Acupuncture for polycystic ovarian syndrome

Lim, Danforn CE; Chen, Wei; Cheng, Lisa NC; Xue, Charlie Changli; Wong, Felix WS; O’Sullivan, Anthony J; Liu, Jianping

doi:10.1002/14651858.cd007689.pub2

Cited by 24 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Due to the weakness of the methodological design, the overall quality of clinical trials concerning the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment for infertility in women with PCOS is relatively low [ 18 ]. Although an ongoing multicenter RCT is underway, more RCTs that are properly designed are needed before drawing conclusions concerning the use of acupuncture in the management of PCOS [ 21 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Acupuncture is able to decrease abnormally high levels of circulating luteinizing hormone (LH), which affect the LH/follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio [ 14 , 16 ], and high levels of testosterone [ 17 ]. Additionally, the low associated adverse-events rate, a low risk of multiple pregnancies, and the low cost of acupuncture have been noted [ 18 ]. However, the methodological quality of these clinical trials varies, resulting in inconclusive statements on the effectiveness of acupuncture for PCOS.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effectiveness of electroacupuncture for polycystic ovary syndrome: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Chen

Feng

Zeng

et al. 2016

Trials

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BackgroundWhether electroacupuncture is effective for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome is still inconclusive. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the add-on effects of electroacupuncture to conventional drugs for the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome.Methods/designThis study is a two-center, open-labeled, randomized, controlled trial. A total of 116 eligible patients with polycystic ovary syndrome will be randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to the electroacupuncture plus clomiphene citrate group or to the clomiphene citrate group. Participants in the electroacupuncture plus clomiphene citrate group will receive electroacupuncture treatment in addition to clomiphene citrate capsules, whereas participants in the clomiphene citrate group will be prescribed clomiphene citrate capsules only. Electroacupuncture treatment will be performed from the fifth day of menstruation or withdrawal bleeding until the next menstruation, in three sessions per week for three menstrual cycles. The primary outcome is the ovulation rate. The secondary outcomes include the dominant follicle rate, mean number of dominant follicles, endometrial thickness, time point of ovulation, follicular size before ovulation, luteinizing hormone, estradiol level, and pregnancy rate. The measuring points for outcomes will be baseline and the completion of treatment. Any adverse events occurring during the trial process will be recorded. In addition, a quality-monitoring group independent from the research team will be set up to control the quality of the trial.DiscussionThe design and methodological rigor of this trial will allow for the collection of valuable data to evaluate the effectiveness of electroacupuncture for treating polycystic ovary syndrome. Therefore, this trial will contribute reliable evidence for use in clinical decision-making in acupuncture therapy of polycystic ovary syndrome as well as to future research in acupuncture for polycystic ovary syndrome.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-IOR-15007358, registered on 26 October 2015

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness of electroacupuncture for polycystic ovary syndrome: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Chen

Feng

Zeng

et al. 2016

Trials

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“…Scrutiny of the Cochrane Database, purportedly the highest form of evidence and consisting of highquality, independent systematic reviews, only identified nine reviews which directly related to acupuncture and women's reproductive health (Yu et al, 2005;Zhang et al, 2010;Lim et al, 2011;Smith et al, 2011a;2011b;Zhu et al, 2011;Cheong et al, 2013;Dodin et al, 2013). These registered reviews assessed acupuncture for premenstrual syndrome (Yu et al, 2005), uterine fibroids (Zhang et al, 2010), polycystic ovary disease (Lim et al, 2011), dysmenorrhea (Smith et al, 2011a), endometriosis (Zhu et al, 2011), pain in labour (Smith et al, 2011b), induction of labour (Smith et al, 2013), menopausal hot flushes (Dodin et al, 2013), and assisted reproductive technology (Cheong et al, 2013). Of these nine reviews, three had no included studies (Yu et al, 2005;Zhang et al, 2010;Lim et al, 2011) and eight were carried out between 2010 and 2013.…”

Section: Evidence Base For Acupuncture and Female Reproductive Disordersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These registered reviews assessed acupuncture for premenstrual syndrome (Yu et al, 2005), uterine fibroids (Zhang et al, 2010), polycystic ovary disease (Lim et al, 2011), dysmenorrhea (Smith et al, 2011a), endometriosis (Zhu et al, 2011), pain in labour (Smith et al, 2011b), induction of labour (Smith et al, 2013), menopausal hot flushes (Dodin et al, 2013), and assisted reproductive technology (Cheong et al, 2013). Of these nine reviews, three had no included studies (Yu et al, 2005;Zhang et al, 2010;Lim et al, 2011) and eight were carried out between 2010 and 2013. The review by Smith et al (2011a) included ten trials (944 women) on acupuncture for dysmenorrhoea and provided some indication of reduction in period pain and similarly her review for management of pain during labour (13 trials, 1986 women) indicated that acupuncture may have a role in pain reduction and patients reported increased satisfaction and a reduction in the use of pharmacological management (Smith et al, 2013).…”

Section: Evidence Base For Acupuncture and Female Reproductive Disordersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating acupuncture: are there positive health outcomes for women?

Robinson

2017

J. Zhejiang Univ. Sci. B

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The key health issues for women tend to be primarily associated with the female reproductive system. There are also other gender priorities and consequences associated with ageing, which require effective interventions. Acupuncture is used worldwide and its evidence base is increasing on both mechanisms of action and its effectiveness in clinical care. Although acupuncture may be a valuable addition to healthcare for some conditions, it is rarely fully integrated into mainstream Western medicine clinical practice. Inadequate design and poor reporting of clinical trials have been barriers. Additionally systematic reviews and meta-analyses have tended to be equivocal and have reported that there is insufficient evidence for its recommendation. Future research should focus on ensuring good trial design including cost effectiveness and qualitative data and using a more pragmatic stance which reflects acupuncture in clinical practice. Undoubtedly, effective interventions are always needed to ensure the best health outcomes and address preventable deaths, morbidities, and disabilities among women but integration will be compromised unless underpinned by good evidence.

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“…44 Acupuncture is a safe, viable alternative. 44 In their review paper, Lim and Wong state that acupuncture may help to increase blood flow to the ovaries, reduce ovarian volume and the number of ovarian cysts, and control hyperglycaemia by increasing insulin sensitivity and decreasing blood glucose and insulin levels. Acupuncture's mode of action is by modulation of endogenous regulatory systems, including the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine and the neuroendocrine systems.…”

Section: Research On Acupuncture and Pcosmentioning

confidence: 99%