OBJECTIVETo explore the best therapy for infertility caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

METHODSOne hundred and twenty patients were randomized into three groups, a clomi-phene group (group A), an acupuncture-moxibustion + Chinese medicine group (group B) and a clomiphene + acupuncture-moxibustion+ Chinese medicine group (group C), 40 cases in each one. In the group A, since the 5th day of menstruation, clomiphene was prescribed for oral administration. In the group B, on the 5th day of menstruation, warm needling therapy was applied at Zhongji (CV 3), Guanyuan (CV 4), Guilai (ST 29), etc. Additionally, the Chinese herbal medication for tonifying the kidney and activating blood circulation was provided. In the group C, the therapy as the group B was combined on the basis of the treatment as the group A. The treatment lasted continuously for 3 menstrual cycles. The endometrial thickness, endometrial type and cervical mucus score on human chorionic gon adotropin (HCG) day, and ovulatory cycle rate, clinical pregnancy rate and abortion rate after treatment were observed in the patients of the three groups.

RESULTS1) HCG day cervical mucus score, endometrial thickness and endometrial morphology (A type rate): the results in the group C were better than those in the group A (all P<0.01); the results in the group B were better than those in the group A (all P<0.05). The difference in the endometrial thickness was not significant in comparison between the group C and the group B (P>0.05). The cervical mucus score and endometrial morphology (A type rate) in the group C were better than those in the group B (both P<0.05). 2) The ovulatory cycle rates in the group A and group (C were higher than that in the group B (both P<0.05), the pregnancy rate in the group C was higher than that in the other groups (both P<0.05), and the early abortion rate in the group C was lower than that in the group A and group B (both P<0.01). 3) Follicle diameter from 18 mm to 20 mm and endometrial thickness: the differences were not significant between the normal pregnancy patients and the early abortion patients (both P>0.05). The endometrial morphology A type rate in the normal pregnancy patients was higher than that in the early abortion patients (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined therapy of acupuncture, herbal medicine and clomiphene improves the pregnancy rate and reduces early abortion rate by effectively improving HCG day cervical mucus, endometrial thickness and morphology. The efficacy is apparently superior to the simple medication with clomiphene and the combined application of acupuncture and herbal medicine.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Administration, Oral ; Adult ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; metabolism ; Clomiphene ; administration & dosage ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Fertility Agents, Female ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; drug therapy ; etiology ; metabolism ; therapy ; Moxibustion ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy differences between ginger-separated moxibustion atpoints combined withformula andformula alone on patients with decreased ovarian reserve function.

METHODSFifty patients of decreased ovarian reserve function were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 25 cases in each one. The patients in the observation group were treated with ginger-separated moxibustion atpoints combined withformula; the moxibustion was given for 1.5 h, once every seven days, and no treatment was given during menstrual period. The patients in the control group were treated withformula. One-month treatment was taken as one treatment course, and totally three courses were given. The change of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E), anti-mullerian hormone (AMH), antral follicle count (AFC), peak systolic velocity (PSV), resistance index (RI) were observed before and after treatment in the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the FSH, FSH/LH and RI were significantly lowered, but the E, AFC, PSV were significantly increased in the two groups (all<0.05); the FSH, FSH/LH and Ein the observation group were lower and AFC was higher than those in the control group (all<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe ginger-separated moxibustion atpoints combined withformula are superior toformula alone in improving ovarian reserve function.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical therapeutic effects and safety on infertility of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in the patients with ovulation induction with letrozole in the treatment with the formula for regulating menstruation and removing phlegm and electroacupuncture (EA).

METHODSA total of 120 patients of PCOS infertility were randomized into 3 groups, 40 cases in each one. In the group A, diane-35 was prescribed for oral administration (one tablet a day since the 5th day of menstruation, continuously for 21 days). After 1 course of treatment (3 months), letrozole was used (one tablet a day since the 5th day of menstruation, continuously for 5 days) for ovulation induction for another 1 course (3 months). In the group B, on the basis of the treatment as the group A, since the 5th day of menstruation, the Chinese herbal formula was combined to regulate menstruation and remove phlegm, one dose a day and discontinued during menstruation. In the group C, on the basis of the treatment as the group B, EA was added since the 5th day of menstruation. The main acupoints were Guanyuan (CV 4), Zusanli (ST 36) and Fenglong (ST 40), etc. EA was applied once every 2 days and discontinued during menstruation. In all of the 3 groups, the treatment for 3 months was as 1 course and the 2 courses were required continuously. Before and after treatment, the menstruation improvements, body weight, body mass index (BMI), serum sex hormones [luteal production hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), LH/FSH, total testosterone (T) and estradiol (E)] were observed in the patients of each group. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was adopted to determine the content of anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B (IHNB). The therapeutic effects, safety, ovulation rate and pregnancy rate were compared among the 3 groups.

RESULTS(1) The differences were significant statistically in the total effective rate, ovulation rate and pregnancy rate in comparison of the 3 groups (all<0.05). The results in the group C were the best and those in the group B were the better in the comparison of the 3 groups. (2) After treatment, the menstrual cycle was remarkably shortened in the 3 groups (all<0.05). The result in the group C was better than that in the group A (<0.05). After treatment, the body weight in the group B and group C was all reduced (both<0.05). The reducing degree in the group C was better than that in the group A (<0.05). The differences in BMI were not significant statistically before and after treatment in each group as well as in comparison among the groups (all>0.05). (3) After treatment, the levels of LH and LH/FSH were all reduced remarkably in the 3 groups (all<0.05). The differences were not significant statistically in comparison among the three groups (all>0.05). After treatment, in the group B and group C, the levels of T and AMH were all reduced remarkably (all<0.05), in which, T value in the group C was lower than that in the group A and group B, that in the group B was lower than the group A (all<0.05). AMH value in the group C was lower than that in the group A (<0.05). The differences were not significant statistically in FSH, Eand IHNB before and after treatment in each group as well as in comparison among the 3 groups (all>0.05). (4) The luteinized unreuptured follicle syndrome (LUFS) did not happen in the group C. There were 3 cases of LUFS (7.5%) in the group B and 5 cases (12.5%) in the group A.

CONCLUSIONFor PCOS infertility patients receiving ovulation induction with letrozole, the combined treatment with the Chinese herbal formula for regulating menstruation and removing phlegm and EA remarkably improves the menstrual cycle, reduces body weight and the levels of LH, LH/FSH, T and AMH, improves ovulation and pregnancy rates. This therapy does not induce adverse reactions and the therapeutic effects are better than the simple application of letrozole or the combined therapy of letrozole and Chinese herbal medicine.