Acupuncture for Primary Dysmenorrhea

Ataturk University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Dysmenorrhea Primary

Treatments: Drug: NSAIDs; Other: acupuncture

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07590232

TTU-2022-10772

Details and patient eligibility

About

The main aim is to investigate the effects of acupuncture on pain intensity and health-related quality of life in women with primary dysmenorrhea.

Full description

In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 64 women with primary dysmenorrhea were randomly assigned to an acupuncture group (AG; n = 30) or a control group (CG; n = 34). The AG received manual body acupuncture every other day for three menstrual cycles (five sessions per cycle, total of 15 sessions), starting 3-4 days before menstruation in each cycle. The CG received routine recommendations without additional intervention. Pain intensity, functional and emotional impact, and quality of life were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Functional and Emotional Dysmenorrhea Scale (FEDS), and the Short Form-36 (SF-36). Measurements were performed at baseline and on days 30, 60, and 90.

Enrollment: 64 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 35 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• to be women aged 18-35 years with a confirmed diagnosis of primary dysmenorrhea for at least one year
• regular menstrual cycles (28 ± 7 days)
• a VAS score ≥4 in the previous cycle

Exclusion criteria

• secondary dysmenorrhea
• currently pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding
• used oral contraceptives or intrauterine devices in the last 3 months,
• received acupuncture in the past 6 months, had open wounds at acupuncture points
• presented with severe psychiatric disorder or cognitive impairment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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64 participants in 2 patient groups

Acupuncture Group (AG)

Experimental group

Description:

Patients in the AG received classical body acupuncture. The acupuncture points used were: LI-4, LIV-3, KID-3, SP-6, SP-8, HT-7, LU-9, P-6, BL-57, ST-25,28,29,30,36, GV-20, CV-2,3,4,5,6.

Treatment:

Other: acupuncture

Control Group (CG)

Active Comparator group

Description:

The control group received no acupuncture session but continued NSAID therapy (400 mg ibuprofen three times daily during menstruation) and routine follow-up.

Treatment:

Drug: NSAIDs