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Use of electroacupuncture and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation in reproductive medicine: a group consensus

电针和经皮穴位电刺激技术在生殖医学中的应用:专家共识

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Abstract

With the rapid development of assisted reproductive technology, various reproductive disorders have been effectively addressed. Acupuncture-like therapies, including electroacupuncture (EA) and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS), become more popular world-wide. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that EA and TEAS are effective in treating gynecological disorders, especially infertility. This present paper describes how to select acupoints for the treatment of infertility from the view of theories of traditional Chinese medicine and how to determine critical parameters of electric pulses of EA/TEAS based on results from animal and clinical studies. It summarizes the principles of clinical application of EA/TEAS in treating various kinds of reproductive disorders, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), pain induced by oocyte retrieval, diminished ovarian reserve, embryo transfer, and oligospermia/asthenospermia. The possible underlying mechanisms mediating the therapeutic effects of EA/TEAS in reproductive medicine are also examined.

概要

本文从传统针刺治疗不孕症的选穴依据与现代电针/经皮穴位电刺激技术的相关原理着手,从最优刺激参数选择、穴位辨证、疗程与治疗次数的确定及基本原理等方面阐述了电针/经皮穴位电刺激技术在多囊卵巢综合症、取卵镇痛、卵巢储备功能降低、胚胎移植以及男性少/弱精症等生殖领域中的具体应用。首次对电针/经皮穴位电刺激技术在生殖领域优势病种中的应用进行了系统的分析和总结,在最优刺激参数选择、穴位辨证、疗程与治疗次数的确定等方面提出了一系列专家共识,并为临床实践提供了指导意见和理论依据。

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Correspondence to Ji-sheng Han.

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Project supported by the Special Research Fund for the Public Welfare Industry of Health of China (No. 201302013)

ORCID: Fan QU, http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1851-1514

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Fan QU, Rong LI, Wei SUN, Ge LIN, Rong ZHANG, Jing YANG, Li TIAN, Guo-gang XING, Hui JIANG, Fei GONG, Xiao-yan LIANG, Yan MENG, Jia-yin LIU, Li-ying ZHOU, Shu-yu WANG, Yan WU, Yi-jing HE, Jia-yu YE, Song-ping HAN, and Ji-sheng HAN declare that they have no conflict of interest.

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Qu, F., Li, R., Sun, W. et al. Use of electroacupuncture and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation in reproductive medicine: a group consensus. J. Zhejiang Univ. Sci. B 18, 186–193 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.B1600437

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