Acupuncture trial for blood sugar control in women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Tests acupuncture with lifestyle changes in women aged 20 to 40 with polycystic ovary syndrome.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Acupuncture for Insulin Resistance in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Key facts
- Where
- Beijing, ChinaSee the site
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to test whether acupuncture can improve insulin resistance.
- Age
- 20 to 40 years
- Sex
- Women only
- Disease stage
- PCOS diagnosed by the Rotterdam criteria 2003, with at least two of three signs: infrequent or no ovulation, high androgen levels, or polycystic ovaries on ultrasound. BMI of 24 or more and under 40.
- Earlier treatment
- Cannot have had drug treatment or acupuncture in the past 3 months.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Other hormone disorders, such as androgen-secreting tumors, suspected Cushing's syndrome, non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, thyroid problems or high prolactin
- Type I diabetes or poorly controlled type II diabetes
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding in the last 6 months
- Blood pressure above 160/100mmHg
- Daily smoking and alcohol use
Read by machine on 13 November 2026.
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 20 and 40 years old?
Source: NCT07806656, who can take part
Where in China
- Peking University Third HospitalBeijing, ChinaContact: Weiqi Zhang, MasterNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- Peking University Third Hospital
- Trial code
- NCT07806656
- Record updated
- 8 September 2026
- Original description
This two-stage clinical research programme aims to evaluate the preliminary effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for improving insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Phase I will be a prospective, single-centre, open-label, single-arm exploratory trial involving 20 participants, all of whom will receive active acupuncture plus lifestyle management. Acupuncture will be administered three times per week for 12 weeks, followed by a 12-week follow-up period. The study will primarily assess safety, tolerability, feasibility, and the preliminary change in the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) from baseline to Week 12. The effect size and variability of HOMA-IR change, together with safety, adherence, and dropout data obtained from Phase I, will be used to determine the sample size and finalize the design of Phase II. Phase II is planned as a prospective, multicentre, parallel, randomized, participant- and outcome assessor-blinded, sham-controlled trial comparing active acupuncture plus lifestyle management with sham acupuncture plus lifestyle management to confirm the effectiveness and safety of the intervention.Read full original descriptionShow less
Effects of Acupuncture on Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
This two-stage clinical research programme aims to evaluate the preliminary effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for improving insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Phase I will be a prospective, single-centre, open-label, single-arm exploratory trial involving 20 participants, all of whom will receive active acupuncture plus lifestyle management. Acupuncture will be administered three times per week for 12 weeks, followed by a 12-week follow-up period. The study will primarily assess safety, tolerability, feasibility, and the preliminary change in the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) from baseline to Week 12. The effect size and variability of HOMA-IR change, together with safety, adherence, and dropout data obtained from Phase I, will be used to determine the sample size and finalize the design of Phase II. Phase II is planned as a prospective, multicentre, parallel, randomized, participant- and outcome assessor-blinded, sham-controlled trial comparing active acupuncture plus lifestyle management with sham acupuncture plus lifestyle management to confirm the effectiveness and safety of the intervention.
Inclusion: Age 20 to 40 years; BMI ≥ 24 and <40; PCOS diagnosis according to Rotterdam criteria 2003 [23] with at least two of the following three symptoms: (1) infrequent ovulation or anovulation; (2) hyperandrogenism or clinical manifestations of high blood androgen; (3) ultrasound findings of polycystic ovaries in 1 or 2 ovaries, or ≥12 follicles measuring 2 to 9 mm in diameter, and/or ovarian volume ≥10 mL; Voluntarily participate in this research project and sign the informed consent form.
Exclusion: Exclusion of other endocrine disorders such as androgen secreting tumors, suspected Cushing's syndrome and non-classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, thyroid dysfunction and hyperprolactinemia; Type I diabetes or not well controlled type II diabetes; Language or mental disorders, or inability to understand the experimental content; Pharmacological or acupuncture treatment within past 3 months; Pregnancy or breastfeeding in the last 6 months; Blood pressure >160/100mmHg; Daily smoking and alcoholic intake; Mental problems.