Acupuncture for perimenopausal symptoms in women who underwent oophorectomy a comparative study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects of acupuncture on perimenopausal symptoms in women who underwent oophorectomy.


METHODS
67 women who had undergone oophorectomy were divided into an acupuncture group (n = 36) and a comparison group (n = 31) according to their wishes. The first group was treated by acupuncture and the latter group by Livial. Clinical symptoms were assessed by the modified Kupperman index. The levels of venous blood serum beta-endorphin (beta-EP), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2) and the maturation index (MI) of vaginal epithelial cells were assessed.


RESULTS
There were no significant group differences for the MI of vaginal exfoliative cells nor for the levels of FSH, LH and E2 after treatment (p > 0.05), but Kupperman scoring and the levels of beta-EP differed significantly between the acupuncture and the Livial group (p < 0.05). No side-effects were reported in either group.


CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture results in a significant improvement in perimenopausal symptoms in women who have had an oophorectomy. Acupuncture performs as well or better than Livial. Yet, this result may have been influenced by a potential bias and the small sample size.
Qu
Fan
F
Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China. qufan43@yahoo.com.cn
Zhou
Jue
J
Nan
Rui
R
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D047648:Perimenopause / Q000097:blood; D018401:Sample Size; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014621:Vagina / Q000166:cytology; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood*
D004958:Estradiol; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone