2021 Medicine

Acupuncture can effectively improve the post voided residual urine, maximal cystometric capacity, and bladder capacity for first voiding desire values of patients with urinary retention after hysterectomy.

There is insufficient evidence that acupuncture can increase the patient's MFR, BR, and UIR. However, acupuncture can effectively improve the PVR, maximal cystometric capacity, and bladder capacity for first voiding desire values of patients with urinary retention after hysterectomy. Although limited due to the quality and methodological limitations of the included studies, acupuncture can still be used as an effective and safe treatment for women with urinary retention after hysterectomy.

Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for urinary retention after hysterectomy Zhao Q, Yan C, Dan M, Jia H

2021 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Acupuncture could improve body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio as well as insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in patients with PCOS.

Overall, we found that acupuncture was closely associated with decreased BMI, WHR, FPG, and HOMA-IR and that acupuncture could significantly improve HOMA-IR and the level of fasting glucose in patients with PCOS, which confirms previous reports. It is also reported that acupuncture can decrease BMI and WHR. FINS, 2hFPG, and 2hFINS were reduced in the acupuncture groups, but these differences were not significantly different.

The results of the lipid profile were reported in a few studies, and we found that acupuncture significantly improved triglycerides levels, while the differences in total cholesterol, LDL-C, and HDL-C were not significant.

Acupuncture seems to be associated with a few adverse events, and the reported adverse events, such as bleeding, were mild and transient, demonstrating that acupuncture is safe and reliable. Thus, we conclude that acupuncture, compared with standard therapy, is more effective and safer in improving glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity in patients with PCOS.

The Effect of Acupuncture on Glucose Metabolism and Lipid Profiles in Patients with PCOS: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Ruqun Zheng, Peng Qing, Mei Han, Jinlong Song, Min Hu, Hongxia Ma, Juan Li

2020 Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science

The present study indicated that acupuncture had an advantage over hormone replacement therapy in reducing serum FSH level and increasing serum E2 level in women with premature ovarian insufficiency.

Eight eligible RCTs with a total of 496 POI patients were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled results showed that there was a significant reduction in the basal serum FSH level and a remarkable elevation in the basal E2 level in the acupuncture group when compared with the control. Subgroup analysis showed that compared with HRT, a significant decrease in the FSH level was observed in both acupuncture alone and acupuncture plus HRT, while a remarkable elevation of E2 was only found in acupuncture plus HRT. There was no significant difference in the LH level between acupuncture and HRT, only one trial reported AMH, and no significant difference was found between acupuncture and HRT.

Acupuncture for premature ovarian insufficiency: a systematic review and meta-analysis Yin, Yq., Xu, Hf., Fang, Yg. et al.

2020 Medicine

Acupuncture could promote the recovery of menstrual cycles as well as downregulate the levels of LH and testosterone in patients with PCOS.

Twenty two studies with 2315 participants were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. A pooled analysis showed a recovery of the menstrual period in the acupuncture group. Furthermore, there were significant decreases in the luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone in the acupuncture group. No significant differences were observed in the rates of live birth, pregnancy, and ovulation, and no significant differences were observed in the LH/follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio.

There was insufficient evidence to support that acupuncture could promote live birth, pregnancy, and ovulation. However, acupuncture could promote the recovery of menstrual cycles as well as downregulate the levels of LH and testosterone in patients with PCOS.

Effectiveness of acupuncture in polycystic ovary syndrome Wu J, Chen D, Liu N

2020 Deutsches Arzteblatt International

Acupuncture may be considered in patients with persistent, idiopathic vulvar pruritus.

Vulvar pruritus is a complex symptom of multifactorial origin, frequently affecting the patient’s quality of life. The treatment of patients with chronic pruritus (>6 weeks) is particularly challenging and often requires a multimodal strategy with an interdisciplinary approach. Besides the elimination of potential triggers and continuous lipid-replenishing basic care, antifungal agents and glucocorticoids are paramount. Medical professionals not specialized in the field should refer patients with refractory and/or suspicious lesions to an experienced gynecologist. A specimen should be obtained by punch biopsy for histological evaluation to rule out (pre-) malignant lesions.

It is central to the management of vulvar pruritus to offer a detailed discussion of the condition and treat patients with empathy. Their complaints should be taken seriously and patients should be informed about what could cause their symptoms and which treatment options are available for them.

Vulvar pruritus-Causes, Diagnosis and Therapeutic Approach Woelber L, Prieske K, Mendling W, Schmalfeldt B, Tietz HJ, Jaeger A.

2020 Complementary Therapies in Medicine

Acupuncture enhances Luteinized Unruptured Follicle Syndrome (LUFS) ovulation, hormone levels, artery characteristics.

This meta-analysis aimed to assess the overall effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for treating Luteinized Unruptured Follicle Syndrome (LUFS) using Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs). Ten studies with 715 participants were analyzed. Acupuncture, whether used alone or alongside other treatments, significantly improved ovulation rates, as confirmed by Trial Sequential Analysis. However, evidence regarding acupuncture's impact on pregnancy rates was insufficient. The studies also showed improvements in hormone levels and ovarian artery characteristics. The level of evidence for most outcomes was rated as "low" or "very low," emphasizing the need for cautious interpretation. The conclusion suggests that acupuncture, either alone or in combination with drugs, is effective in improving ovulation in LUFS cases. However, due to limited concurrent evidence, further high-quality studies are required to strengthen these findings.

Effects of acupuncture on Luteinized Unruptured Follicle Syndrome: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Xiaojuan Liu, Wenying Shi, Zhifeng Liu, Shuqing Shi, Chao Ke, Peiming Zhang, Zhenyu Tan, Wei Zhang

2019 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

This systematic review shows that the overall effectiveness of acupuncture treatment of premenstrual syndrome is superior to that of sham acupuncture and related medications.

Results. A total of 15 studies, comprising of 1103 cases, were included. Overall, acupuncture significantly increased the effective rate of PMS compared with medicine and sham acupuncture. Subgroup analyses showed no significant difference among different intervention time to start acupuncture treatment. Among the acupoints involved in the treatment of PMS, SP6, LR3, and RN4 were the most commonly used.

The current meta-analysis reveals that acupuncture leads to better effective rate, but the intervention time has no significant effect on the efficacy of acupuncture treatment for PMS. SP6, LR3, and RN4 are the most commonly used acupoints in treating PMS. However, large-scale, case-control studies with rigorous designs are required to provide more accurate evidence.

Acupuncture for Premenstrual Syndrome at Different Intervention Time: A Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis Zhang J, Cao L, Wang Y, Jin Y, Xiao X, Zhang Q

2018 Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Acupuncture may reduce overall mood and physical PMS symptoms when compared to sham. Acupressure may reduce the number of women having moderate to severe PMS symptoms when compared to sham acupressure.

The limited evidence available suggests that acupuncture and acupressure may improve both physical and psychological symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) when compared to a sham control. There was insufficient evidence to determine whether there was a difference between the groups in rates of adverse events.There is no evidence comparing acupuncture or acupressure versus current International Society for Premenstrual Disorders (ISPMD) recommended treatments for PMS, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Further research is required, using validated outcome measures for PMS, adequate blinding and suitable comparator groups reflecting current best practice.

Acupuncture and acupressure for premenstrual syndrome Armour M, Ee CC, Hao J, Wilson TM, Yao SS, Smith CA

2018 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

There is potential of acupuncture combined with conventional treatment for treating female chronic pelvic pain.

This review suggests the potential of acupuncture combined with conventional treatment compared to conventional treatment alone for treating female chronic pelvic pain. However, there is insufficient evidence to conclude that acupuncture can be recommended as a complementary and alternative (CAM) treatment for women with CPP. To draw a firm conclusion, future studies should require not only lager, more rigorously designed RCTs but also research on different acupuncture treatment types.

Acupuncture Treatment for Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Sung SH, Sung ADM, Sung HK, An TEB, Kim KH, Park JK

2017 Medicine

Acupuncture adjuvant to other active medications could affect hormonal levels such as LH, LH/FSH ratio, testosterone, and fasting insulin in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Although limited by heterogeneity across studies, we found that acupuncture adjuvant to other active medications could affect hormonal levels such as LH, LH/FSH ratio, testosterone, and fasting insulin. Neuroendocrinological mechanisms of acupuncture have been extensively studied not only in pain research but also in reproductive medicine. Acupuncture is also known to modulate hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, which can affect menstruation cycles. Given that acupuncture stimulates pituitary beta-endorphin production, which has a tonic inhibitory effect on gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulse generator and pituitary LH secretion, it is possible that acupuncture may reduce ovulatory dysfunction and thus decrease the secretion of ovarian androgens in women with PCOS. Considering detected heterogeneity from our analysis, known variability in hormonal levels, the poor standardization of assays, and the specific PCOS phenotypic features, however, the currently available data from RCTs has yet to allow us to draw any firm conclusion whether acupuncture affects hormonal levels, thus recovering ovulatory function and menstruation cycle in women with PCOS.

Acupuncture for polycystic ovarian syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis Jo, J., Lee, Y. J., & Lee, H.

