Table 1.

Extract of guidelines issued to trial acupuncturists.

Frequency	Weekly
Number of treatments	9
Timing	1 hour [include front (anterior) and back (posterior) treatment per session]
Point location	As per Deadman's A Manual of Acupuncture
Needle depth	As per Deadman's A Manual of Acupuncture
Manipulation	Achieve deqi on insertion and renew qi sensation 10–15 minutes after insertion
Retention time	20–30 minutes
Needling	Bilateral unless on Ren and Du channels
Needles	Use needles supplied by Helio Supply Co., that is, AcuGlide and Vinco
Heat	If heat is necessary, apply using TDP lamp or smokeless moxa
Differential diagnosis relating to phase of menstrual cycle	Phase 1  during period	Phase 2  after period	Phase 3  during ovulation	Phase 4  after ovulation
Core points [14]	Sp 10, 6, 8  LI 4  St 28Ki 14	Ren 4, 7  Ki 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 13  St 27, 30, 36  Bl 23, 32  Liv 3  Sp 4, 6, 10	Liv 3, 5  Ki 13, 14, 8, 5, 4  Sp 13, 8, 6, 5  Pc 6, 5  Ht 7, 5  Yintang  Zigong  GB 26	(A)  [boost yang by supplementing yin]   Ren 2, 4, 5, 7, 15  Ki 3, 6  Bl 23  (B)  [boost yang promoting qi]   Ren 4, 5, 6, 12  St 25, 36  Sp 6  Ki 3  Bl 20, 23  (C)  [boost yang by nourishing blood]   Ren 4, 12  St 36  Sp 6, 10  Ki 5  Bl 17
Examples of other commonly used acupoints	Shen (emotional) disorders	GV 20, Yintang, Ht 7, Pc 6, Kidney chest pts: Ki 23, 24, 25
	Ovulation failure	St 29, Ren 4, 3 Zigong, LI 4, Sp 6
	Biomedical diagnosis, PCOS	Sp 6, Zigong, Ren 3, 4, Bl 20, 23, 18
Termination of treatment	On pregnancy
	For 2 weeks after embryo transfer or on negative pregnancy test