title: Acupuncture for polycystic ovarian syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is characterised by the clinical signs of oligo-amenorrhoea (infrequent or very light menstruation), infertility (failure to conceive), and hirsutism (excessive hair growth). Whilst Aleem 1987 revealed the presence of beta-endorphin in the follicular fluid of both normal and polycystic ovaries, Petraglia 1987 demonstrated that the beta-endorphin levels in ovarian follicular fluid of otherwise healthy women who were undergoing ovulation were much higher than the levels measured in plasma. Given that acupuncture has an impact on beta-endorphin production, which may affect gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion, it is postulated that acupuncture may have a role in ovulation induction and fertility.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture treatment for women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant studies were identified from the Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group Specialised Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library), Ovid MEDLINE® In-Process and other non-indexed citations, Ovid MEDLINE® Daily and Ovid MEDLINE(R), EMBASE, PsycINFO, AMED, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) (including the Chinese journal full-text database (CJFD)), Chinese BioMedical Literature Database (CBM), VIP database for Chinese Technical Periodicals, China's important Conference Papers Database, and the China dissertation database.
  
  
  METHODS
  Truly randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that studied the efficacy of acupuncture treatment for infertility in women with PCOS. We excluded quasi- or pseudo-RCTs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We aimed to extract data independently by three authors using a piloted data extraction form. Data on study characteristics including methods, participants, interventions, and outcomes would be extracted. Crossover trials were not included unless there were first-phase data provided. Non-randomised controlled studies have been excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No truly randomised controlled trials of acupuncture for PCOS were found .
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current conventional medical treatments for women with PCOS are prescription medications, surgery, and lifestyle changes. Associated problems with current western therapies are the cost, risk of multiple pregnancies, undesirable side effects, and inconsistent effectiveness. Non-randomised acupuncture studies in PCOS have suggested a low associated adverse events rate, no increased risk of multiple pregnancies, and that it is inexpensive. However, there no RCTs have been performed in this area thus far. Therefore, properly designed RCTs are required before a conclusive statement can be drawn to support the use of acupuncture in the management of PCOS.
authors.affiliation: South Western Sydney Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, PO BOX 3256, BLAKEHURST, New South Wales, Australia, 2221.
authors.forename: Danforn Ce
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lisa Nc
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Charlie Changli
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Felix Ws
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.forename: Jian Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*