Published Research on Acupuncture and Pelvic Pain
Research on acupuncture for pelvic pain, particularly related to conditions like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, and chronic pelvic pain syndrome, has gained interest in recent years.
Here are some notable studies:
"Acupuncture for chronic pelvic pain in women: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials" (2017) - This systematic review assessed the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating chronic pelvic pain in women. It analyzed data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and concluded that acupuncture could be considered as a treatment option for chronic pelvic pain, although more high-quality studies are needed.
"Acupuncture for pelvic and back pain in pregnancy: a systematic review" (2009) - This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture in managing pelvic and back pain during pregnancy. The review found that acupuncture was effective in reducing pain intensity and improving function compared to standard treatment or no treatment. However, the quality of evidence varied among the included studies.
"Acupuncture for the treatment of chronic pelvic pain in women: a systematic review" (2016) - This systematic review examined the efficacy of acupuncture in treating chronic pelvic pain in women. The review included RCTs and found that acupuncture was associated with significant improvements in pain intensity and quality of life compared to sham acupuncture or standard care. However, the authors highlighted the need for larger, high-quality trials to confirm these findings.
"Acupuncture for pelvic and back pain in pregnancy: A prospective, quasi-randomised, controlled study" (2004) - This study investigated the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating pelvic and back pain during pregnancy. It found that women who received acupuncture experienced significant reductions in pain intensity and disability compared to those who received standard care. However, the study had some methodological limitations, including a small sample size and lack of randomization.
"The effect of acupuncture on chronic pelvic pain secondary to endometriosis: a randomized controlled trial" (2013) - This RCT assessed the efficacy of acupuncture in treating chronic pelvic pain associated with endometriosis. The study found that acupuncture was associated with significant reductions in pain intensity and improvements in quality of life compared to sham acupuncture. However, the authors noted that larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.