Can acupuncture help with menstrual pain?
February 27, 2008 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Can acupuncture help relieve the pain and discomfort that can come with a menstrual period? According to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, it just might.
The study, in Germany, involved 208 women who were randomized to receive acupuncture or to be in the control group. Patients in the acupuncture groups received an average of 10.5 acupuncture sessions. Most patients received 5-10 sessions.
The researchers found that those patients with chronic menstrual pain (dysmonorrhea) who received acupuncture in addition to routine care had significant pain relief and reported a better quality of care than did those women who just received routine care.
You can read the actual study summary here: Acupuncture in patients with dysmenorrhea: randomized study on clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in usual care .
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Image: iStock.com
Wow, awesome study! I’ve been having acupuncture and I find it helps a LOT. It helps my back pain significantly, and it does also help with menstrual pain/endometriosis pain. I’m glad to see they’re researching it, sometimes pain meds just don’t cut it!