OBJECTIVETo observe the effects differences for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) between periodic therapy of acupuncture and diane-35 and to explore its mechanism.

METHODSSixty patients were randomly assigned into an acupuncture group and a western medication group, 30 cases in each one, 29 patients finally included with one case dropping out respectively. In the acupuncture group, periodic therapy was mainly used at bilateral Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Dahe (KI 12), Guilai (ST 29), Guanyuan (CV 4), Zhongji (CV 3), with different acupoints in the postmenstrual, intermenstrual, premenstrual periods, once every other day, 3 times a week. EA (2 Hz/100 Hz) was used at bilateral Dahe (KI 12) and Guilai (ST 29). If treatment, FSH increased and LH, LH/FSH, T decreased in the two groups (all<0.05), but T level and the different value before and after treatment in the western medication group were better than those in the acupuncture group (both<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPeriodic therapy of acupuncture is probably one of the effective methods for PCOS, which can improve patients' clinical symptoms, sex hormone level, and menstrual cycle. there was no discomfort during menstrual period, no treatment was given. In the western medication group, diane-35 was prescribed orally for 21 days as a course, with 7 days at interval, one tablet a day. All the treatment was started on the fifth day of the menstrual circle, for continuously 3 months. The indexes were observed before and after treatment, including the menstrual circle, acne score, body mass index (BMI), serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), LH/FSH and testosterone (T). The effects of the two groups were compared.

RESULTSThe total effective rate was 75.9% (22/29) in the acupuncture group, which was not significantly different from 79.3% (23/29) in the western medication group (>0.05). The menstrual cycles were shorter after treatment in the two groups (both<0.05), with better effect and different value before and after treatment in the acupuncture group (both<0.05). BMI in the acupuncture group after treatment was lower than that before treatment (<0.05) and that after treatment in the western medicine group (<0.01), with better different value before and after treatment in the acupuncture group (<0.05). The acne scores after treatment decreased in the two groups (both<0.05), without significant difference after treatment between the two groups (>0.05). After treatment,FSH increased and LH,LH/FSH,T decreased in the two groups (all<0.05),but T level and the different value before and after treatment in the western medication group were better than those in the acupuncture group (both<0.05). Conclusion Periodic therapy of acupuncture is probably one of the effective methods for PCOS,which can improve patients' clinical symptoms,sex hormone level,and menstrual cycle.