Can Acupuncture Relieve Painful Periods in Women With Dysmenorrhea?

2021-12-15 09:09:37

In a randomized control trial conducted by the Department of Acupuncture of SDM College of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences in Karnataka, India, 60 participants aged 17-23 years old were recruited from a residential college. Inclusion criteria: history of primary dysmenorrhea for at least 1 year; regular menstruation with periods from 21-35 days; no history of oral contraceptive use, intrauterine device, or any medicine for dysmenorrhea for the past 6 months.

Participants received clinical acupuncture on the 6th day of the period in the TCM style for symptomatic relief of dysmenorrhea at 12 acupuncture points: KI-3, SP-8, ST-25, ST-29, ST-30, ST-36, CV-4, CV-6, BL-62, HT-7, LI-4, and PC-6. Needles used were 0.2 x 30mm stainless steel. Each participant received a total of 45 sessions of acupuncture (1 session for 20 minutes/day, 15 sessions/30 days, for the period of 90 days) by a physician with more than 15 years of experience in clinical acupuncture.

Outcomes were measured on numerical scales: pain intensity from 0-10 (1-3 = mild pain, 4-7 = moderate pain, 8-10 = severe pain), muscle cramping from 0-3 (3 = severe), systemic symptoms from 0-3 (3 = symptoms exist severely/are debilitating). Baselines were taken on the 1st, 30th, 60th and 90th days. The control group received no treatment. The study group showed a significant reduction in all variables except faint and headache, especially during the 30th and 60th days and upon post intervention assessment.