ACUPUNTURA NO TRATAMENTO DA SÍNDROME DOS OVÁRIOS POLICÍSTICOS: UMA REVISÃO DE LITERATURA.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common gynecological endocrinopathy in reproductive age, characterized by complex dysfunctions in the endocrine and reproductive systems, with emphasis on insulin resistance and anovulatory infertility. This literature review aimed to search for scientific evidence about the acupuncture effects in the treatment of PCOS, to analyze the findings for both metabolic and reproductive issues, in addition to assessing the most frequently needled acupoints. LILACS and PUBMED databases were searched from March to April 2020, with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Acupuncture as descriptors. Review articles and experimental clinical trials available in English and Portuguese, published from January 2015 to April 2020, were included. Fourteen articles have been included in this study. Eight studies have specifically approached the use of acupuncture for the treatment of infertility. Ten studies showed therapeutic success, and one clinical trial showed the therapy as ineffective. The most relevant findings in the treatment of PCOS by acupuncture have been the decrease in serum levels of LH, testosterone, AMH and HOMA-IR; improving of blood glucose uptake and the oocytes' growth; increasing of pregnancy rate; and decreasing of the SHO rate in women undergoing IVF. The prevailing acupoints in the nine studies which reported them have been ST29, SP6, LI4, CV3, and ST36. In conclusion, the use of acupuncture in the treatment of PCOS has shown promising results. However, considering the variety of symptoms included in this illness, additional studies are required for better understanding the direct actions of the acupoints on each specific symptom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]