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Acupuncture and Clomiphene Citrate on Live Birth in Anovulatory Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Infertility
Pregnancy
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Interventions
Other: Acupuncture treatment 2
Other: Acupuncture treatment 1
Other: CC placebo
Other: CC
Registration Number
NCT01573858
Lead Sponsor
Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine
Brief Summary

The objectives of the present trial are to test the following three hypotheses in anovulatory women with PCOS:

1. Acupuncture protocol 1 plus CC (Arm A) is more likely to result in live birth than acupuncture protocol 2 combined with CC (Arm B),

2. Acupuncture protocol 2 plus CC (Arm B) is more likely to result in live birth than acupuncture protocol 1 plus placebo (Arm C),

3. Acupuncture protocol 1 plus placebo (Arm C) is more likely to result in live birth than acupuncture protocol 2 plus placebo (Arm D).

Detailed Description

This is a multicenter, randomized, controlled, 2 by 2 factorial clinical trial for Chinese women with PCOS.

Primary outcomes:

- Live birth rate

Secondary outcomes:

* Ovulation rate

* Ongoing pregnancy rate

* Multiple pregnancy rate

* Miscarriage rate

* Hormonal profile

* Metabolic profile

* Side effect profile

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
1000
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age of women between 20 and 40 years.
    • Confirmed diagnosis of PCOS according to the modified Rotterdam criteria and all subjects must have anovulation plus either polycystic ovaries and/or hyperandro-genism.

    • Patency of at least one tube and a normal uterine cavity shown by hysterosalpingogram, HyCosi or diagnostic laparoscopy.

    • Semen analysis:

      1. a. Sperm concentration ≥15×106/ml and b. total motility (a+b+c) ≥40% or forward motility (a+b) ≥32% in the semen analysis of the husband (based on World Health Organization, 2010).
      2. Total motile sperm count ≥9 million [based on WHO (2010) criteria, volume 1.5 ml; conc 15 million; motility 40%. 1.5 x 15 x 0.04=9 million].
Exclusion Criteria
  • Exclusion of other endocrine disorders

    • Patients with hyperprolactinemia (defined as two prolactin levels at least one week apart 25 ng/mL or greater or as determined by local normative values). The goal of eliminating patients with documented hyperprolactinemia is to decrease the heterogeneity of the PCOS population. These patients may be candidates for ovulation induction with alternate regimens (dopamine agonists). A normal level within the last year or on treatment is adequate for entry.

    • Patients with FSH levels > 15 mIU/mL. A normal level within the last year is adequate for entry.

    • Patients with uncorrected thyroid disease (defined as TSH < 0.2 mIU/mL or > 5.5 mIU/mL). A normal level within the last year is adequate for entry.

      • Patients diagnosed with Type I or Type II diabetes who are poorly controlled (defined as a glycohemoglobin level > 7.0%), or patients receiving antidiabetic medications such as insulin, thiazolidinediones, acarbose, or sulfonylureas likely to confound the effects of study medication; patients currently receiving metformin XR for a diagnosis of Type I or Type II diabetes or for PCOS are also specifically excluded.
      • Patients with suspected Cushing's syndrome.
    • Use of hormonal or other medication including Chinese Herbal prescriptions which may affect the outcome at least in the past 2 months.

    • Pregnancy within the past 6 weeks.

    • Within 6 weeks post-abortion or postpartum.

    • Breastfeeding within the last 6 months.

    • Acupuncture within the last 6 months.

    • Not willing to give written consent to the study.

