Exploration of Acupoint Compatibility Patterns in Acupuncture Treatment for Infertility Based on Data Mining

This innovative study used advanced data mining techniques to analyze patterns of acupuncture point selection in the treatment of female infertility. Investigators systematically examined eight major scientific databases, including PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, collecting information from 596 randomized controlled trials on acupuncture for infertility. The research focused specifically on three main types of infertility: polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), diminished ovarian reserve, and unexplained infertility, which accounted for 220 high-quality studies. The rigorous methodology included quality assessment using the modified Jadad scale and weighting of prescriptions according to the level of the scientific journals in which they were published.

The analysis revealed 92 different acupuncture points, used a total of 3,653 times across the studied prescriptions. The three most frequently used points were Guanyuan (CV-4), used in 367 prescriptions, Sanyinjiao (SP-6) in 344 prescriptions, and Zigong (EX-CA1) in 275 prescriptions. These points belong primarily to the Conception Vessel, Spleen meridian, and extraordinary points, respectively. The study identified that the most frequently involved meridians are the Conception Vessel (23.71% of uses), the Spleen meridian (15.16%), and the Stomach meridian (14.54%).

Among specific points, the anterior Mu points were most used (26.56%), followed by Five Element points (23.78%) and Yuan points (13.51%). Association rule analysis, using the Apriori algorithm, identified 24 point combinations with high reliability. The most significant combination was between SP-6 and CV-4, with 92.09% confidence, indicating that when SP-6 is selected, there is a very high probability that CV-4 will also be chosen. Network analysis identified a central core of 15 fundamental points for infertility treatment: CV-4, SP-6, ST-36, EX-CA1, CV-6, GV-20, SP-10, BL-23, BL-18, ST-29, CV-3, LR-3, KI-3, CV-12, and ST-25.

The results demonstrate that acupuncture treatment for infertility follows consistent therapeutic principles based on Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, focusing on regulating the Penetrating and Conception Vessels, harmonizing qi and blood, and strengthening kidney and spleen functions. For different types of infertility, specific points are added: in PCOS, BL-20, ST-40, and GV-4 are frequently used; in diminished ovarian reserve, LI-4, BL-32, and KI-12 are used; and in unexplained infertility, PC-6, LI-4, and BL-20 are combined. Limitations of the study include the predominance of Asian research in the sample and the lack of standardization in clinical acupuncture studies. Despite this, the findings provide robust evidence to guide point selection in clinical practice, especially for beginner practitioners, and establish a solid scientific foundation for future research on comparative efficacy of different point combinations.