Effect of Electro-acupuncture on Women With Diminished Ovarian Reserve

Summary

Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) is the precursor state of ovarian failure, and can cause the decline of women's reproductive function. Some studies have demonstrated that acupuncture can improve ovarian function. In this trial, we hypothesize that electro-acupuncture is efficient for the ovarian function and the following outcome of IVF-ET in DOR patients.

Conditions

• Diminished Ovarian Reserve

Interventions

OTHER

Treatment group protocol

For treatment group, two groups of acupoints will be used alternatively. The first group consists of some acupoints. The patients will be asked to stay in supine position. Disposable sterilized needles (Size: 0.25\*40/50 mm) will be inserted into a depth of 15\~35 mm and stimulated manually to evoke needle sensation. And then some acupoints will be thereafter connected to electrical stimulators and stimulated with low-frequency and the maximum tolerated intensity of the patients. The other needles without electrical stimulators will be manually stimulated to evoke "Deqi" every 10 minutes. The second group consists of other acupoints. Patients will be asked to stay in prone position. The stimulation will be in the same way as the first group.

OTHER

Control group protocol

For control group, four pseudo-acupoints are used, with two points on each shoulder and the two on each upper arm, which are not located on any meridians. The patients will be asked to stay in supine position and keep the whole body relaxed and comfortable. Disposable sterilized needles (Size: 0.18\*25 mm) will be inserted superficially to a depth of \< 5 mm without any manual stimulus and the needle sensation ("Deqi" in TCM) should not be evoked. Electrodes are connected to the needles, but the stimulators should be turned on at an intensity of zero. Each intervention lasts for 30 minutes.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Wuhan No.1 Hospital

  collaborator OTHER

• Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

  collaborator OTHER

• The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

  collaborator OTHER

• Edwatz Medical Research Institude

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Wuhan Jinxin Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital of Integrative Medicine

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Huazhong University of Science and Technology

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Dongmei Huang, doctor · Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Tongji hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

TRIPLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

40 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-09-09

Primary Completion

2024-12-31

Completion

2025-12-31

Countries

• China

Study Locations