Effect of Acupuncture and Clomiphene in Chinese Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Abstract

for the PCOSAct Study Group IMPORTANCE Acupuncture is used to induce ovulation in some women with polycystic ovary syndrome, without supporting clinical evidence.OBJECTIVE To assess whether active acupuncture, either alone or combined with clomiphene, increases the likelihood of live births among women with polycystic ovary syndrome. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTSA double-blind (clomiphene vs placebo), single-blind (active vs control acupuncture) factorial trial was conducted at 21 sites (27 hospitals) in mainland China between July 6, 2012, and November 18, 2014, with 10 months of pregnancy follow-up until October 7, 2015. Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome were randomized in a 1:1:1:1 ratio to 4 groups.INTERVENTIONS Active or control acupuncture administered twice a week for 30 minutes per treatment and clomiphene or placebo administered for 5 days per cycle, for up to 4 cycles. The active acupuncture group received deep needle insertion with combined manual and low-frequency electrical stimulation; the control acupuncture group received superficial needle insertion, no manual stimulation, and mock electricity. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Among Chinese women with polycystic ovary syndrome, the use of acupuncture with or without clomiphene, compared with control acupuncture and placebo, did not increase live births. This finding does not support acupuncture as an infertility treatment in such women. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Effect of hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance on endocrine, metabolic and fertility outcomes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing ovulation induction

“…The data in the study were from a large randomized controlled trial (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Acupuncture and Clomiphene Trial, PCOSAct) conducted at 21 sites (27 hospitals) from 2012 to 2015. PCOSAct was registered with Clinical https://Trials.gov (NCT01573858) and https://chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR‐TRC‐12002081). The protocol was approved by the local ethics committees at all sites, and all women signed a consent form before being enrolled in the trial.…”

“…The protocol was approved by the local ethics committees at all sites, and all women signed a consent form before being enrolled in the trial. The study design, methods, and inclusion and exclusion criteria have been described in detail else where, and the main results were published in details in JAMA …”

“…The study design, methods, and inclusion and exclusion criteria have been described in detail else where, 11 and the main results were published in details in JAMA. 10 A total of 1000 women with PCOS ranging in age from 20 to 40 years fulfilled the diagnostic criteria according to the modified Rotterdam criteria, 12,13 including oligomenorrhoea or amenorrhoea together with clinical or biochemical hyperandrogenism and/or polycystic ovaries. Oligomenorrhoea is defined as an intermenstrual interval >35 days or <8 menstrual bleedings in the past year.…”

Acupuncture May Improve Quality of Life in Menopausal Women: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

“…The mechanism of acupuncture treatment is only beginning to be understood. Since some RCTs showed a negative outcome of acupuncture treatment [23], clinical practice guidelines are inconsistent in recommendations about acupuncture. Thus, further research is needed.…”

Successful Natural Pregnancy Using Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine in a Complex Anovulatory Patient After Multiple Unsuccessful In Vitro Fertilization Treatments: A Case Report

“…Acupuncture alone may not be sufficient to improve ovulation and live birth in PCOS patients. 4 When she began the Chinese herbs, she had 2 ovulatory cycles in 3 months but did not achieve a pregnancy.…”