EA was superior to pharmacological treatment when the treatment duration lasted for three menstrual cycles , evidence d by significantly higher curative rate .
No statistically significant differences between EA at SP6 and control groups were found regarding the VRS , RSS-COX1 , and RSS-COX2 .
The findings of our study suggested that EA can provide considerable immediate analgesia effect for PD .
Electroacupuncture ( EA ) is considered to be a promising alternative therapy to relieve the menstrual pain for primary dysmenorrhea ( PD ) , but the conclusion is controversial .
Here , we conducted a systematic review and meta- analysis specifically to evaluate the clinical efficacy from r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) on the use of EA in patients with PD .
[Randomized controlled study on the analgesic effect of superficial needling plus electrostimulation of sanyinjiao (SP6) for primary dysmenorrhea].
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the analgesic and therapeutic effects of electro-superficial-acupuncture ( ESA ) of Sanyinjiao ( SP6 ) for treating primary dysmenorrhea ( PD ) . METHODS A total of 171 patients were r and omly divided into ESA ( n=57 ) , superficial acupuncture ( SA ) ( n=57 ) and medication ( n=57 ) groups . For patients in SA group , bilateral SP6 were punctured superficially with special single-use needles , and for those in ESA group , after puncturing , electric stimulation ( 60 Hz , 2 - 3 V ) was applied to SP6 for 30 min . Patients of medication group were ordered to take Brufen sustained-release capsules ( 0.3 mg , b. i. d. , for 3 days ) , then , take it again from the 3rd day on before the onset of menstruation to the 2nd day after the onset . The cumulative score of clinical symptoms were evaluated before and after the treatment . RESULTS Comparison among 3 groups showed that the difference values of score ( pre-treatment -- post-treatment ) of both ESA and SA groups were significantly bigger than that of medication group ( P<0.001 ) . After the treatment from 1 min to 30 min , patients with complete relief of dysmenorrhea of ESA group were significantly more than those of SA group during the 1st menstrual cycle ( P<0.05 ) . Results of intention-to-treat ( ITT ) analysis showed that of the three 57 cases in ESA , SA and medication groups , the cured cases were 40 , 38 and 10 , the markedly effective were 9 , 10 and 27 , the effective were 5 , 4 and 7 , and the failed were 3 , 5 and 13 , with the total effective rates being 94.74 % , 91.23 % and 77.19 % respectively . The effective rates of ESA and SA groups were significantly higher than that of medication group ( P<0.01 ) , and the results of per- protocol analysis ( PP ) were similar to those of ITT analysis . CONCLUSION The analgesic effect of both ESA and SA at SP6 for PD patients is significantly better than that of oral administration of Brufen
EA was superior to pharmacological treatment when the treatment duration lasted for three menstrual cycles , evidence d by significantly higher curative rate .
No statistically significant differences between EA at SP6 and control groups were found regarding the VRS , RSS-COX1 , and RSS-COX2 .
The findings of our study suggested that EA can provide considerable immediate analgesia effect for PD .
Electroacupuncture ( EA ) is considered to be a promising alternative therapy to relieve the menstrual pain for primary dysmenorrhea ( PD ) , but the conclusion is controversial .
Here , we conducted a systematic review and meta- analysis specifically to evaluate the clinical efficacy from r and omized controlled trials ( RCTs ) on the use of EA in patients with PD .