    • Additional exclusion criteria

      • Patients on oral contraceptives, depot progestins, or hormonal implants (including Implanon). A two month washout period will be required prior to screening for patients on these agents. Longer washouts may be necessary for certain depot contraceptive forms or implants, especially where the implants are still in place. A one-month washout will be required for patients on oral cyclic progestins.
      • Patients with liver disease defined as AST or ALT > 2 times normal or total bilirubin >2.5 mg/dL. Patients with renal disease defined as BUN > 30 mg/dL or serum creatinine> 1.4 mg/dL.
      • Patients with significant anemia (Hemoglobin < 10 g/dL).
      • Patients with a history of deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolus, or cerebrovascular accident.
      • Patients with known heart disease that is likely to be exacerbated by pregnancy.
      • Patients with a history of, or suspected cervical carcinoma, endometrial carcinoma, or breast carcinoma. A normal Pap smear result will be required for women 21 and over.
      • Patients with a current history of alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse is defined as > 14 drinks/week or binge drinking.
      • Patients enrolled simultaneously into other investigative studies that require medications, proscribe the study medications, limit intercourse, or otherwise prevent compliance with the protocol.
      • Patients who anticipate taking longer than a one month break during the protocol should not be enrolled.
      • Patients taking other medications known to affect reproductive function or metabolism. These medications include oral contraceptives, GnRH agonists and antagonists, antiandrogens, gonadotropins, anti-obesity drugs, Chinese herbal formula, anti-diabetic drugs such as metformin and thiazolidinediones, somatostatin, diazoxide, ACE inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers. The washout period on all these medications will be two months.
      • Patients with a suspected adrenal or ovarian tumor secreting androgens.
      • Couples with previous sterilization procedures (vasectomy, tubal ligation) which have been reversed. The prior procedure may affect study outcomes, and patients with both a reversed sterilization procedure and PCOS are rare enough that exclusion should not adversely affect recruitment.
      • Subjects who have undergone a bariatric surgery procedure in the recent past (< 12 months) and are in a period of acute weight loss or have been advised against pregnancy by their bariatric surgeon.
      • Patients with untreated poorly controlled hypertension defined as a systolic blood pressure 160 mm Hg or a diastolic 100 mm Hg obtained on two measures obtained at least 60 minutes apart.
      • Patients with known congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Acupuncture treatment 2 plus CCAcupuncture treatment 2-
Acupucture treatment 2 and CC placebo.Acupuncture treatment 2-
Acupuncture treatment 1 plus CC placeboAcupuncture treatment 1-
Acupuncture treatment 1 plus CC placeboCC placebo-
Acupucture treatment 2 and CC placebo.CC placebo-
Acupuncture treatment 1 plus CCAcupuncture treatment 1-
Acupuncture treatment 1 plus CCCC-
Acupuncture treatment 2 plus CCCC-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Live birth rateUp to 3 years
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Metabolic profileUp to 2 years

Metabolic profile includes: Serum glucose concentration, Insulin concentration, cholesterol, Triglycerides (TG), High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)

Miscarriage rateUp to 2 years

loss of an intrauterine pregnancy before 20 completed weeks of gestation.

Side effect profileUp to 2 years

Side effects of CC include hot flashes, mood changes, bloating, formation of ovarian cysts, and pain, extremely rare are pituitary apoplexy and deep venous thrombosis. The major side effects of acupuncture are local skin irritation, discomfort, and vasovagal reactions during the procedure. All above mentioned side effects will be recorded weekly.

Ongoing pregnancy rateAprial 2012 to July 2014 (up to 3 years)

Up to 3 years

Multiple pregnancy rateUp to 2 years
Ovulation rateUp to 3 years
Hormonal profileUp to 2 years

Hormonal profile include: Testosterone(T), Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH),Luteinizing hormone(LH),and Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS).

Trial Locations

Locations (25)

Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Huaian

🇨🇳

Huaian, Jiangsu, China

Suzhou Chinese Medicine Hospital

🇨🇳

Suzhou, Jiangsu, China

Daqing LongNa Hospital

🇨🇳

Daqing, Heilongjiang, China

Second Affiliated Hospital,Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine

🇨🇳

Harbin, Heilongjiang, China

Henan Chinese Medicine Hospital

🇨🇳

Zhengzhou, Henan, China

Wuhan Tongji Hospital

🇨🇳

Wuhan, Hubei, China

Hubei Chinese Medicine Hospital

🇨🇳

Wuhan, Hubei, China

First Affiliated Hospital,Hunan University of Chinese Medicine

🇨🇳

Changsha, Hunan, China

Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Xuzhou

🇨🇳

Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China

Wenzhou Chinese Medicine Hospital

🇨🇳

Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China

Liaoning University of Chinese Medicine Affiliated Hospital

🇨🇳

Shenyang, Liaoning, China

First Affiliated Hospital,Anhui University of Chinese Medicine

🇨🇳

Hefei, Anhui, China

First Affiliated Hospital,Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine

🇨🇳

Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

Guangzhou Liwan Chinese Hospital

🇨🇳

Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

Guangdong Chinese Hospital

🇨🇳

Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

The Daqing Oilfield General Hospital

🇨🇳

Daqing, Heilongjiang, China

First Affiliated Hospital,Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine

🇨🇳

Harbin, Heilongjiang, China

Forth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University

🇨🇳

Harbin, Heilongjiang, China

Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine Affiliated Hospital

🇨🇳

Nanchang, Jiangxi, China

Dalian maternity hospital

🇨🇳

Dalian, Liaoning, China

First Affiliated Hospital,Tianjin University of Chinese Medicine

🇨🇳

Tianjin, Tianjin, China

Tianjin Tanggu Maternity and Child Care Center

🇨🇳

Tianjin, Tianjin, China

Shanxi Chinese Medicine Hospital

🇨🇳

Shangxi, Shanxi, China

Hangzhou Chinese Medicine Hospital

🇨🇳

Hangzhou, China

Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital of Zhejiang Province

🇨🇳

Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

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