Electro-Acupuncture for Diminished Ovarian Reserve: Protocol for a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) significantly impacts fertility in reproductive-aged women.
• Current evidence on acupuncture for DOR is inconclusive, necessitating further rigorous investigation.
• Electro-acupuncture (EA) is explored as a potential therapeutic intervention for DOR.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of electro-acupuncture (EA) in improving ovarian reserve indicators in women with DOR.
• To assess the impact of EA on key reproductive outcomes, including pregnancy and live birth rates.
• To determine if EA can significantly enhance fertility potential in women diagnosed with DOR.

Main Methods:

• A 12-week, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled trial involving 112 participants (aged 20-48) in Shenzhen, China.
• Participants were assigned to either electro-acupuncture (EA) or sham electro-acupuncture (SA) groups (1:1 ratio), receiving 3 sessions weekly.
• Primary outcome: change in antral follicle count; secondary outcomes: hormone levels, mood, and pregnancy rates.

Main Results:

• Anticipated mean increase of 2.2 follicles in the primary outcome measure.
• Evaluation of changes in basal hormone levels, anti-Müllerian hormone, and psychological well-being.
• Subgroup analyses planned for pregnancy outcomes, age groups, and ovulation induction parameters.

Conclusions:

• This study protocol is ethically approved and registered (ISRCTN:69623204).
• Results will be disseminated through open-access publications and conferences.
• Findings aim to inform clinical practice regarding electro-acupuncture for diminished ovarian reserve.