Table 1.
Basic characteristics of included randomized controlled trials.
| First author (year) [Ref] Country |
Sample size [enrolled] | Age [mean] |
Inclusion criteria | Treatment period | Intervention | Control | Outcomes | Results | Adverse events |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chen (2009)18 China |
A: 30 B: 30 |
A: 34.3 B: 34.6 |
1. At least one of the following conditions: (i) bilateral ovarian follicle ≤ 6; (ii) FSH ≥ 8 IU/L; (iii) E2 ≥ 293.6 pmol/L; (ⅳ) FSH/LH ≥2 2. Kidney deficiency |
1 cycle of menstruation | A) EA + SOP | B) SOP | 1) CPR 2) number of retrieved oocytes |
1) RR 1.5; 95% CI [0.61, 3.69], p = 0.38 2) MD 0.20; 95% CI [−0.39, 0.79], p = 0.51 |
n.r. |
| Zheng (2015)19 China |
A: 60 B: 60 C: 60 D: 60 |
A: 36.1 B: 36.9 C: 36.9 D: 37.0 |
At least one of the following conditions: (i) AFC in bilateral ovarian total ≤ 5; (ii) FSH ≥ 10 IU/L or FSH/LH ratio ≥ 3.6 detected at least twice, or ≥35 years old; (iii) a history of pelvic surgery |
3 cycles of menstruation | A) EA | B) Sham EA C) Artificial endometrial cycle treatment D) No treatment |
1) CPR 2) number of retrieved oocytes 3) AMH 4) AFC |
1) A vs B: RR 1.92; 95% CI [1.04, 3.54], p = 0.04 A vs C: RR 1.32; 95% CI [0.79, 2.21], p = 0.29 A vs D: RR 1.96; 95% CI [1.06, 3.62], p = 0.03 2) A vs B: MD 2.44; 95% CI [1.40, 3.48], p < 0.00001 A vs C: MD 0.34; 95% CI [−0.96, 1.64], p = 0.61 A vs D: MD 2.49; 95% CI [1.46, 3.52], p < 0.00001 3) A vs B: MD 0.59; 95% CI [0.35, 0.83], p < 0.00001 A vs C: MD 0.13; 95% CI [−0.14, 0.40], p = 0.35 A vs D: MD 0.57; 95% CI [0.33, 0.81], p < 0.00001 4) A vs B: MD 1.49; 95% CI [0.94, 2.04], p < 0.00001 A vs C: MD −0.35; 95% CI [−0.90, 0.20], p = 0.22 A vs D: MD 1.10; 95% CI [0.57, 1.63], p < 0.0001 |
A) mild allergy 2B) mild allergy 1C) mild lever function abnormalities 3, dizziness 7, fatigue 3 |
| Dong (2019)20 China | A: 25 B: 25 C: 25 D: 25 |
A: 33.9 B: 33.7 C: 34.0 D: 33.6 |
Those who meet 2 of following conditions or have history of POR twice: (i) ≥40 years old or history of pelvic surgery; (ii) AFC <7 (iii) history of POR |
3 cycles of menstruation | A) AT + Climen; + MOP |
B) Climen + MOP C) AT + MOP D) MOP |
1) AMH 2) AFC |
Not reported (only presented as Figures) |
n.r. |
AFC, antral follicle count; AMH, anti-Müllerian hormone; AT, acupuncture; CI, confidence interval; CPR, clinical pregnancy rate; E2, estradiol; EA, electro-acupuncture; FSH, follicle stimulating hormone; Gn, Gonadotropin; IVF-ET, in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer; LH, luteinizing hormone; MD, mean difference; MOP, microstimulation ovulation program; n.r., not reported; POR, poor ovarian response; RR, risk ratio; SOP, superovulation program.