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Effect of Thumbtack Needle on Ovarian Function of Women With Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR)

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Diminished Ovarian Reserve
Interventions
Other: active thumbtack needle
Other: sham thumbtack needle
Registration Number
NCT05277948
Lead Sponsor
Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Brief Summary

Using a multi-center, large sample, randomized, controlled and blind clinical trial to evaluate the effect of thumbtack needle on ovarian function of patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR).

Detailed Description

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. Thumbtack needle, as a kind of acupuncture, has been found effective in treating DOR in our clinic. In this trial, the investigators Using a multi-center, large sample, randomized, controlled and blind clinical trial to evaluate the effect of thumbtack needle on ovarian function of patients with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR).

First, patients will be recruited according to the inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria.

Second, baseline measurements (including ovarian reserve function, blood biochemical index, scores from the self-rating anxiety and depression scale, quality of life, sleep status) will be taken.

Third, each patient will receive the treatment of thumbtack needle for a total of 2 menstrual cycles.

Last, the above baseline measurements will be taken again as soon as the treatment is finished and outcome measures will be recorded after the treatment.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
240
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patients with age between 18 and 40 years;
  • Low ovarian reserve: AMH<1.1ng/ml; or AFC<7; or 10 U/L<FSH<25U/L or FSH/LH>3.6; or has a history of poor ovarian response, that is, in the last controlled hyperstimulation cycle, the number of retrieved oocytes<3. Any 2 of the above 4 conditions are met.
  • Sign informed consent voluntarily.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patient's chromosome is abnormal.
  • Patients with previous ovarian surgery because of such as ovarian teratoma or chocolate cyst and so on.
  • Patients with uncorrected endocrine disease, such as: Simple hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, hyperprolactinemia, insulin resistance, diabetes, adrenal diseases, etc.
  • Patients with definitively diagnosed autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, antiphospholipid syndrome, Sjogren's syndrome, Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
  • Patients with a history of cancer and has received radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
  • Patients had the treatment of acupuncture or thumbtack needle in recent 3 months.
  • Patients who take Chinese medicine decoction or granule during the treatment;
  • Patients unwilling to sign the informed consent of this study.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
treatment groupactive thumbtack needleActive thumbtack needle will be used for the treatment group
control groupsham thumbtack needleSham thumbtack needle will be used for the control group
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Evaluating the change of serum AMH level0 week and up to 4 weeks

Assessing patients' serum level of AMH in ng/ml at baseline and immediately after treatment on the second day of menstruation.

Evaluating the change of the ovarian antral follicle count (AFC)0 week and up to 4 weeks

Counting the number of ovarian antral follicle count (AFC) on the second day of menstruation at baseline and immediately after treatment.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Observing the ovum morphology (MII ovum ratio) during IVF-ET after treatmentthrough study completion, an average of 1 year

Observing the MII ovum ratio during IVF-ET after treatment

Observing the sex hormones in follicular fluid collected from patients undergoing IVF/ICSI-ET cycle after treatmentthrough study completion, an average of 1 year

Observing follicular fluid levels of sex hormones when patients undergoing IVF/ICSI

-ET after the treatment.

Observing the embryo statusthrough study completion, an average of 1 year

Observing the grade I embryo ratio, blastocyst formation rate and high quality blastocyst ratio when patients undergoing IVF/ICSI-ET after the treatment

Blood 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) index examination0 week and up to 12 weeks

Observing the level of blood 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) at baseline and immediately after treatment

Evaluation of depression status0 week and up to 4 weeks

Depression status will be assessed using Zung depression self-rating scale (Zung-SDS) at baseline and immediately after treatment.

Evaluation of sleep state0 week and up to 4 weeks

Sleep status will be evaluated using Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) at baseline and immediately after treatment.

Observing the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in follicular fluidthrough study completion, an average of 1 year

Observing follicular fluid level of SOD when patients undergoing IVF/ICSI

-ET after the treatment.

Observing the level of transforming growth factor β (TGF β) in follicular fluidthrough study completion, an average of 1 year

Observing follicular fluid level of transforming growth factor β (TGF β) when patients undergoing IVF/ICSI

-ET after the treatment.

Observing the level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in follicular fluidthrough study completion, an average of 1 year

Observing follicular fluid level of TNF-α when patients undergoing IVF/ICSI

-ET after the treatment.

Blood beta-aminobutyric acidne (DA) examination0 week and up to 12 weeks

Observing the level of blood beta-aminobutyric acidne (DA) at baseline and immediately after treatment

Blood beta-aminobutyric acid (GABA) examination0 week and up to 12 weeks

Observing the level of blood beta-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at baseline and immediately after treatment

Blood dopamine (DA) examination0 week and up to 12 weeks

Observing the level of blood dopamine (DA) at baseline and immediately after treatment

Blood neuro-endorphin (β-ET) examination0 week and up to 12 weeks

Observing the level of blood neuro-endorphin (β-ET) at baseline and immediately after treatment

Evaluating the serum levels of sex hormones0 week and up to 4 weeks

Evaluating the serum levels of sex hormones on the second day of menstruation at baseline and immediately after treatment

Observing the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in follicular fluidthrough study completion, an average of 1 year

Observing follicular fluid level of ROS when patients undergoing IVF/ICSI

-ET after the treatment.

Blood corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) examination0 week and up to 12 weeks

Observing the level of blood corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) at baseline and immediately after treatment

Observing the pregnancy statusthrough study completion, an average of 1 year

Observing the biochemical, clinical and ongoing pregnancy rate

Blood norepinephrine index examination0 week and up to 12 weeks

Observing the level of blood norepinephrine at baseline and immediately after treatment

Evaluation of anxiety status0 week and up to 4 weeks

Anxiety status will be assessed using Zung anxiety self-rating scale (Zung-SAS) at baseline and immediately after treatment.

Evaluation of quality of life0 week and up to 4 weeks

Quality of life will be assessed by SF-36 at baseline and immediately after treatment..

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology

🇨🇳

Wuhan, Hubei, China

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