Study of Acupuncture to Control Weight and Improve Pregnancy Rates in Overweight/Obese PCOS Patients

Prior treatment

• Medication within 12 weeks (hormonal drugs, antidepressants, other anti-diabetic drugs, contraceptives, ovulation induction drugs or other drugs that affect the trial in the judgment of the investigator);

Other illness

• History of severe heart disease, hematologic disease;
• Any acute disease that has the potential to alter renal function or cause tissue hypoxia;
• Type I diabetes mellitus;
• Allergy to metformin hydrochloride or any excipients;
• No history of acupuncture treatment within 2 months;
• Persons with disabilities with language impairment or reduced ability to understand the information provided;
• The man clearly diagnoses infertility-related diseases and factors.

Lab values

• Known kidney disease (creatinine clearance rate \<45mL/min), liver function ALT, AST more than 3 times the normal value, autoimmune disease or cancer;

Other

• Blood pressure \> 160/100 mm Hg;
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding in the past three months;
• Alcohol dependence
• Those who have participated in other clinical studies within three months;

• Diagnosis of PCOS according to the 2003 Rotterdam criteria with at least two of the following three symptoms: clinical and/or biochemical signs of hyperandrogenism (hirsutism or acne), oligomerism/amenorrhea, and/or polycystic ovaries (PCOS). Biochemical hyperandrogenism is defined as total testosterone \> 2.6 nmol/L or free androgen index \>7. Hirsutism is defined as an FG score ≥7. Oligomenorrhea is defined as menstrual bleeding \> 35 days between menstrual periods in the past year, \< 8 menstrual bleeding. Amenorrhea is \< 3 cycles per year. PCO is defined by transvaginal ultrasound, where one or both ovaries ≥ 12 follicles 2-9 mm and/or ovarian volume ≥ 10 mL. Other endocrine disorders such as atypical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (17-hydroxyprogesterone \<3 nmol/L), androgen-secreting tumors, or suspected Cushing syndrome are excluded.
• Age from ≥ 20 years old (legal age of marriage) to ≤ 40 years old
• PCOS patients: BMI ≥ 25 to ≤40kg/m2.
• Willing to sign the consent form.