Effect on follicular development and pregnancy outcome treated with acupuncture and moxibustion therapy of in patients with luteal phase defect / 中国针灸

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion therapy of on ovulation and embryo implantation in luteal phase defect patients with spleen-kidney deficiency.@*METHODS@#A total of 80 patients were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 40 cases in each one.In the observation group,acupuncture was applied at Shenting (GV 24), Shenque (CV 8), Guanyuan (CV 4), Qixue (KI 13), Lieque (LU 7), Gongsun (SP 4), Taixi (KI 3), Zusanli (ST 36) and Taichong (LR 3). And moxibustion was given at Taixi (KI 3) using moxibustion box during follicular phase, the stimulation of Taichong (LR 3) was strengthened during ovulatory phase, moxibustion was adopted at Shenque (CV 8) to Guanyuan (CV 4), Zusanli (ST 36) and Taixi (KI 3) during luteal phase. In the control group, acupuncture was applied at Guanyuan (CV 4), Dahe (KI 12), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Ciliao (BL 32), Zhibian (BL 54) and Shenque (CV 8). Moxibustion was given at Sanyinjiao (SP 6) using moxibustion box during follicular phase, and moxibustion was adopted at Shenque (CV 8) to Guanyuan (CV 4) during luteal phase. The treatment were given every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and the treatment were stoped during menstrual period in the two groups. Totally 3 menstrual cycle treatment were required, and 3 menstrual cycles were followed up. The pregnancy rate was observed after treatment, the ovulation rate, maximum folliclular diameter and difference of maximum folliclular diameters in ovulatory phase, serum progesterone (P) and basal body temperature (BBT) were compared before and after treatment in the two groups.@*RESULTS@#In the observation group, 6 cases of successful pregnancy during treatment,10 cases in follow-up, the clinical pregnancy rate was 40.0% (16/40). In the control group, 1 case of successful pregnancy during treatment, 5 cases in follow-up, the clinical pregnancy rate was 15.0% (6/40). The clinical pregnancy rate in the observation group was higher than the control group (0.05). Compared before treatment, the maximum folliclular diameter and difference of maximum folliclular diameters in ovulatory phase, serum P after treatment were improved in the two groups (<0.05), and the improvements of the observation group were significant compared with the control group (<0.05). The BBT after treatment were superior to before treatment in the two groups (<0.05). After treatment, the normal BBT in the observation group was 33 cases, while the control group was 22 cases (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy of can promote folliclar development, improve dominant follicle morphology, increase the level of serum P. The therapeutic effect is superior to routine acupuncture in increasing ovulation rate and improving pregnancy outcome.