Clinical and Metabolomics Studies on the Improvement of Ovarian Reserve by Acupoint Photodynamic Therapy and Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Traditional Chinese Medicine, Photodynamic therapy (PDT), Placebo.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR). Basic parameters: 25 years — 40 years · Female.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- China
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Overview
Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR) refers to a reduction in the number of recruitable follicles in the ovaries and/or a decline in oocyte quality. Current research on its etiology and treatment remains unsatisfactory. This study will be conducted as a single-center, prospective, parallel, randomized, controlled clinical trial in DOR patients. Eligible subjects will be randomly assigned to three groups: LLLT (acupoint photodynamic therapy) + placebo (Dingkun Dan Simulant), LLLT (acupoint photodynamic therapy) + Chinese medicine (Dingkun Dan), and Chinese medicine (Dingkun Dan) alone. Clinical data and serum metabolomics will be assessed at baseline and after the 3-month treatment.
Detailed description
Ovarian reserve can reflect a woman's fertility and the outcomes of assisted reproductive technology. If not treated promptly, it may progress to Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) within 1 to 6 years, severely affecting a woman's physical and mental health. Studies have found that the incidence of DOR in the female population is approximately 10%, while the prevalence of DOR among infertile women is about 24%, showing an increasing trend year by year and affecting younger age groups. Extensive studies have confirmed that traditional Chinese medicine, as well as integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatments, have certain therapeutic effects on DOR in clinical practice. Early intervention for DOR can improve ovarian reserve function and increase the pregnancy rate. This study will be conducted as a prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Eligible subjects will be randomly assigned to three groups: Combination Therapy Group, Photodynamic Therapy Group, Chinese Medicine Group. After three months of treatment, the study will conduct clinical and metabolomics-based research on DOR patients to: (1) Clarify the role and efficacy of acupoint photodynamic therapy, both alone and in combination with Chinese medicine, in improving or enhancing the effects of traditional Chinese medicine on ovarian reserve function. (2) Explore new metabolic biomarkers for the diagnosis and efficacy evaluation of ovarian reserve function. (3) Identify the distinct metabolic pathways through which acupoint photodynamic therapy and Chinese medicine improve ovarian reserve function. (4) Establish an integrated biomarker index system for the diagnosis and treatment evaluation of DOR using acupoint photodynamic therapy and traditional Chinese medicine, and elucidate the mechanisms of action and pharmacodynamic material basis for improving ovarian reserve function.
Interventions
- Drug Traditional Chinese Medicine
Dingkun Dan 7g, twice daily (bid) for 21 days per month, administered orally for 3 treatment cycles. - Device Photodynamic therapy (PDT)
LLLT: The acupoint phototherapy device, with a peak wavelength of 630nm ± 20nm and an output optical power of 1-2.5mW, was used. Treatment commenced after the end of the menstrual period, once daily for 20 minutes per session, for 5 days (constituting one treatment cycle). After a 2-day interval, the next treatment cycle began, continuing until the onset of the next menstruation. - Drug Placebo
Placebo: Simulated Dingkun Dan preparation, 7g, twice daily (bid) for 21 days per month, administered orally for 3 treatment cycles.
Primary outcome measures
- Change in serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentration [Time frame: At 3 months after treatment initiation.]
- Change in serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) concentration [Time frame: At 3 months after treatment initiation.]
- Change in antral follicle count (AFC) [Time frame: At 3 months after treatment initiation.]
Secondary outcome measures (4)
- Change in serum concentrations of biochemical markers [Time frame: At 3 months after treatment initiation.]
- Change in menstrual blood loss assessed by the Pictorial Blood Loss Assessment Chart (PBAC) [Time frame: At 3 months after treatment initiation.]
- Change in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome score for menstrual disorders [Time frame: At 3 months after treatment initiation.]
- Change in health-related quality of life [Time frame: At 3 months after treatment initiation.]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Female patients aged 25 to 40 years
- Meet the diagnostic criteria for diminished ovarian reserve (requiring at least two of the following: Basal FSH 10-25 IU/L; AMH < 1.1 ng/mL; AFC < 7) ③ Meet the diagnostic criteria for kidney deficiency syndrome in traditional Chinese medicine ④ Voluntarily participate in this study and provide written informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
- Organic lesions such as ovarian tumors, pituitary adenomas, endometrial tuberculosis, intrauterine adhesions or endometrial damage after abortion, as well as polycystic ovary syndrome, hyperprolactinemia, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Cushing's syndrome, and thyroid dysfunction
- Female infertility patients who have been treated with sex hormones in the past 3 months ③ Serious or unstable physical diseases, including liver, kidney, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, neurological, immune or hematological, neurological and psychiatric systems,
- History of substance (alcohol or drug) abuse or dependence within the past 3 months; heavy smokers (defined as those who smoke 20 or more cigarettes per day)
- Previous allergy to the investigational drug or photosensitivity, or individuals with contraindications to Dingkun Dan ⑥ Have participated in another clinical trial of a investigational drug within the month prior to inclusion in this study (first interview) ⑦ Other conditions that, in the judgment of the investigator, may reduce the likelihood of enrollment or complicate the enrollment process, such as frequent job changes or other circumstances prone to loss to follow-up.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
China · 1 center
- Peking union medical college hospital — Beijing
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07376824 · SF2024