Objective To evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of premature ovarian failure（ POF） systematically. Methods Literature published from the time databases were built until July 31 st

2015 was searched from Pub Med / MEDLINE

EMbase

Journal Full-Text Database of China National Knowledge Infrastructure

VIP Data

Chinese Biological Medical Literature Database on disc

and Wan Fang Data. Papers of randomized controlledtrials on acupuncture treatment of POF were collected. Bias of risk and quality of included papers were evaluated. Meta analysis were carried out on the total effective rate of menstruation recovery and the improvement of serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone（ FSH）

luteinizing hormone（ LH） and estradiol（ E2） in patients with POF after acupuncture treatment. Results Twelve randomized controlled trials were included. Meta analysis showed that after acupuncture treatment

the total effective rate of menstruation recovery [RR = 1. 26

95% CI（ 1. 16

1. 36）

P < 0. 00001] and the improvement of serum FSH [WMD =- 6. 27

95% CI（- 10. 56

- 1. 98）

P = 0. 004]were superior to those in the western medicine control group. After the treatment of acupuncture combined with western medicine

the total effective rate of menstruation recovery [RR = 1. 25

95% CI（ 1. 11

1. 40）

P = 0. 0002]and the improvement of serum level of FSH [WMD =- 11. 71

95% CI（- 20. 81

- 2. 60）

P = 0. 01] were superior to those in the western medicine control group. Six months after the treatment of acupuncture and acupuncture combined with western medicine

patients’ total effective rate of menstruation recovery was much higher than that in the western medicine control group [RR = 2. 37

95% CI（ 1. 77

3. 18）

P < 0. 001; RR = 1. 58

95% CI（ 1. 17

2. 13）

P = 0. 003]. One month after acupuncture treatment

the improvement of serum levels of FSH and LH were more obvious than that in the western medicine control group [WMD =- 13. 25

95% CI（- 17. 89

- 8. 60）

P <0. 0001; WMD =- 7. 57

95% CI（- 12. 04

- 3. 09）

P = 0. 0009]. Conclusion Acupuncture treatment of POF is effective on patients’ menstruation recovery and the improvement of patients’ serum level of FSH. The efficacy could be maintained in a short time.