Acupuncture as an Effective Treatment for Diminished Ovarian Reserve: A Comparative Analysis with Traditional Therapies

Introduction: Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR) is a significant cause of infertility in women. Acupuncture, a non-pharmacological treatment, has shown promise in regulating female reproductive function with fewer side effects. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture treatment for women with DOR compared with traditional therapies. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 151 female patients diagnosed with DOR between January 2020 and December 2023. The patients were divided into a conventional treatment group (48 cases) and an acupuncture group (103 cases) according to the treatment modality. Hormonal levels, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH), as well as antral follicle count (AFC) and quality of life scores (SF-36 and Kupperman), were assessed after a three-month treatment period. Results: Both acupuncture and traditional treatments led to significant improvements in ovarian function, with acupuncture showing more pronounced effects. Compared to the conventional treatment group, acupuncture significantly reduced FSH levels (7.75 ± 1.75 mIU/ml vs. 8.54 ± 1.83 mIU/ ml, p = 0.011), and increased LH (5.71 ± 0.97 mIU/ml vs. 5.31 ± 1.03 mIU/ml, p = 0.023), E2 (47.16 ± 9.77 pg/ml vs. 43.04 ± 12.09 pg/ml, p = 0.027), AMH (1.36 ± 0.38 ng/ml vs. 1.26 ± 0.27 ng/ml, p = 0.048), and AFC (7.09 ± 1.91 vs. 5.81 ± 1.61, p < 0.001). Furthermore, acupuncture was associated with superior improvements in quality of life, particularly in general health, vitality, social functioning, mental health, and health transition. Discussion: This study shows that both acupuncture and traditional therapies improve ovarian function in women with DOR, with acupuncture demonstrating more pronounced effects. These findings indicated that acupuncture could regulate hormonal balance and enhance ovarian function, and improve quality of life, suggesting it has a broader impact beyond physiological markers. While promising, further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up are needed to confirm the long-term efficacy and mechanisms of acupuncture. Conclusion: Acupuncture offers a promising non-pharmacological treatment for DOR, showing significant improvements in ovarian function and quality of life with minimal side effects.