Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Catgut ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; blood ; therapy ; Moxibustion ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect and mechanism of acupuncture on infertility of rats with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

METHODSPCOS rat model was induced by subcutaneous injection of oil solution of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in immature (24-day-old) female rats for continuous 20 days. Rats for control were given with same dose of oil for instead. PCOS rats were randomly divided into the model group untreated and the acupuncture group treated by needling acupoints of Guanyuan (CV4), Zhongji (CV3), Sanyin-jiao (SP6) and Zigong (CX-CA1), 15 min once a day for 5 continuous days, starting from the 80th day after birth. All rats were sacrificed at terminal of the treatment, their uterus and bilateral ovaries were dissected for observation and blood levels of sex hormones were measured.

RESULTScompared with the model group, the number of implanted blastocyte and blastocyte implantation rate were higher and the blood levels of testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) were lower in the acupuncture group (P < 0.05); but the difference between groups in serum levels of follicular stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone and progesterone were of statistical insignificance (P > 0.05). Moreover, the wet weight of ovary was lower and the equipotent diameter and area of glandular organ and cavity, area ratio of gland and the stroma, and mean thickness of endometria were higher in the acupuncture group than those in the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture can conspicuously downregulate the expressions of serum levels of T and E2, improve the development of ovaries and uterus, promote ovulation, enhance endometrial receptivity, and advance blastocyte implantation.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Animals ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Infertility, Female ; blood ; therapy ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; blood ; therapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-2, TNF-alpha) of peripheral blood and cervical mucous of infertile women with mycoplasma infection and the effect of intervention of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs).

METHODAccording to the results of culture of mycoplasma from genital tracts, 72 patients with positive mycoplasma were randomly divided into the TCM group (38 cases) and the western medicine group (34 cases). The western medicine group was treated with 0.5 g azithromycin for 3 days and consecutively treated for six courses of treatment, each course of treatment of 4 days. The TCM group were treated with Xiaozhi decoction twice every day for 6 weeks. The IL-1beta, IL-2 and TNF-alpha levels of the peripheral blood and cervical mucous of the two groups were measured by the Ria testing before and after the treatment, and the mycoplasma culture (-) of 32 infertile women as set for control.

RESULTBefore the treatment, TNF-alpha and IL-1beta in levels of the two treatment groups were higher than those of the control group (P < 0.01). In the TCM group, TNF-alpha and IL-1beta levels showed significant differences compared with those before the treatment (P < 0.05) and those of the western group after the treatment (P < 0.01); and IL-2 level didn't have significant change before and after the treatment. The cytokines in peripheral blood of the two treatment groups showed notable difference compared with those of the control group (P < 0.01). In TCM group, IL-2 level had remarkable difference compared with that before the treatment (P < 0.01) and compared with the control group after the treatment (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCytokines (IL-1beta, IL-2, TNF-alpha) in the peripheral blood and cervical mucous increase in infertile women with the mycoplasma infection, suggesting that TCMs can effectively inhibit the levels of IL-1beta, IL-2, TNF-alpha in the peripheral blood and IL-1beta, TNF-alpha in cervical mucous. It is proved that Xiaozhi decoction can be used to treat infertile women with mycoplasma infection.

Adult ; Cytokines ; blood ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Mycoplasma Infections ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate changes of serum total oxidation status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) and their association with apolipoprotein (a) [Apo(a)] in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) combined with infertility.

MWTHODSNinety patients with PCOS and infertility were selected as the study group, including 45 patients treated with antioxidants combined with Diane-35(group A) and 45 with Diane-35 therapy only (group B), with 45 healthy volunteers with normal menstruation and normal dual phase basic body temperatures as the control group. Serum TOS of the participants was determined by dual xylenol orange method, and serum TAS was determined with ABTS method; plasma Apo(a) level was determined by dual wavelength immune transmission turbidity method.

RESULTSBefore treatment, serum TOS, OSI, and Apo(a) levels were significantly higher and TAS level was significantly lower in the study group than in the control group (P<0.05). Serum TOS, OSI, and Apo (a) were significantly lowered and TAS was significantly increased in group A after the therapy as compared with the levels before therapy and the levels in group B. The rate of natural recovery of menstruation was significantly higher and the incidence of cardiovascular disease was significantly lower in group A than in group B (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that serum TOS and OSI were positively correlated with plasma Apo(a) (r=0.524 and 0.531, P<0.05), and serum TAS was negatively correlated with plasma Apo(a) (r=-0.519, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAntioxidant therapy can lower TOS, OSI and Apo(a) levels and increase TAS level to lessen oxidative stress, improve the prognosis, and reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease in patients with PCOS and infertility.

Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Apoprotein(a) ; blood ; Cyproterone Acetate ; therapeutic use ; Drug Combinations ; Ethinyl Estradiol ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; blood ; Oxidative Stress ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; blood ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo explore the impacts of electroacupuncture on embryo implanted potential and its molecular mechanism in the patients with infertility of different symptom complex.

METHODSAmong the patients with infertility treated with electroacupuncture and in vitro fertilization and embryo transplantation (IVF-ET), 82 cases of kidney deficiency (group A), 74 cases of liver qi stagnation (group B) and 54 cases of phlegm dampness (group C) were selected. All of the patients in three groups received long-program ovarian hyper-stimulation. Additionally, electroacupuncturecan was applied before controlled ovarian hyper-stimulation (COH) and in the process of ovarian hyper-stimulation. The levels of human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) in the serum were determined on the 2nd day of the menstruation (M2), on the day of human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) injection and on the day of embryo transplantation in the culture solution in three groups separately. The fertilization rate, implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were observed for the patients in three groups.

RESULTSThe levels of HLA-G in the serum on hCG injection day and in the culture solution on embryo transplantation day in group A and B were significantly higher than those in group C (all P < 0.05). But, there was no significant difference in serum HLA-G levels on M2 day among three groups. The high-quality embryo rate in either group A (73.6%, 352/478) or group B (70.6%, 379/537) was higher significantly than that in group C (54.2%, 208/384) separately, presenting statistical significant difference (all P < 0.01). But there were no significant differences in clinical pregnancy rate, fertilization rate and cleavage rate among three groups.

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture can increase the contents of HLA-G in the body and the level of HLA-G secreted in embryos for the patients in the process of IVF-ET. Eventually, the pregnancy outcome and the pregnancy rate are improved. The clinical effects of electroacupuncture for the patients of kidney deficiency and liver qi stagnation are better than those for the patients of phlegm dampness.

Chorionic Gonadotropin ; administration & dosage ; Electroacupuncture ; Embryo Implantation ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; HLA-G Antigens ; blood ; Humans ; Infertility ; blood ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy differences between acupuncture combined with medication and medication alone for infertility patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

METHODSAccording to random number table, a total of 60 infertility patients with PCOS were randomly assigned into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. The patients in the control group were treated with diane-35 from the 3rd day into menstruation, and one menstrual cycle was taken as a session of treatment. At the same time of using diane-35, the patients in the observation group were treated with acupuncture at Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Zigong (EX-CA 1), Shenshu (BL 23), Pishu (BL 20), Weishu (BL 21) and Ganshu (BL 18) during non-menstruation period; the acupuncture was given once every two days, three treatments per week. The patients in both groups were treated for two sessions. The basic sex hormone and body mass index (BMI) were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. After ovulation induction treatment, the endometrial thickness, amount of mature follicle, ovulation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, occurrence rate of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and the number of early spontaneous abortion were compared between the two groups during ovulation.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T) and BMI reduced in the observation group (all <0.05), while only LH reduced in the control group (<0.05). The reducing of estradiol (E), T and BMI in the observation group was more significant than that in the control group (all <0.05). The ovulation rate was 93.3% (28/30) in the observation group, which was higher than 80.0% (24/30) in the control group (<0.05). The rate of clinical pregnancy was 43.3% (13/30) in the observation group, which was higher than 33.3% (10/30) in the control group (<0.05). The differences of endometrial thickness, amount of mature follicle, occurrence rate of OHSS and number of early spontaneous abortion were not significant between the two groups (all >0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture as adjunctive treatment could improve BMI, reduce the levels of LH, E and T, increase ovulation reaction and effectively shorten reproduction cycles in infertility patients with PCOS.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Body Mass Index ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Cyproterone Acetate ; therapeutic use ; Drug Combinations ; Estradiol ; blood ; Ethinyl Estradiol ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; therapy ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Ovulation Induction ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of serum luteinizing hormone (LH) variation on clinical outcomes in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

METHODSA retrospective analysis was conducted in 314 patients with PCOS undergoing their first IVF cycle using standard long protocol. On the basis of LH concentrations on early-, mid- and late-follicular phase, the patients were divided into decreased LH (LH ratio≤1, group A) and increased LH (group B, LH ratio>1) groups in early- to mid-follicular phase, decreased LH (group C) and increased LH (group D) groups in mid- to late-follicular phase, and decreased LH (group E) and increased LH (group F, LH ratio>1) in early- to late-follicular phase. The clinical outcomes were compared between groups A and B, groups C and D, and between groups E and F.

