Cheek acupuncture therapy combined with Chinese herbal medicine for female chronic pelvic pain: a retrospective study

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of cheek acupuncture therapy combined with Chinese herbal medicine on chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in female patients.MethodsFemale patients with CPP treated with cheek acupuncture (CA) and Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) from January 2018 to March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into an observation group receiving CA combined with CHM and a control group receiving only CHM. Baseline and follow-up assessments were conducted using the visual analogue scale (VAS), the McCormack scale, and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) quality of life assessment questionnaire. Prognostic differences were analyzed by comparing pain recurrence rates during follow-up. Baseline and follow-up assessments were conducted using the VAS, the McCormack scale, and the SF-36 quality of life assessment questionnaire. Prognostic differences were analyzed by comparing pain recurrence rates during follow-up.ResultsA total of 255 patients with CPP were included, with 113 assigned to the observation group and 142 to the control group. There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, patients in the observation group showed significantly lower VAS scores and McCormack scale scores, as well as higher SF-36 scores, than the control group. Additionally, the treatment group had a lower recurrence rate during follow-up.ConclusionThe combination of CA therapy and CHM shows high safety and efficacy, and a low CPP recurrence rate in women.