Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

Effects of acupoint-stimulation for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea compared with NSAIDs: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 RCTs

Authors: Yang Xu, Wenli Zhao, Te Li, Huaien Bu, Zhimei Zhao, Ye Zhao, Shilin Song

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2017

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

Primary dysmenorrhoea (PD), defined as painful menses in women with normal pelvic anatomy, is one of the most common gynaecological syndromes. Acupoint-stimulation could potentially be an effective intervention for PD. Our aim was to determine the effectiveness of acupoint-stimulation compared with Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NASIDs) in the treatment of PD.

Methods

Six databases were searched to December 2014. Sixteen studies involving 1679 PD patients were included. We included randomized controlled trials that compared acupoint-stimulation with NASIDs for the treatment of PD. The main outcomes assessed were clinical effectiveness rate, symptom score, visual analogue score, variation in peripheral blood prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and side effects. All analyses were performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis statistical software.

Results

(1) The total efficacy was better than control group: odds ratio = 5.57; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 3.96, 7.83; P < 0.00001; (2) The effect of intervention was positive in relieving the severity of PD symptoms: mean difference (MD) = 2.99; 95%CI = 2.49, 3.49; P < 0.00001; (3) No statistical difference existed between two groups in terms of a reduction in the VAS: MD = 1.24; 95%CI = −3.37, 5.85; P = 0.60; (4) The effect of intervention on the variation in peripheral blood PGF2α between two groups was positive: MD = 7.55; 95%CI = 4.29,10.82; P < 0.00001; (5) The side effects of control groups was more than the acupoint-stimulation group: OR = 0.03; 95%CI =0.00,0.22; P = 0.0005.

