Manual Acupuncture Plus Usual Care Versus Usual Care Alone in the Treatment of Endometriosis-Related Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Study

Mike Armour, Adele E. Cave, Siobhan M. Schabrun, Steiner GZ, Genevieve Z. Steiner, Xiaoshu Zhu, Jing Song, Song J, Jason Abbott, Abbott J, Smith CA, Caroline A Smith, Caroline Smith
Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) · 2021 · vol. 27(10) , pp. 841–849 · doi:10.1089/acm.2021.0004 · PMID:34161143 · W3173958463
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This feasibility study found manual acupuncture plus usual care was acceptable and well-tolerated for endometriosis pain, showing improvements in pain and quality of life compared to usual care alone.

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Abstract

Objective: To determine the acceptability and feasibility of acupuncture for the treatment of endometriosis-related chronic pelvic pain. Design: A prospective, randomized controlled feasibility study. Setting: Outpatient setting in Sydney, Australia. Subjects: Participants who were aged 18–45 years, had a confirmed laparoscopic diagnosis of endometriosis in the past 5 years, and had regular menstrual periods and mean pelvic pain scores ≥4/10. Interventions: Sixteen acupuncture treatments delivered by registered acupuncturists using a standardized point protocol over 8 weeks, twice per week plus usual care compared with usual care alone. Outcome measures: Primary outcome measures were feasibility, safety, and acceptability of the acupuncture intervention. Secondary outcomes were changes in self-reported pelvic pain scores, changes in quality of life as measured by the Endometriosis Health Profile (EHP-30), changes in descending pain modulation, and changes in systemic inflammation (plasma interleukin [IL-6] concentrations). Results: Twenty-nine participants were eligible to participate, with 19 participants completing the trial. There was unequal withdrawals between groups; the acupuncture group had a withdrawal rate of 14% compared with 53% in usual care. Adverse events were uncommon (6.7%) and generally mild. A 1.9 point decrease in median nonmenstrual pain scores and a 2.0 decrease in median menstrual pain scores between baseline and end of trial were observed in the acupuncture group only. Improvements in all domains of the EHP-30 were seen in the acupuncture group, with no changes seen in usual care. There was no difference between baseline and end of treatment in IL-6 concentrations for either group. Conclusions: Acupuncture was an acceptable, well-tolerated treatment and it may reduce pelvic pain and improve quality of life; however, usual care was not an acceptable control group. Trial Registration:anzctr.org.au: ACTRN12617000053325. Prospectively registered January 11, 2017.

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Outcome instruments

EHP-30

Condition tags

endometriosischronic_pelvic_pain

MeSH descriptors

Acupuncture Therapy Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Feasibility Studies Female Humans Pelvic Pain Pelvic Pain Pelvic Pain Prospective Studies Quality of Life

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