Objective

2

To observe the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture at acupoints of liver meridian in patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) of liver depression.

Methods

2

A total of 62 patients with DOR of liver depression were randomly divided into an electroacupuncture group (31 cases

1 case discontinued) and a western medication group (31 cases

1 case was eliminated). Electroacupuncture was applied at bilateral Taichong (LR 3)

Ligou (LR 5)

Ququan (LR 8)

Jimai (LR 12) in the electroacupuncture group

with continuous wave

in frequency of 2 Hz and current of 0.5-1.0 mA

30 min each time

once every other day

3 times a week. Femoston was taken orally in the western medication group

oral estradiol tablets were taken for the first 14 days

followed by oral estradiol/progesterone complex tablets for the rest 14 days

1 tablet a day. Both groups were treated for 3 consecutive menstrual cycles. Before and after treatment

the scores of TCM syndrome

self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were observed

serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) were detected

and antral follicle count (AFC)

peak systolic velocity (PSV) and resistance index (RI) of ovarian artery were measured by color Doppler ultrasound in the two groups

and the clinical efficacy was evaluated after treatment.

Results

2

After treatment

the scores of primary symptom and secondary symptom

as well as the total scores of TCM syndrome were decreased compared with those before treatment (

P

<

0.01)

the scores of SAS and SDS

as well as the serum FSH levels and RI of ovarian artery were decreased compared with those before treatment (

P

<

0.01)

while the serum AMH levels

AFC and PSV of ovarian artery were increased compared with those before treatment (

P

<

0.05

P

<

0.01) in the two groups. After treatment

in the electroacupuncture group

the primary symptom score of TCM syndrome was higher than that in the western medication group (

P

<

0.01)

the secondary symptom score of TCM syndrome and the scores of SAS and SDS were lower than those in the western medication group (

P

<

0.05

P

<

0.01). The total effective rate was 70.0% (21/30) in the electroacupuncture group and 73.3% (22/30) in the western medication group respectively

there was no significant difference in the total effective rate between the two groups (

P

>

0.05).

Conclusion

2

Electroacupuncture at acupoints of liver meridian can effectively improve the clinical symptoms

anxiety and depression

regulate the serum sex hormone levels

increase AFC and improve ovarian blood supply in DOR patients of liver depression.