Premature ovarian failure treated with mild moxibustion and western medication

ObjectiveTo explore the clinical therapeutic effect on premature ovarian failure (POF) treated with the combination of mild moxibustion and western medication.MethodsA total of 66 patients were divided into a control group and an observation group according to random number table, 33 cases in each one. In the control group, the conventional western medication was administered. In the observation group, besides the treatment as the control group, mild moxibustion was supplemented at Guānyuán (关元CV4), Qìh?i (气海CV6), Píshū (脾俞BL20) (bilateral) and Shènshū (肾俞BL23) (bilateral). The duration of treatment was 3 menstrual cycles in either group. Before treatment and on the 9th day of menstruation after 3-menstrual cycle treatment, the number of antral follicles and ovarian volume were detected by color Doppler ultrasound respectively. Before treatment and on day 2 to 4 of menstruation after 3-menstrual cycle treatment, the levels of serum estrogen (E₂), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), interleukin-21 (IL-21) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were determined separately and the therapeutic effect was evaluated in two groups separately.ResultsThe effective rate was 93.94% in the observation group and was 72.73% in the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the number of antral follicles and ovarian volume were increased as compared with those before treatment in the patients of two groups (both P < 0.05). After treatment, the number of antral follicles and ovarian volume in the observation group were higher than the control group (both P < 0.05). After treatment, the levels of serum E₂ and FSH were improved as compared with those before treatment in the two groups (both P < 0.05). The levels of serum E₂ and FSH in the observation group were better than the control group after treatment (both P < 0.05). The levels of serum IL-21 and VEGF after treatment did not change obviously as compared with those before treatment in the control group (both P > 0.05). But in the observation group, the levels of serum IL-21 and VEGF after treatment changed apparently as compared with those before treatment (both P < 0.05) and the levels of these two indicators after treatment were better than the control group (both P < 0.05).ConclusionThe combined treatment of mild moxibustion with western medication achieves the definite therapeutic effect on POF and it increases the number of antral follicles and ovarian volume and regulates sex hormone level, which is probably related to the regulation of serum IL-21 and VEGF.