was low/very low.

Conclusion: There is limited evidence to judge the efficacy and safety of acupuncture on key reproductive outcomes in women with PCOS. Large-scale, long-term RCTs with rigorous methodological input are needed.

Citing Articles

The effects of acupuncture on patients with premature ovarian insufficiency and polycystic ovary syndrome: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

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Conception vessel acupuncture research regularity in the treatment of diminished ovarian reserve: a multi-center, large-sample prospective cohort study protocol.

Zhang X, Sun H, Zhang N, Mou Z, Xia Q, Du D Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2024; 15:1380444.

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Effects of TCM on polycystic ovary syndrome and its cellular endocrine mechanism.

Chen H, Deng C, Meng Z, Meng S Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023; 14:956772.

PMID: 37260441 PMC: 10228207. DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.956772.

Underlying mechanisms of acupuncture therapy on polycystic ovary syndrome: Evidences from animal and clinical studies.

Ye Y, Zhou C, Hu H, Fukuzawa I, Zhang H Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022; 13:1035929.

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Acupuncture combined with metformin versus metformin alone to improve pregnancy rate in polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Chen X, Lan Y, Yang L, Liu Y, Li H, Zhu X Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022; 13:978280.

PMID: 36105396 PMC: 9465241. DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.978280.

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