Study of 101 patients shows acupuncture is effective for endometrial pain

The aim of the study was to examine whether acupuncture is an effective additional pain treatment for endometriosis.

Study Design

One hundred and one women aged 20-40 years participated and were randomised into two groups, each receiving two units of 10 acupuncture treatments, twice a week over a period of five weeks.

Group 1 received verum-acupuncture (normal acupuncture) during the first series, and group 2 received non-specific acupuncture (i.e. not needling specific acupuncture points).

After the first phase of 10 treatments, an observation period of at least two menstruation cycles was set, followed by a second phase. Prior to the study the patients’ actual pain intensity was recorded in order to create a baseline.

Throughout the study period, participants were asked to keep a ‘pain protocol’, in which they defined and recorded their pain according to the 10-point visual analogue scale (VAS).

Results

Eighty-three out of a total of 101 patients finished the study. Group 1 showed a significant reduction of pain intensity after the first 10 treatments. In comparison, group 2 showed significant pain relief only after the cross-over.

Conclusion

Acupuncture treatment on specific acupuncture points appears to be an effective pain treatment for endometriosis, but this has to be confirmed in further study.

Ref : A randomised controlled cross-over trial. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2010 Nov;153(1):90-3).