[Acupuncture-moxibustion treatment by stages based on the theory of "transformation of and " for premature ovarian insufficiency].

Objective: To compare the efficacy between acupuncture-moxibustion treatment by stages and femoston for premature ovarian insufficiency (POI).

Methods: A total of 66 patients with POI were randomly divided into an observation group (33 cases, 3 cases dropped off) and a control group (33 cases, 2 cases dropped off). The patients in the observation group, based on the theory of "transformation of and ", were treated with acupuncture-moxibustion by stages in the postmenstrual period, ovulatory period, premenstrual period and menstrual period, once every other day, 3 times a week. The patients in the control group were treated with oral administration of femoston (estradiol tablets/estradiol and dydrogesterone tablets, 1 tablet per day). Both groups were treated for 3 menstrual cycles. The ovarian function (serum follicle-stimulating hormone [FSH], luteinizing hormone [LH], estradiol [E], anti-mullerian hormone [AMH] and antral follicle count [AFC]) and perimenopausal symptoms [modified Kupperman index (KI) scale score] were observed before and after treatment, and the menstrual improvement of the two groups was compared.

Results: Compared before treatment, the serum levels of FSH and LH were decreased (<0.01), the levels of E were increased (<0.01) in the two groups after treatment; the serum level of AMH and AFC in the observation group were increased after treatment (<0.01). After treatment, the serum level of AMH and AFC in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (<0.05). After treatment, there was no significant difference in the menstrual return rate and menstrual regularity rate between the amenorrhea patients of the two groups (>0.05). After treatment, the modified KI scale scores in the two groups were reduced (<0.01), and the modified KI scale score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (<0.05).

Conclusion: Acupuncture- moxibustion treatment by stages based on the theory of "transformation of and " has similar efficacy with femoston in improving serum sex hormone level and menstrual symptoms in patients with POI, and has advantages in improving serum AMH level, AFC and perimenopausal symptoms.