Comparative Study of the Effects of Auriculotherapy and Pharmacotherapy on Hirsutism Due to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Unmarried 18-35-Years-Old Women

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors

1 Instructor, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran

2 Instructor, Nursing-Midwifery Research Center AND PhD Candidate, Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Hirsutism, male-pattern hair growth, affects 5 to 10 percent of women of reproductive age. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the cause of hirsutism in 7.2-8.2 percent of cases. This study aimed to compare the effects of auriculotherapy and pharmacotherapy on hirsutism due to polycystic ovary syndrome in unmarried 18-35-years-old women.Methods: This clinical trial study was conducted on 60 women, 18 to 35 years old, in two groups of auriculotherapy and pharmacotherapy comparing clinical, laboratory and ultrasound findings. Pharmacotherapy and auriculotherapy groups were treated for 3 and 2 months, respectively. Results were evaluated in three phases using SPSS15 software.Findings: The mean scores of hirsutism before (P = 0.240), immediately after (P = 0.100) and three months after completion of the intervention (P = 0.075) were not significantly different between the two groups. There was no significant difference between the mean scores of hirsutism in the pharmacotherapy group at mentioned three times (P = 0.080). Comparing he results between the before and immediately after the intervention showed significant difference in auriculotherapy (P = 0.010); in pharmacotherapy group, this difference was not significant (P = 0.650). In comparison of immediately and three months after the intervention, in auriculotherapy group, the difference was not significant (P = 0.160); but, in the pharmacotherapy group, it was significantly different (P = 0.010).Conclusion: According to the results, auriculotherapy compared to pharmacotherapy is more associated with significant decrease of hirsutism.

Keywords


  1. Talaei A, Adgi Z, Mohamadi KM. Idiopathic hirsutism and insulin resistance. Int J Endocrinol 2013; 2013: 593197.
  2. Karlan BY, Haney AF, Nygaard IE, Gibbs RS. Danforth's obstetrics and gynecology. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2008.
  3. Aspyraf N, Frtys M. Clinical endocrinology and infertility women Aspyraf. Trans. Ghazi Jahani B, Fadaei A, Mohajerani S. Tehran, Iran: Golban Medical Publications; 2013. p. 542, 563-4. [In Persian].
  4. Ramezani Tehrani F, Minooee S, Simbar M, Azizi F. A Simpler diagnostic method to assess hirsutism in the Iranian population: Based on modified Ferriman- Gallwey scoring system (Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study). Int J Endocrinol Metab 2013; 15 (3): 303-10. [In Persian].
  5. Berek JS. Berek and Novak's gynecology. Trans. Ghazi jahani B. Tehran, Iran: Golban Medical Publications; 2012. p. 346, 355-70. [In Persian].
  6. Blume-Peytavi U. How to diagnose and treat medically women with excessive hair. Dermatol Clin 2013; 31(1): 57-65.
  7. Gibbs RS, Nygard IE. Danforth's Obstetrics and Gynecology. Trans. Valadan M, Boozari B, Faghani jadidi N, Razzaghi S, Jalilirad M. Nazem S. 1st ed. Tehran, Iran: Arjmand Pulication; 2008. p. 878. [In Persian].
  8. Bode D, Seehusen DA, Baird D. Hirsutism in women. Am Fam Physician 2012; 85(4): 373-80.
  9. Olah KS. The modern management of hirsutism. Reviews in Gynaecological Practice 2004; 4(4): 211-20.
  10. Aghaei H. Culture of drug consumption in households (Report). Kayhan Newspaper (No. 20685). 2014 Jan 12. p. 5. [Online]; Available from: URL: http://www.magiran.com/npview.asp?ID=2882440
  11. Changlong Z, Guixiang L, Zhide Z. Clinical observation on the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome with reflexotherapy. China Reflexolocy 1999; (4): 4-7.
  12. Badawy A, Elnashar A. Treatment options for polycystic ovary syndrome. Int J Womens Health 2011; 3: 25-35.
  13. Ziaie A, Yazdi Z, Abedini A, Sheykholeslami H, Javadi A. Effects of pioglitazone and metformin on insulin resistance reduction in polycystic ovary syndrome: A comparative study. J Isfahan Med Sch 2012; 29(172): 2842-8. [In Persian].
  14. Jedel E, Labrie F, Oden A, Holm G, Nilsson L, Janson PO, et al. Impact of electro-acupuncture and physical exercise on hyperandrogenism and oligo/amenorrhea in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2011; 300(1): E37-E45.
  15. Wu ZS, Cai XA. Acupuncture treatment of hirsutism and its effect on the endocrinosity. J Tradit Chin Med 1989; 9(3): 207-9.
  16. Valiani M, Khaki I, Shahshahan Z, Sirus M. Effect of auriculotherapy on menstrual irregularities in single girls with polycystic ovarian syndrome and aged 18-35 years in Isfahan in 2012. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res 2015; 20(2): 190-4.
  17. Pastore LM, Williams CD, Jenkins J, Patrie JT. True and sham acupuncture produced similar frequency of ovulation and improved LH to FSH ratios in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2011; 96(10): 3143-50.
  18. Lim DC, Chen W, Cheng LN, Xue CC, Wong FW, O'Sullivan AJ, et al. Acupuncture for polycystic ovarian syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2011; (8): CD007689.
  19. Ismaili N. Ear acupuncture training: Diagnosis and treatment of diseases through the earlobe. Sari, Iran: Nadali; 2011. p. 13, 27, 37. [In Persian].
  20. Oleson T. Auriculotherapy Manual: Chinese and western systems of ear acupuncture. 3rd ed. London, UK: Churchill Livingstone; 2008.
  21. Mehrabian F, Khani B, Kelishadi R, Ghanbari E. The prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome in Iranian women based on different diagnostic criteria. Endokrynol Pol 2011; 62(3): 238-42.
  22. Nazari T, Bayat R, Samiee H. Effect of metformin on single girl with polycystic ovarian syndrome. J Reprod Fertil 2005; 6(2): 177-87.
  23. Tavassoli F, Sharifian Attar J, Tavassoli S. Endocrine and metabolic effects of metformin versus Diane in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Ofogh-e-Danesh 2004; 10(3): 31-7. [In Persian].
  24. Salehpour S, Shahverdi Z, Farahmand Monfared M, Roz Rokh M. Comparing the therapeutic effects of spironolactone plus cyproterone compound with metformin on polycystic ovarian syndrome. J Med Counc I R Iran 2010; 28(4): 377-87. [In Persian].