[Acupuncture Stimulation of Acupoints of Multiple Meridians for Patients with Diminished Ovarian Reserve of Both Yin and Yang Deficiency].

Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture stimulation of acupoints of the Conception Vessel, Kidney Meridian, Spleen Meridian, and Bladder Meridian on menstrual cycles and duration, and serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estrogen 2 (E(2)) levels in patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR).

Methods: A total of 96 patients with DOR of both yin and yang deficiency were randomly divided into medication group and acupuncture group (n = 48 cases in each group). Patients of the medication group were treated by Estradiol Valerate tablets, 2 mg/d on the first 10 days, and Estradiol Cyproterone, 3 mg/d from day 11 to 21, followed by 5 -7 days' rest, and the next therapeutic course, continuously for 6 months. For patients of the acupuncture group, filiform acupuncture needles were separately inserted into every 5 points of the Conceptional Vessel, Kidney, Spleen and Bladder Meridians, manipulated with uniform reinforcing and reducing methods till Deqi, and retained for 40 min. The treatment was conducted once daily for consecutive 10 days in one menstrual cycle, beginning from the 10(th) day on after menstruation, which was repeated for 6 months. The integrative scores (normal = 0, mild=2, moderate=4 and severe=6 points) of menstrual cycle, menstrual duration, amount, color, quality [blood blot or ame- nia, symptoms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)] were assessed according to "Guiding Principles for Clinical Trials of New Drugs of Chinese Materia Medica". Serum FSH, LH and E(2) contents were detected by Roche's electrochemical luminescence method.

Results: After the treatment, of the two 48 cases in the medication and acupuncture groups, 12 (25.0%) and 20 (4.7) were cured, 11 (22.9 %) and 12 (25.0 %) experienced marked improvement in their symptoms, 20 (41.7%) and 10 (20.8%) were effective, and 5 (10.4%) and 6 (12.5%) failed, with the effective rate being 89.6% and 87.5%, respectively. The integral score of TOM symptoms, menstrual cycle, serum FSH, LH and E2 contents were considerably diminished in both groups after 6 months of treatment (P<0.05), and the TOM symptom score, menstrual cycle, and serum FSH, LH and E2 levels were significantly lower in the acupuncture group than in the medication group 6 months after cease of the treatment (P<0.05), while the menstrual duration in each cycle was notably longer in both groups after the treatment, and evidently longer in the acupuncture group than in the medication group 6 months after cease of the treatment (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between the two groups in the effective rate, score of TOM symptoms, menstrual cycle and duration, and serum FSH, LH and E(2) contents following the treatment (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Acupuncture stimulation of acupoints of the Conception Vessel, Kidney, Spleen, and Bladder Meridians is effective in improving clinical symptoms of DOR patients with deficiency of both yin and yang, and has a longer effect, which may be closely associated with its functions in lowering serum FSH, LH and E(2) levels through regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis.