Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2002; 7: 116–7
The aim was to induce ovulation with acupuncture in a woman with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
A 32-year-old woman presented with a 6-year history of primary infertility associated with very infrequent periods. She had polycystic ovaries on transvaginal ultrasound. Her LH–FSH ratio was > 3:1 (LH 21.1 IU/l; FSH 6.3 IU/l) and her testosterone level was 3.7 nmol/l (normal range 1.0–2.5 nmol/l).
Acupuncture was performed to stimulate ovulation. The acupoints Guanyuan (Ren 4), Zhongji (Ren 3), Zigong (Extra 16), and Sanyinjiao (Sp 6) were chosen. She had five daily treatments with electro-acupuncture at high frequency (TENS-like). Stimulation was maintained for 25 min. Transvaginal ultrasound was performed during and after the course of acupuncture to assess ovarian function.
After inducing a menstrual bleed, treatment was repeated in the next menstrual cycle (days 9–13; see Table 1). The woman had another menstrual bleed starting on day 35. She continued to have regular menstruation, despite the fact that acupuncture ceased to be performed. Three months later, she conceived and delivered a healthy baby girl at term. The use of acupuncture seems to have induced ovulation in this patient. The effect occurred rapidly and appears to have lasted after treatment. It is likely that the hypothalamus–pituitary–ovary–axis is involved in acupuncture-driven ovulation induction but the mechanisms involved remain unclear.
Table 1. Acupuncture stimulation to induce ovulation in the woman with PCOS
| Items | Before acupuncture | After acupuncture |
|---|---|---|
| Dominant follicle | No | 4.5–13mm (day 8–16) |
| Endometrial thickness | < 4.5 mm | 4.5–8mm (day 8–16) |
| Blood test | LH:FSH 3, Testosterone↑ | Progesterone↑ ( √ < 22) |
| Ovulation | No | Yes |
| Menstruation | No | Yes |
| Established cycle | No | Yes |
Acupuncture appears to have induced ovulation and a regular menstrual cycle in this woman with primary infertility associated with oligomenorrhoea and PCOS. However, limited research has been conducted in this area and it is unclear, therefore, whether such an effect truly exists and, if so, which mechanisms are responsible. There is clearly a need for a randomised controlled trial to investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture and its mechanism of action.
