Efficacy of Thread - Embedding Acupuncture for the Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether thread-embedding acupuncture can help lower menstrual pain in women aged 18 to 29 years with primary dysmenorrhea. Thread-embedding acupuncture is a type of acupuncture in which a small absorbable thread is placed into selected acupuncture points to provide longer-lasting stimulation. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * Does thread-embedding acupuncture combined with standard treatment lower menstrual pain more than standard treatment alone? * Does it improve other menstrual symptoms and lower the need for ibuprofen? What unwanted effects occur during the study? Researchers will compare participants who receive thread-embedding acupuncture plus standard treatment with participants who receive standard treatment alone. Participants will: * Use heat therapy when menstrual pain begins. * Take ibuprofen as rescue medicine when pain is severe, according to the study instructions. * If assigned to the thread-embedding acupuncture group, receive thread-embedding acupuncture before menstruation during two menstrual cycles. * Record menstrual pain, related symptoms, and ibuprofen use during the study. * Be assessed at the start of the study, during two treatment cycles, and during one menstrual cycle after treatment ends.

Timeline

Start

2024-09-01

Primary completion

2025-02-01

Completion

2025-04-30

Publications

• Background Gray SP. Analyzing captial investments. Hosp Purch Manage. 1980 Sep;5(9):3-7. No abstract available.
• Background McKenna KA, Fogleman CD. Dysmenorrhea. Am Fam Physician. 2021 Aug 1;104(2):164-170.
• Background Yu WY, Ma LX, Zhang Z, Mu JD, Sun TY, Tian Y, Qian X, Zhang YD. Acupuncture for Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Potential Mechanism from an Anti-Inflammatory Perspective. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2021 Dec 3;2021:1907009. doi: 10.1155/2021/1907009. eCollection 2021.
• Background Kho KA, Shields JK. Diagnosis and Management of Primary Dysmenorrhea. JAMA. 2020 Jan 21;323(3):268-269. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.16921. No abstract available.
• Background ACOG Committee Opinion No. 760: Dysmenorrhea and Endometriosis in the Adolescent. Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Dec;132(6):e249-e258. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000002978.

Drugs

Indications