Acupuncture combined with metformin versus metformin alone to improve pregnancy rate in polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Trends in acupuncture for infertility: a scoping review with bibliometric and visual analysis

Background

Unexplained recurrent implantation failure and the high cost of assisted reproductive techniques for those experiencing infertility have increasingly resulted in the use of acupuncture. However, the trends and research status of acupuncture on infertility resulting in natural conception have not been systematically summarized. This scoping review and knowledge graph analysis aimed to summarize existing clinical studies on acupuncture for infertility that resulted in natural conception.

Methods

Seven databases, namely, PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang Data, and SinoMed, were searched up to August 2023 (updated on 1 April). Two authors independently identified related clinical studies and systematic reviews, and extracted data from included studies on acupuncture for infertility; any discrepancies were resolved by discussion or judged by a third author. A meta-analysis was conducted based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and data were synthesized using risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals.

Results

Of the 310 articles meeting the inclusion criteria, 274 were primary studies, 7 were systematic reviews, and 29 were case reports. Reported adverse events included mild ovarian irritation and early signs of miscarriage. Out of the 274 primary studies, there were 40 (14.60%) cases of male infertility and 234 (85.40%) cases of female infertility. Current research highlights on acupuncture for infertility focused on female infertility caused by polycystic ovary syndrome, ovulation disorder, and luteinized unruptured follicle syndrome (LUFS), while acupuncture for male infertility was a hotspot in the early research stage. The meta-analysis also suggested that acupuncture was more effective than human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) [RR = 1.89, 95% CI (1.47, 2.42), 11 RCTs, 662 participants]. Acupuncture combined with HCG was comparable to HCG [RR = 2.33, 95% CI (1.53, 3.55), four RCTs, 259 participants]. Compared with no treatment, acupuncture resulted in a higher pregnancy rate [RR = 22.12, 95% CI (1.39, 353.09), one RCT, 47 participants]. There was no statistical difference between acupuncture combined with HCG plus letrozole and HCG plus letrozole [RR = 1.56, 95% CI (0.84, 2.89), one RCT, 84 participants].

Conclusion

Current research highlights on acupuncture for infertility resulting in natural conception focused on female infertility caused by polycystic ovary syndrome, ovulation disorder, and LUFS, while studies on male infertility and female infertility caused by blockage in the fallopian tube, thin endometrium, and other factors were insufficient. Well-designed confirmatory clinical studies are still needed as the research hypotheses of most studies were unclear.

Effects and mechanisms of acupuncture on women related health

Globally, public health interventions have resulted in a 30-year increase in women's life expectancy. However, women's health has not increased when socioeconomic status is ignored. Women's health has become a major public health concern, for those women from developing countries are still struggling with infectious and labor-related diseases, and their counterparts in developed countries are suffering from physical and psychological disorders. In recent years, complementary and alternative medicine has attracted wide attentions with regards to maintaining women's health. Acupuncture, a crucial component of traditional Chinese medicine, has been used to treat many obstetric and gynecological diseases for thousands of years due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects and its effects on stimulating the sympathetic/parasympathetic nervous system. To fully understand the mechanism through which acupuncture exerts its effects in these diseases would significantly extend the list of available interventions and would allow for more reasonable advice to be given to general practitioners. Therefore, by searching PubMed and CNKI regarding the use of acupuncture in treating obstetric and gynecological diseases, we aimed to summarize the proven evidence of using acupuncture in maintaining women's health by considering both its effectiveness and the underlying mechanisms behind its effects.

Underlying mechanisms of acupuncture therapy on polycystic ovary syndrome: Evidences from animal and clinical studies

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine and metabolic disorder among women of reproductive age. Current standard treatment includes lifestyle change, oral pharmacological agents, and surgical modalities. However, the efficacy of current therapies is less than satisfactory. Clinical evidence has shown that acupuncture is effective for regulating hormone levels, promoting ovulation, and attenuating insulin resistance in patients with PCOS. Acupuncture may affect the production of β-endorphin, which may lead to gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion and then affect ovulation, menstrual cycle, and fertility. The mechanism of acupuncture for patients with PCOS has not been comprehensively reviewed so far. Better understanding of the mechanisms of acupuncture would help popularize the use of acupuncture therapy for patients with PCOS. In this narrative review, we aimed to overview the potential mechanisms and evidence-based data of acupuncture on PCOS, and analyze the most frequently used acupoints based on animal and clinical studies. The results of this study will contribute to a better understanding of the current situation in this field.