OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect on treatment of premature ovarian failure (POF) patients by Bushen Tiaojing Recipe (BTR) and hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

METHODSTotally 72 POF patients were randomly assigned to three groups by random digit table, i.e., the Chinese medicine group, the Western medicine group, and the integrative medicine group, 24 in each group. Those in the Chinese medicine group took BTR. Those in the Western medicine group were treated by HRT. Those in the integrative medicine group were treated by BTR + HRT. All were treated for three courses and followed-up for 3 months after treatment. The clinical efficacy, integrals of clinical symptoms, and serum sex hormones levels [follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (E2), luteinizing hormone (LH)] were compared among the three groups before treatment, at the end of treatment, and 3 months after withdrawal.

RESULTS(1) The total effective rate was better in the integrative medicine group than in the Chinese medicine group and the Western medicine group (P < 0.05). (2) At the end of treatment, the integrals of clinical symptoms decreased in the 3 groups when compared with before treatment in the same group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The integrals of clinical symptoms were higher at 3 months after withdrawal than at the end of treatment in the Western medicine group (P < 0.05). But there was no statistical difference in changes of integrals between the Chinese medicine group and the integrative medicine group (P > 0.05). (3) By the end of treatment serum E2 increased (P < 0.01), FSH and LH decreased (P < 0.01) in the three groups, more significantly in the integrative medicine group and the Western medicine group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). At 3 months after withdrawal serum E2 decreased, FSH and LH increased in the Western medicine group, showing statistical difference when compared with the other two groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in changes of serum E2, FSH, or LH between the Chinese medicine group and the integrative medicine group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBTR combined HRT had significant effect on treatment of POF, could significantly improve patients' clinical symptoms, menstrual states, and serum sex hormones levels. It had lower recurrence rate. Patients suffered from less adverse reactions.