Assisted
Reproduction Therapy (IVF)
Erectile Dysfunction
Inducing Ovulation with Electro-Acupuncture for PCOS
Infertility Study
Low Sperm Quality
Male Sterility
Menopause
Sperm Density
Electroacupuncture
effects
on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and anovulation
Pharmacological induction of ovulation is the traditional treatment
for women with PCOS who want to become pregnant, but suffer from
anovulation.
The aim of the
present study was to elucidate the effect of EA on endocrinological
and neuroendocrinological parameters as well as on anovulation in
women with PCOS.
Twenty-six
women, aged between 24 - 40 years, with PCOS and amenorrhea or
oligomenorrhea and no more than four spontaneous bleedings per year
and a typical ovarian ultrasonographic appearance of PCO, were
included in this non-randomized, longitudinal, prospective study.
Recording of vaginal bleedings and daily registrations of the basal
body temperature (BBT) confirmed the outcome in terms of ovulation
pattern throughout the entire study period. Blood samples for
analyses of neuropeptides, gonadotropins, gonadal steroids were
drawn from an antecubital vein. Ultrasound, body-mass index (BMI)
and waist to hip ratio (WHR) measurements were made before the EA
treatments and at the end of the study period.
Of 24 women, 9
experienced a good effect (38%) and displayed a mean of 0.66
ovulations per woman per month in the time during and after the EA
period compared to a mean of 0.15 ovulations per woman per month
before the EA period. The difference was significant. Fifteen women
experienced no effect (62%), and the number of ovulations did not
change in this group. Seven out of the 9 women that experienced good
effect were clomiphene resistant. This suggests that EA might serve
as a reasonable complement to first line therapies in ovulation
induction.
Before EA, the
group of women who would have a good effect were almost consistently
characterized by a significantly lower BMI, and WHR, lower
testosterone concentrations, testosterone/SHBG ratios and basal
insulin concentrations and significantly higher serum concentrations
of SHBG compared with those who would have no effect. So it was
possible to identify a distinct subgroup of women who responded well
to EA, i.e. those with a less distinct androgenic profile and a less
pronounced metabolic disturbance. A significant decrease in LH/FSH
ratio, testosterone and b-endorphin concentrations and a significant
increase in prolactin concentrations were seen in all women, when
concentrations before treatment were compared with concentrations 3
months after the EA period.
The present
study shows that repeated EA treatments exert long-lasting effects
on both endocrinological and neuroendocrinological parameters as
well as on anovulation in women with PCOS.
- Stener-Victorin E, Waldenstrom U, Tagnfors U,
Lundeberg T, Lindstedt G, Janson PO. Effects of
electro-acupuncture on anovulation in women with polycystic
ovary syndrome. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2000;79(3):180-8.
