Complementary and Alternative Medicine for the Treatment of Abnormal Endometrial Conditions in Women with PCOS: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Table 1

Characteristics of included randomized clinical trials on CAM therapies for PCOS abnormal endometrial conditions.

Study ID	Sample size	Age	Comparisons	Outcome	Follow-up
CAM vs. WM, 3 studies
Fang et al. [24]	T: 28°C: 28	T: 27.54 ± 3.65 years; C: 28.24 ± 4.36 years	Chinese medicine prescription vs. clomiphene (3 m)	①②③⑧	NR
Li [26]	T: 74°C: 74	T: 27.8 ± 3.50 years; C: 28.0 ± 3.50 years	Chinese medicine prescription + progesterone capsule (under certain conditions) vs. HMG + HCG + progesterone capsule (under certain conditions) (3–6 m)	①③⑥⑨	NR
Zhuo [33]	T: 50°C: 50	T: 29 ± 5 years; C: 28 ± 5 years	Acupuncture vs. clomiphene (3 m)	①②④⑤⑪⑫	NR
CAM + WM vs. WM, 10 studies
Chen et al. [22]	T: 30°C: 30	T: 28.63 ± 0.73 years; C: 30.13 ± 0.75 years	Ding Kundan + clomiphene + HMG + dydrogesterone (under certain conditions) vs. clomiphene + HMG + dydrogesterone (under certain conditions) (1 m)	①③④⑤⑩	1 m
Chen [21]	T: 32°C: 31	T: 28.63 ± 0.73 years; C: 30.13 ± 0.75 years	Yougui Pill (adjusted according to conditions) + Diane-35 vs. Diane-35 (3 m)	①②⑤⑦	6 m
Du [23]	T: 57°C: 57	T: 29.4 ± 5.3 years; C: 28.6 ± 5.7 years	Chinese medicine prescription + ethinyl estradiol + clomiphene citrate tablets + HMG vs. ethinyl estradiol + clomiphene citrate tablets + HMG (3 m)	①②④⑤ ⑪ ⑫; ⑬⑯	NR
Hongling and Limian [25]	T: 29°C: 29	T: 25.8 ± 1.8 years; C: 26.2 ± 2.4 years	Traditional Chinese medicine + clomiphene citrate tablets + estradiol valerate + HCG vs. clomiphene citrate tablets + estradiol valerate + HCG (3 m)	①④⑤⑩⑪	3 m
Ma et al. [27]	T: 99°C: 99	T: 28.7 ± 5.1 years; C: 27.4 ± 14.8 years	Chinese medicine prescription + metformin vs. metformin (3 m)	①②③⑥⑦	NR
Ru et al. [28]	T: 90°C: 90	T: 26.8 ± 4.4 years; C: 26.5 ± 5.0 years	Chinese medicine prescription + clomiphene vs. clomiphene (3 m)	①②③④⑤	NR
Tong et al. [29]	T: 40°C: 40	T: 30.58 ± 3.82 years; C: 30.23 ± 3.53 years	Chinese medicine prescription + clomiphene + HCG (under certain conditions) + dydrogesterone (under certain conditions) vs. Clomiphene + HCG (under certain conditions) + dydrogesterone (under certain conditions) (3 m)	①④⑤⑭⑮	NR
Xu and Zho [30]	T: 30°C: 30	T: 25.7 ± 4.0 years; C: 25.8 ± 4.2 years	Acupuncture + Diane-35 + HMG + HCG vs. Diane-35 + HMG + HCG (2m)	①②④⑤⑨⑩; ⑭	NR
Zhao et al. [31]	T: 38°C: 40	T: 26.21 ± 3.37 years; C: 26.30 ± 3.38 years	Letrozole tablets + Tiao Jing Cu Yun pills + aspirin vs. letrozole tablets (only 1 m concluded)	①④⑮	NR
Wenqin and Dianzhou [32]	T: 51°C: 51	T: 28.6 ± 5.14 years; C: 29.4 ± 6.14 years	Tiao jing cu yun pill + clomiphene citrate capsules + HCG vs. clomiphene + HCG (3 m)	①②④⑤⑩⑭	NR

① Endometrial thickness, ② hormone levels, ③ clinical efficacy, ④ pregnancy rate (number of cases), ⑤ ovulation rate (number of cases), ⑥ TCM Syndrome Score, ⑦ ovarian volume, ⑧ dominant follicle size, ⑨ dominant follicle count, ⑩ adverse reactions, ⑪ endometrial type, ⑫ cervical mucus score, ⑬ number of menstrual recovery cases, ⑭ abortion rate, ⑮ endometrial blood flow coefficient (PI, RI, etc.), and ⑯ LP leptin.HMG: human menopausal gonadotropin, HCG: human chorionic gonadotropin, m: month, and NR: no report.