Conclusions

According to this article, acupoint-stimulation can relieve pain effectively in the treatment of PD and offers advantages in increasing the overall effectiveness.
Literature
1.
Hillen TIJ, Grbavac SL, Johnston PJ, Straton JAY, Keogh JMF. Primary dysmenorrhea in young western Australian women: prevalence, impact, and knowledge of treatment. J Adolesc Health. 1999;25(1):40–5.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Burnett MA, Antao V, Black A, Feldman K, Grenville A, Lea R, Lefebvre G, Pinsonneault O, Robert M. Prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea in Canada. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2005;27(8):765–70.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Ortiz MI, Rangel-Flores E, Carrillo-Alarcón LC, Veras-Godoy HA. Prevalence and impact of primary dysmenorrhea among Mexican high school students. Int J Gynecol Obstet. 2009;107(3):240–3.CrossRef
4.
Jalili Z, Safizadeh H, Shamsipoor N. Prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea in college students in Sirjan. Kerman Payesh. 2005;4(1):61–7.
5.
6.
Jun EM, Chang S, Kang DH, Kim S. Effects of acupressure on dysmenorrhea and skin temperature changes in college students: a non-randomized controlled trial. Int J Nurs Stud. 2007;44(6):973–81.CrossRefPubMed
7.
Speroff L, Fritz MA. Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility (7th edition). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2005, Menstrual disorders; pp. 401–464.
8.
Balbi C, Musone R, Menditto A, Prisco LD, Cassese E, D’Ajello M, et al. Influence of menstrual factors and dietary habits on menstrual pain in adolescence age. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2000;91(2):143–8.CrossRefPubMed
9.
10.
Pu BC, Fang L, Gao LN, Liu R, Li AZ. Animal study on primary dysmenorrhoea treatment at different administration times. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:367379.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
11.
Harel Z. Dysmenorrhea in adolescents and young adults: from pathophysiology to pharmacological treatments and management strategies. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2008;9(15):2661–72.CrossRefPubMed
12.
Alvin PE, Litt IF. Current status of etiology and management of dysmenorrhea in adolescents. Pediatrics. 1982;70(4):516–25.PubMed
13.
Dawood MY. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and changing attitudes toward dysmenorrhea. Am J Med. 1988;84(5):23–9.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Kaplan Ö, Nazıroğlu M, Güney M, Aykur M. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug modulates oxidative stress and calcium ion levels in the neutrophils of patients with primary dysmenorrhea. J Reprod Immunol. 2013;100(2):87–92.CrossRefPubMed
15.
Yang H, Liu CZ, Chen X, Ma LX, Xie JP, Guo NN, Ma ZB, Zheng YY, Zhu J, Liu JP. Systematic review of clinical trials of acupuncture-related therapies for primary dysmenorrhea. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2008;87(11):1114–22.CrossRefPubMed
16.
Lin JG, Chen YH, Gao XY, Lao L, Lee H, Litscher G. Clinical efficacy, mechanisms, and safety of acupuncture and moxibustion. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014;2014:356258.PubMedPubMedCentral
17.
Zheng X-Y. Guideline for clinical trials of new patent Chinese medicines. 1st ed. Beijing: Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China; 1993. p. 263–5.
18.
Hu YL, Lin Q, Li Y, Zheng XM. Effect of eye acupuncture on plasma PGF 2α in patients of primary dysmenorrhea. World J Acupuncture-Moxibustion. 2012;22(1):17–22.CrossRef
19.
Kiran G, Gumusalan Y, Ekerbicer HC, Kiran H, Coskun A, Arikan DC. A randomized pilot study of acupuncture treatment for primary dysmenorrhea. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2013;169(2):292–5.CrossRefPubMed
20.
21.
Xu T, Hui L, Juan YL, Min SG, Hua WT. Effects of moxibustion or acupoint therapy for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea: a meta-analysis. Altern Ther Health Med. 2014;20(4):33–42.PubMed
22.
Zhang LM, Yang HY. The 45 cases on single acupuncture treatment for primary dysmenorrhea. Fujian J TCM. 2012;43(2):25–6.
23.
Lin Q, Chen WZ, Li Y, Hu YL. Effect of eye acupuncture on uterine artery blood flow in patients with primary dysmenorrhea. Shanghai J Acupunct Moxibustion. 2012;31(12):885–7.
24.
Cao Y. Acupuncture clinical analysis of primary dysmenorrhea. Master Thesis Heilongjiang Chin Med College 2011: 26-29.
25.
Zhi LX. Randomized controlled study on superficial needling for treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2007;27(1):18–21.PubMed
26.
Bo LN. A literature mining and randomized controlled trial of moxibustion in treating primary dysmenorrhea. Doctor Thesis Chengdu Chin Med College 2013: 43-60, 67-70.
27.
Ren XL. Clinical study on the treatment of primary Dysmenorrhea with moxibustion. Global Traditional Chin Med. 2013;6(6):431–2.
28.
Zhu Y, Chen RL, Le JI, Miao FR. Efficacy observation of primary dysmenorrhea treated with isolated-herbal moxibustion on Shenque (CV8). Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2010;30(6):453–5.PubMed
29.
Li JM. Clinical study of electro—acupuncture treatment of primary dysmenorrhea Ci Liao acupoints. Master Thesis. Guangzhou Chin Med College. 2012: 15-17.