RESULTSNo significant differences were found in the clinical outcomes between group A and B (P>0.05). The number of oocytes retrieved and the early abortion rate were significantly lower, but the normal fertilization rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate and ongoing pregnancy rate were significantly higher in group D than in group C (P<0.05). In group F, the early abortion rate was significantly lower and the ongoing pregnancy rate was significantly higher than those in group E (P<0.05), and no significant differences were found in other clinical outcomes between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONAn increase in LH level from early- or mid- to late-follicular phase has a positive effect on the clinical outcomes, but this LH variation in early- to mid-follicular phase does not affect the clinical outcomes.

Embryo Transfer ; methods ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; therapy ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Oocytes ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; blood ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of electroacupuncture therapy on oocyte quality and pregnancy outcome of patients with poor ovarian response or decreased reserve in the course of in vitro fertilization (IVF).

METHODSSixty cases accepting IVF-ET were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. The two groups were both treated with antagonist scheme for ovulation induction, and the electroacupuncture intervention was also added in the observation group, Guanyuan (CV 4), Taixi (KI 3), Sanyinjiao (SP 6) etc. were selected. The therapeutic effects in the two groups were compared after treatment.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference between the two groups before treatment. The symptoms of kidney difficiency in the observation group were significantly improved after treatment, and the levels of serum estradiol (E2), fertilization rate, oocyte maturation rate, good quality embryos rate, and implantation rate in the observation group were superior to those in the control group on human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) injection day (all P<0.05); the levels of stem cell factor (SCF) in follicular fluid and serum in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (both P<0.05). The pregnancy rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group, and the abortion rate in the observation group was lower than that in the control group, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (both P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture therapy has a good clinical effect for IVF patients with poor ovarian reserve, and can improve oocyte quality and pregnancy outcome.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Electroacupuncture ; Embryo Transfer ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; blood ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Ovary ; physiology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of elevated basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) on both the quantity and quality of oocytes and embryos and the clinical outcomes of pregnancy in women under 35 years of age.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was conducted for inspecting 294 in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles in women under 35 years of age. According to the basal FSH levels, the women were divided into groups A, B, and C with basal FSH of 10-14.99, 15-19.99 and ≥20 IU/L, respectively, to compare the average number of oocytes retrieved, morphologies of the oocytes and embryos, and clinical outcomes of pregnancy.

RESULTSGroup A showed greater average numbers of oocytes collected, total embryos and good-quality embryos with a lower gonadotrophin dose required to achieve follicular maturity than groups B and C. The 3 groups showed no significant differences in the percentage of metaphase II oocytes, optimal embryos-blastomere number, normal fertilization rate, cleavage rate, good-quality embryo rate, implantation rate, pregnancy rates, live birth rate or miscarriage rate, but the pregnancy rates and live birth rate tended to decrease in women with basal FSH ≥15 U/L.

CONCLUSIONIn women below 35 years of age, an elevated serum FSH (especially one ≥15 U/L) indicates diminished ovarian reserve and reduced numbers of oocyte and embryo but not poor oocyte or embryos quality, and good clinical pregnancy rate can still be expected.

Adult ; Embryo Transfer ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; blood ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

With the ascending attack rate of anovulatory infertility year by year, people also began to pay attention to its treat methods. According to Doctor Ma Kun,who are engaged in clinical work about the treatment for anovulatory infertility, kidney deficiency is the basic pathogenesis and blood stasis is an important factor that has been through. Flexible use of tonifying the kidney and promoting blood circulation treatment of anovulatory infertility in clinic, has achieved remarkable curative effect. Director Ma adjusts menstruation by the different periods, and regulates both patients' negative emotions and sleep quality. Through years of clinical experience accumulation, Director Ma gradually formes special treatment of anovulatory infertility by flexibly using of tonifying the kidney and promoting blood circulation individually.
Adult ; Anovulation ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Blood Circulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Kidney ; drug effects ; physiopathology