Ningxin Tongyu Zishen Tang in Treatment of Premature Ovarian Insufficiency: A Retrospective Control Study

Abstract

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a common refractory disease in gynecology, and its etiology and pathogenesis are complex. Psychological stress exerts an impact on women's physical and mental health, and in turn affects the ovarian reserve function, which is one of the important etiologies and pathogenesis of POI. The compound formula Ningxin Tongyu Zishen Tang (NTZT) is composed of Chinese herbal medicines which can nourish heart and tranquilize mind, tonify kidney and supplement essence. By comparing the menstrual symptoms, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptoms and the levels of serum sex hormone before and after treatment, the NTZT is clarified for its curative effect and advantages in patients with POI. The study aimed to observe the effects of NTZT on menstrual symptoms, TCM symptoms and the levels of serum sex hormone in POI patients. 60 POI patients were divided into two groups, namely observation group and control group, with 30 patients each. The patients in both groups were treated by hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The observation and control groups received treatment with NTZT and Liuwei Dihuang Wan (LDW), respectively. Both groups of patients were treated for 3 months continuously. The menstrual symptoms, TCM symptoms and the levels of serum sex hormone of the two groups were investigated before and after treatment. It was found that the menstrual symptoms, TCM symptoms and the levels of serum sex hormone improved dramatically after treatment in the observation group (P < 0.01). By comparison, the menstrual symptoms and the levels of serum sex hormone improved significantly (P < 0.01), but no obvious improvement in TCM symptoms (P > 0.05) in the control group was observed. Compared with the control group, the observation group showed significant improvement in TCM symptoms and the levels of serum sex hormone (P < 0.01), but no significant difference was observed in the menstrual symptoms (P > 0.05). In addition, no any adverse events such as gastrointestinal dysfunction and drug allergy were observed in both groups, indicating the safety of the two TCM formulas. The study found that NTZT could restore menstruation and improve the levels of sex hormone in patients with POI. It was also found that NTZT could eliminate the feelings of vexation, insomnia and dreamfulness, as well as tidal fever and sweating, aching pain of loins, and vaginal dryness significantly. It can be proved that NTZT is effective in treating patients with POI owing to its effects of nourishing heart and tranquilizing mind, tonifying kidney and supplementing essence together, leading to elimination of psychological stress, which further promotes the development of the ovaries.