30.
Wang K, Pan WY, Duan YH. Clinical study on the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea with auricu1ar acupuncture. Guangdong Med J. 2005;26(12):1728–30.
31.
Yang M. The clinical observation of 36 cases on dysmenorrhea moxibustion treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. Hainan Med J. 2009;20(7):226–7.
32.
Chen LW. The clinical observation of primary dysmenorrhea treated with the Chinese native medicine sticks on the acupuncture point. Master Thesis Guangzhou Chin Med College 2006: 20-22.
33.
Liu C, Zhang HY. Therapeutic effect of moxibustion on primary dysmenorrhea due to damp-cold retention. World J Acupuncture-Moxibustion. 2011;21(3):1–4.
34.
Zhu C. Clinical study on the treatment of haemorrheological nature blood stasis type of primary dysmenorrhea with moxibustion. Hubei J TCM. 2011;33(1):65–6.
35.
Li ZL, Li YQ, Pan FQ, Bian WH, Chu JZ, Zhu PQ. Clinical observation on Chinese herbs acupoint of Yugui wenjing decoction stick to treat haemorrheological nature blood stasis type of primary dysmenorrhea. Modern J Integrated Traditional Chinese Western Med. 2012;21(5):483–4.
36.
Jiang LY. Clinical experience of acupuncture for treatment of 34 cases in primary dysmenorrhea. J Emerg Tradit Chin Med. 2007;16:620–1.
37.
Xing QX. Observation on the therapeutic effect of pricking bloodletting at ear points on primary dysmenorrhea. Shanghai Zhenjiu Zazhi. 2011;30:235–6.
38.
Ji L, Chen RL, Deng PY, Zhou LJ, Do SC, Zhu Y. Treatment effect of herb-partitioned moxibustion for dysmenorrhea of cold stagnation type and its effect on PGF2ɑ and PGE2. Shanghai J Acupunct Moxibustion. 2012;31:882–4.
39.
Sale H, Hedman L, Isberg A. Accuracy of patients’ recall of temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction after experiencing whiplash: a prospective study. J Am Dent Assoc. 2010;141(7):879–86.CrossRefPubMed
40.
Warner TD, Giuliano F, Vojnovic I, Bukasa A, Mitchell JA, Vane JR. Nonsteroid drug selectivities for cyclo-oxygenase-1 rather than cyclo-oxygenase-2 are associated with human gastrointestinal toxicity: a full in vitro analysis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999;96(13):7563–8.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
41.
Ruoff G, Lema M. Strategies in pain management: new and potential indications for COX-2 specific inhibitors. J Pain Symptom Manag. 2003;25(2):S21–31.CrossRef
42.
Dawood MY. Dysmenorrhea. J Reprod Med. 1990;33(1):168–78.
43.
44.
Dawood MY. Primary dysmenorrhea: advances in pathogenesis and management. Obstet Gynecol. 2006;108(2):428–41.CrossRefPubMed
45.
46.
47.
Sanfilippo J, Erb T. Evaluation and management of dysmenorrhea in adolescents. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2008;51(2):257–67.CrossRefPubMed
48.
49.
Durain D. Primary dysmenorrhea: assessment and management update. J Midwifery Women’s Health. 2004;49(6):520–8.CrossRef
50.
Smith CA, Crowther CA, Petrucco O, Beilby J, Dent H. Acupuncture to treat primary dysmenorrhea in women: a randomized controlled trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011;2011:612464.PubMedPubMedCentral
51.
Kempf D, Berger D, Ausfeld-Hafter B. Laser needle acupuncture in women with dysmenorrhoea: a randomised controlled double blind pilot trial. Forsch Komplementmed. 2009;16(1):6–12.CrossRefPubMed
52.
Chung YC, Chen HH, Yeh ML. Acupoint stimulation intervention for people with primary dysmenorrhea: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. Complement Ther Med. 2012;20(5):353–63.CrossRefPubMed
53.
Abaraogu UO, Tabansi-Ochuogu CS. As acupressure decreases pain, acupuncture may improve some aspects of quality of life for women with primary Dysmenorrhea: a systematic review with meta-analysis. J Acupunct Meridian Stud. 2015;8(5):220–8.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Effects of acupoint-stimulation for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea compared with NSAIDs: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 RCTs
Authors
Yang Xu
Wenli Zhao
Te Li
Huaien Bu
Zhimei Zhao
Ye Zhao
Shilin Song
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-017-1924-8

Other articles of this Issue 1/2017

BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2017 Go to the issue

Research article

Chlorella sorokiniana induces mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in human non-small cell lung cancer cells and inhibits xenograft tumor growth in vivo

Research article

Effects of Dangguibuxue decoction on rat glomerular mesangial cells cultured under high glucose conditions

Research article

Methanol leaves extract Hibiscus micranthus Linn exhibited antibacterial and wound healing activities

Research article

Upper airway stabilization by osteopathic manipulation of the sphenopalatine ganglion versus sham manipulation in OSAS patients: a proof-of-concept, randomized, crossover, double-blind, controlled study

Research article

Flavonoids from Tetracera indica Merr. induce adipogenesis and exert glucose uptake activities in 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells

Research article

Centella asiatica modulates cancer cachexia associated inflammatory cytokines and cell death in leukaemic THP-1 cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC’s)