Clinical efficacy of acupuncture for women with PCOS undergoing IVF/ICSI: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Abstract
Background: Infertility constitutes a critical global reproductive health issue, with its overall incidence exhibiting a substantial upward trend. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is recognized as a predominant etiological factor in female infertility. Although accumulating clinical evidence suggests that acupuncture may exert therapeutic benefits in improving reproductive outcomes, existing findings remain inconsistent. Accordingly, this meta-analysis was conducted to systematically evaluate current randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and determine whether acupuncture improves clinical outcomes in infertile women with PCOS undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
Methods: Relevant RCTs investigating the effects of acupuncture in infertile women with PCOS undergoing IVF/ICSI were identified through an exhaustive search of seven databases from inception to March 7, 2026. Forest plots were used to present the pooled evidence. The outcomes comprised one primary outcome and nine secondary outcomes. Risk of bias was appraised using the RoB 2.0 tool. Sensitivity analyses were performed to examine the stability of pooled estimates, while publication bias was assessed with Egger's and Begg's tests. Subgroup analyses were also conducted to evaluate differences in therapeutic effects on the primary outcome across acupuncture modalities, number of acupoints, and ovarian stimulation protocols. The certainty of the evidence was assessed…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 2,299 participants or records.
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