Table 2.
The subgroup analysis of the correlation of acupuncture with hormones level and antral follicle count.
| Type of Intervention | Study (n) | Case (n) | SMD/MD 95% CI | p | I2 (%) | Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electro-acupuncture | ||||||
| FSH | 4 | 197 | -1.25 [-3.24, 0.74] | 0.22 | 97 | Random |
| LH | 3 | 157 | -0.44 [-1.93, 1.04] | 0.56 | 95 | Random |
| FSH/LH ratio | 3 | 157 | 0.10 [-0.17, 0.37] | 0.47 | 65 | Random |
| AMH | 1 | 40 | 0.03 [-0.59, 0.65] | 0.94 | NA | Random |
| E2 | 3 | 157 | 0.88 [-0.46, 2.22] | 0.20 | 93 | Random |
| AFC | 3 | 140 | 1.26 [0.17, 2.34] | 0.02 | 74 | Random |
| Manual acupuncture | ||||||
| FSH | 8 | 539 | -1.03 [-1.71, -0.36] | 0.003 | 92 | Random |
| LH | 5 | 305 | -1.07 [-2.42, 0.29] | 0.12 | 96 | Random |
| FSH/LH ratio | 6 | 433 | -0.53 [-0.80, -0.26] | 0.0001 | 88 | Random |
| AMH | 4 | 216 | 0.29 [0.02, 0.56] | 0.04 | 0 | Random |
| E2 | 8 | 539 | 0.32 [-0.48, 1.12] | 0.43 | 95 | Random |
| AFC | 5 | 378 | 2.15 [0.91, 3.39] | 0.0007 | 92 | Random |
| Acupuncture plus TCM | ||||||
| FSH | 6 | 404 | -1.60 [-2.66, -0.55] | 0.003 | 95 | Random |
| LH | 5 | 276 | -0.59 [-1.23, 0.06] | 0.08 | 85 | Random |
| FSH/LH ratio | 6 | 404 | -0.52 [-0.99, -0.06] | 0.03 | 80 | Random |
| AMH | 2 | 119 | 0.35 [-0.10, 0.79] | 0.13 | 34 | Random |
| E2 | 7 | 464 | 0.35 [-0.50, 1.20] | 0.41 | 95 | Random |
| AFC | 4 | 287 | 0.93 [0.49, 1.38] | <0.00001 | 68 | Random |
| Acupuncture plus WM | ||||||
| FSH | 3 | 186 | -0.81 [-2.97, 1.36] | 0.46 | 98 | Random |
| LH | 3 | 186 | -1.56 [-4.54, 1.42] | 0.31 | 98 | Random |
| FSH/LH ratio | 2 | 140 | -0.06 [-1.25, 1.13] | 0.92 | 92 | Random |
| AMH | 1 | 51 | 0.19 [-0.36, 0.74] | 0.49 | NA | Random |
| E2 | 3 | 186 | 1.26 [-0.56, 3.08] | 0.18 | 97 | Random |
| AFC | 3 | 191 | 1.63 [-0.16, 3.41] | 0.07 | 96 | Random |
| High dose of acupuncture (≥10 acupoints) | ||||||
| FSH | 5 | 368 | -1.50 [-2.30, -0.69] | 0.0003 | 91 | Random |
| LH | 2 | 140 | -2.59 [-7.91, 2.73] | 0.34 | 99 | Random |
| FSH/LH ratio | 4 | 328 | -0.93 [-1.16, -0.70] | <0.00001 | 0 | Random |
| AMH | 1 | 40 | 0.03 [-0.59, 0.65] | 0.94 | NA | Random |
| E2 | 4 | 328 | 0.26 [-1.27, 1.80] | 0.74 | 97 | Random |
| AFC | 4 | 308 | 1.89 [1.05, 2.72] | <0.00001 | 89 | Random |
| Low dose of acupuncture (<10 acupoints) | ||||||
| FSH | 7 | 358 | -0.77 [-1.76, 0.21] | 0.12 | 94 | Random |
| LH | 6 | 322 | -0.28 [-0.92, 0.36] | 0.39 | 87 | Random |
| FSH/LH ratio | 5 | 262 | -0.12 [-0.62, 0.39] | 0.65 | 76 | Random |
| AMH | 4 | 216 | 0.29 [0.02, 0.56] | 0.04 | 0 | Random |
| E2 | 7 | 368 | 0.59 [0.02, 1.16] | 0.04 | 86 | Random |
| AFC | 4 | 210 | 0.70 [-0.06, 1.46] | 0.07 | 86 | Random |
HR, hazard ratio; CI, confidence interval; NA, not available; TCM, traditional Chinese medicine; WM, Western medicine.