Acupuncture for the Treatment of Vulvodynia

Schlaeger, Judith M., CNM, LAc, PhD

Status: Completed

Conditions: Female Sexual Dysfunction Due to Physical Condition; Dyspareunia; Pain; Vulvar Vestibulitis; Vulvodynia

Treatments: Other: Acupuncture

Study type: Interventional

Identifiers

NCT02197429

11-10-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

A randomized controlled pilot study was conducted to evaluate the effect of an acupuncture protocol for the treatment of vulvodynia.

Hypotheses:

1. Acupuncture reduces vulvar pain and dyspareunia in women with vulvodynia.
2. Acupuncture increases sexual function in women with vulvodynia.

Enrollment: 36 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Previously diagnosed with either generalized vulvodynia, localized vestibulodynia, or both
• Provoked vulvodynia
• Unprovoked vulvodynia
• Women between 18 years of age and menopause

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy
• Menopause
• Interstitial cystitis
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Untreated vaginitis
• Cervicitis
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Diagnosed with other pelvic pathology causing pain
• Concomitantly receiving physical therapy
• Concomitantly receiving biofeedback,
• Concomitantly receiving massage
• Concomitantly receiving additional acupuncture.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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36 participants in 2 patient groups

Acupuncture

Experimental group

Description:

Acupuncture

Treatment:

Other: Acupuncture

Wait-list Control

No Intervention group

Description:

Wait-list Control