The Use of Acupuncture for the Treatment of Vulvar Vestibulitis

Hadassah Medical Center

Status: Completed

Conditions: Vestibulodynia

Treatments: Procedure: Acupuncture

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02362763

VESTIB-HMO-CTIL

Details and patient eligibility

About

Randomized controlled trial designed to determine whether acupuncture is an effective treatment for vestibulitis.

Full description

Patients were randomized to five acupuncture sessions designed to treat pain in the vulvar area (study group), or five acupuncture sessions designed for tranquility (controls). Participants and evaluating gynecologists were blinded to randomization. Participants were examined clinically before treatment and one month after completion of assigned treatment; at both visits they completed the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire.

FSFI scores for pain during intercourse and total score were used to evaluate change. The examining gynecologist evaluated the degree of sensitivity to touch and the degree of local erythema. Response to treatment was evaluated for each group before and after treatment, and for study group compared to the control group.

Enrollment: 42 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 40 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Confirmed diagnosis of vestibulodynia

Exclusion criteria

• Pregnancy
• Patient who received other treatment for vestibulodynia in the month preceding.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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42 participants in 2 patient groups

Study group

Experimental group

Description:

Subjects received five acupuncture sessions designed to treat pain in the vulvar area

Treatment:

Procedure: Acupuncture

Controls

Active Comparator group

Description:

Controls received five acupuncture sessions designed for sedation

Treatment:

Procedure: Acupuncture