Acupuncture in polycystic ovary syndrome: Potential and challenge

• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine and metabolic disorder affecting 5-10 % of women of reproductive age. Conventional pharmacological therapy and surgery are effective but with obvious side effects and limited long-term treatment. Therefore, acupuncture therapy, as a complement or alternative to conventional therapies, may be an alternative for women with PCOS by reducing their symptoms. Experimental, mechanistic trials clearly indicate positive effects of acupuncture on reproductive and metabolic function. However, lack of randomized controlled trials hinders the translation and application of acupuncture in the treatment of PCOS. In this chapter, we summarize the PCOS diagnostic criteria and characters, PCOS-like animal models as well as the possible physiological basis and mechanism of the effect of acupuncture in PCOS. Clinical data from studies in women with PCOS and experimental observations in PCOS-like rat models suggest that acupuncture exerts long-lasting beneficial effects on metabolic, endocrine, and neuroendocrine systems. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York. All rights are reserved.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Endokrinologi och diabetes (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Endocrinology and Diabetes (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Fysiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Physiology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Acupuncture

Androgen receptor

Corticotropin-releasing hormone

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone

Hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis

Metabolic syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome

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