2016 European Journal of Integrative Medicine

Acupuncture may have a positive impact on recovering menstrual cycles, reducing BMI, and lowering luteinizing hormone (LH) levels in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture in treating polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) was investigated. The review included nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving a total of 531 women with PCOS. The analysis revealed that acupuncture showed promise in improving the recovery of menstrual cycles, reducing body mass index (BMI), and lowering luteinizing hormone (LH) levels among women with PCOS. However, caution is advised in interpreting these findings due to the limited methodological quality of the included RCTs. Despite the positive outcomes observed in certain parameters, further high-quality research is needed to establish the full scope of acupuncture's potential as a treatment for PCOS.

The effects of acupuncture on polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis Qu F, Wu Y, Hu XY, Barry JA, Zhou J, Wang FF, Ye YH, Zhang R, Han SP, Han JS, Li R, Taw MB, Hardiman PJ, Robinson N

2015 Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Acupuncture may impact Luteinized Unruptured Follicle Syndrome (LUFS) by lowering FSH, increasing E2, and resuming menstruation.

This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the potential of acupuncture for treating Luteinized Unruptured Follicle Syndrome (LUFS) through Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs). Analyzing 8 studies involving 620 participants, the review found that acupuncture, whether alone or combined with drugs, could lower follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels and increase the likelihood of menstruation resumption. Serum estradiol (E2) levels significantly increased with acupuncture, while luteinizing hormone (LH) levels showed no clear changes. Limited data on adverse events (AEs) suggested acupuncture's relative safety. However, due to small sample sizes, risk of bias, and varying study methodologies, the overall evidence quality was rated as "low" or "very low." This suggests a potential benefit of acupuncture for LUFS, but further high-quality studies are necessary to establish its effectiveness and safety definitively.

Effectiveness of Acupuncture for Primary Ovarian Insufficiency: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Jo J, Lee YJ, Lee H

2015 The Journal of Sexual Medicine

Acupuncture appeared to reduce vulvar pain and dyspareunia with an increase in overall sexual function for women with vulvodynia.

This was the first randomized controlled pilot study to examine the use of acupuncture for the treatment of vulvodynia. The acupuncture protocol was feasible and in this small sample appeared to reduce vulvar pain and dyspareunia with an increase in overall sexual function for women with vulvodynia. This study should be replicated in a larger double-blinded randomized controlled trial.

Acupuncture for the Treatment of Vulvodynia: A Randomized Wait-List Controlled Pilot Study Schlaeger JM, Xu N, Mejta CL, Park CG, and Wilkie DJ.

2014 2014 IEEE Workshop on Electronics, Computer and Applications

Acupuncture shows promise in treating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

This study explores the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture as a treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), an endocrine and metabolic disorder characterized by ovulation failure and hyperandrogenism. The research involves a systematic review of 317 papers from various databases, identifying six high-quality randomized clinical trials with a total of 587 participants. The review indicates that acupuncture appears to be a safe treatment for PCOS, showing a statistically significant improvement in the total effective rate compared to control groups. However, due to the relatively low level of evidence, the efficacy of acupuncture in PCOS treatment remains promising but not definitively established, highlighting the need for more high-quality research.

Acupuncture for polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis Hong Ma, Xiaohong Quan, Jianwei Li, Bin and Xiuhua Chen

2011 BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Acupuncture seems promising for symptom improvement in women with premenstrual syndrome.

Ten RCTs were included in our review. The pooled results demonstrated that acupuncture is superior to all controls. A meta-analysis comparing the effects of acupuncture with different doses of progestin and/or anxiolytics supported the use of acupuncture. In addition, acupuncture significantly improved symptoms when compared with sham acupuncture. No evidence of harm resulting from acupuncture emerged. Most of the included studies demonstrated a high risk of bias in terms of random sequence generation, allocation concealment, and blinding.

Although acupuncture seems promising for symptom improvement in women with PMS, important methodological flaws in the included studies weaken the evidence. Considering the potential of acupuncture, further rigorous studies are needed.

Acupuncture for premenstrual syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials Kim SY, Park HJ, Lee H, Lee H

2010 Complementary Therapies in Medicine

Study finds acupuncture for PMS holds promise.

The effectiveness of acupuncture for treating premenstrual syndrome (PMS) remains uncertain. This study assessed nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on acupuncture's impact on PMS symptoms. Only two trials provided adequate information on sequence generation and allocation concealment. Four studies noted significant reductions in PMS symptoms with acupuncture compared to pharmaceutical treatment. Two trials reported improvements in primary symptoms for both acupuncture and herbal medication groups. Adverse events related to acupuncture were minimal, with only one case of a small subcutaneous hematoma reported. Overall, while the trials suggest potential benefits, methodological flaws limit the conclusive evidence for acupuncture in treating PMS.

Efficacy of acupuncture in management of premenstrual syndrome: A systematic review Seung-HunChoaJongwooKimb