[Acupuncture artificial menstrual cycle method for abnormal uterine bleeding-ovulatory dysfunction (spleen deficiency syndrome)].

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy between acupuncture artificial menstrual cycle method and medication artificial menstrual cycle method for abnormal uterine bleeding-ovulatory (AUB-O) dysfunction (spleen deficiency syndrome).

Methods: Sixty patients were randomly assigned into an observation group and a control group, 30 cases in each one. 3 cases dropped out in the observation group and 27 cases were included into analysis; 2 cases dropped out in the control group and 28 cases were included into analysis. The patients in the observation group were treated with acupuncture artificial menstrual cycle method. The acupoints were selected according to different stages of menstrual cycle. The acupuncture was given for 30 min per treatment, once every other day; no treatment was given during menstrual period. Xuehai (SP 10), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Taixi (KI 3), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6), Zusanli (ST 36) and Zhangmen (LR 13) were selected after menstrual period. Taichong (LR 3), Hegu (LI 4), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Geshu (BL 17), Ganshu (BL 18), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Pishu (BL 20) were selected in ovulaton periods. Baihui (GV 20), Shenshu (BL 23), Yaoyangguan (GV 3), Geshu (BL 17), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Zusanli (ST 36), Gongsun (SP 4) were selected before menstrual period. The patients in the control group were treated with medication artificial menstrual cycle method. Femoston (estradiol tablets/estradiol dydrogesterone tablets) was taken orally. The white tablets were estradiol (1 mg), while the gray tablets were estradiol (1 mg) and dydrogesterone (10 mg). The Femoston was taken once a day, white tablets for the first 14 days, then gray tablets for the last 14 days. The 28-day treatment was taken as one session, and one cycle menstrual was taken as one treatment course, and totally 3 courses were given in the two groups. The clinical symptom score was observed before and after treatment as well as in follow-up visit (3 months after treatment). The clinical efficacy was evaluated based on the total effective rate, the marked effective rate of main symptoms (including menstrual cycle, menstrual period, menstrual volume) and basal body temperature (BBT).

Results: ① Compared before treatment, the clinical symptom score in the two groups was decreased after treatment and in the follow-up visit (<0.05). Compared with the control group, the clinical symptom score after treatment as well as the difference of that before and after treatment had no significant difference in the observation group (>0.05). Compared with the control group, the clinical symptom score in the follow-up visit as well as the difference of that between pre-treatment and follow-up visit had significant difference in the observation group (<0.05, <0.01). ② The total effective rate was 81.5% (22/27) in the observation group and 85.7% (24/28) in the control group, without significant difference between the two groups (>0.05). ③ After treatment, the marked effective rate of menstrual cycle, menstrual period, menstrual volume had no significant difference between the two groups (>0.05); during the follow-up visit, the marked effective rate of menstrual cycle in the observation group was superior to that in the control group (<0.05), but that of menstrual period and menstrual volume had no significant difference between the two groups (>0.05). ④ After treatment, the diphasic curve rate of BBT had no significant difference between the two groups (>0.05); during the follow-up visit, the diphasic curve rate of BBT in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (<0.05).

Conclusion: Acupuncture artificial menstrual cycle method has superior efficacy for AUB-O dysfunction (spleen deficiency syndrome), which has similar efficacy with medication artificial menstrual cycle method. Moreover, acupuncture has advantages in regulating menstrual cycle and improving ovulation, and has a longer curative effect.