title: [Acupuncture for premature ovarian failure: a prospective cohort study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the clinical efficacy and action mechanism of acupuncture for premature ovarian failure (POF).
  
  
  METHODS
  According to prospective cohort study design, 30 cases were included. Based on theory of regulating Chong and Conception Vessels as well as soothing the liver and calming the nerves, acupuncture at Guanyuan (CV 4), Dahe (KI 12), Taixi (KI 3), Taichong (LR 3), Baihui (GV 20) was applied, three times per week and 3 months were considered as one session. Totally two sessions were performed. The menstruation condition, estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and scores of the clinical perimenopausal symptoms were taken as treatment outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total effective rate was 86.7% (26/30) and the cured rate was 16.7% (5/30). The recovery rate of menstruation was 16.7% (5/30) and the regain rate of menstruation was 56.7% (17/30). After the treatment, the level of E2 was significantly increased from (45.41 +/- 18. 09) pmol/L to (59.07 +/- 24.21) pmol/L (P < 0.05), and the score of perimenopausal symptoms was obviously reduced from 14.28 +/- 8. 30 to 4.04 +/- 3.28 (P < 0.01). However, no statistical differences could be seen in FSH before and after treatment (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acupuncture has certain effect on improving menstruation and perimenopausal symptoms in POF patients, which is likely to he related with increasing the level of E2.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yi-Gong
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Ying-Ru
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Bao-Yan
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone