APA on Sleep Quality in Women With PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent disorder affecting 5-18% of reproductive-age women. In recent years, women with PCOS appear to have an increased frequency of sleep problems, and the prevalence of poor sleep in PCOS is high at 31%. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of auricular point acupressure (APA) pressure on sleep quality in women with PCOS. We verified the effect of APA pressure on sleep quality, quality of life, anxiety level, sex hormone indexes, and biochemical indexes in two groups after the intervention. So as to provide a sleep management strategy in PCOS women for future clinical practice guidelines.

Subjects were included if they

• were aged between 18-40 years old;
• met the clinical diagnostic criteria of Western and Chinese medicine for PCOS with sleep disorders;
• were evaluated by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale (PSQI) and had a score ≥ 7 points;
• did not participate in other clinical trials.

Subjects were excluded if they

• had a serious organic condition such as cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, liver, or kidney disease;
• had acute gynecological inflammation, gynecological tumors, or reproductive system malformations;
• had severe anxiety, depression, or other mental illnesses;
• were pregnant;
• had used sleeping and sedative drugs in the past month;
• were allergic to ear point tape;
• had local rupture of the skin at the selected ear point;
• refused to fill out questionnaires and sign informed consent forms.