Category: Gynaecology

American researchers suggest that electro-acupuncture may be more effective and have fewer adverse effects, than the drug gabapentin in managing hot flushes in women undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

A total of 120 women who were having hot flushes at least twice per day, were randomly assigned to one of four groups for 8 weeks of treatment: electro-acupuncture; gabapentin daily; sham acupuncture as a placebo; placebo pills. By the eighth week, the mean reductions in hot flush scores were -7.4, -5.2, -5.9 and -3.4 for the groups respectively, making electro-acupuncture significantly superior. Additionally though, the two pill groups reported significantly more adverse events than the two acupuncture groups. At follow-up after 24 weeks, the symptom reduction was still greatest in the electro-acupuncture group.

(Electroacupuncture Versus Gabapentin for Hot Flashes Among Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology, online 24 August 2015.)

Researchers in Italy have concluded that acupuncture, dietary therapy and Chinese massage (tuina) can be used to treat hot flushes and other symptoms in postmenopausal women. They recruited one hundred women in spontaneous menopause and with at least three episodes of hot flushes daily, and randomly allocated them to one of two groups. The first group received dietary advice, self-massage training and acupuncture. The second group received the same interventions except that their acupuncture commenced six weeks after enrollment into the study. Acupuncture was given twice a week for six weeks.

Acupuncture was found to significantly reduce the occurrence of hot flushes and sudden sweating, but other symptoms which improved included sleep disorders, irritability, depression, bone pain and tightness of the chest.

(Acupuncture and traditional Chinese Medicine for hot flushes in menopause: a randomized trial. Journal of Alternative & Complementary Medicine, 8 July 2014.)

A meta-analysis conducted at Taipei Medical University in Taiwan confirms that acupuncture can improve a variety of symptoms associated with the menopause. Twelve studies, involving a total of 869 women, were included in the analysis. Overall, acupuncture was found to significantly reduce the frequency and severity of hot flushes, and this effect persisted for up to three months after treatment. Additionally though, there were significant improvements in psychological, somatic, urogenital and vasomotor symptoms.

(Effects of acupuncture on menopause-related symptoms and quality of life in women on natural menopause: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Menopause – The Journal of The North American Menopause Society, on-line 7 July 2014.)

An Australian team has carried out a review of current research evidence in the field of acupuncture treatment for gynaecological conditions. Acknowledging that acupuncture has been used in this area for many centuries, and that research interest has increased over the past twenty years, they conclude there is now an accumulation of preliminary data indicating that acupuncture may improve women’s menstrual health, and their ability to cope with delays in conceiving.

They go on to mention experimental data indicating acupuncture can influence reproductive functioning, although the mechanisms behind this effect have yet to be fully understood. There is discussion of recent clinical research demonstrating that acupuncture regulates uterine and ovarian blood flow, and that the effect is most likely mediated as a reflex response via the ovarian sympathetic nerves. Since this encourages a thicker uterine wall, fertility is improved through embryo implantation being more successful. Stress is known to have a negative effect on reproduction and perhaps the menstrual cycle. As acupuncture aids in lowering stress hormones, which undermine fertility, it is thought that this may be a major mechanism for acupuncture to influence fertility.

(Acupuncture and women’s health: an overview of the role of acupuncture and its clinical management in women’s reproductive health. International Journal of Women’s Health, 17 March 2014.)

A systematic review and meta-analysis carried out by researchers in Korea, supports the use of acupuncture and herbal medicine for the treatment of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (more severe PMS usually with prominent psychological symptoms such as depression and/or anxiety).

The authors looked at eight acupuncture studies and eleven herbal medicine studies, published over a ten year period. Treatments were found to alleviate symptoms by 50% or more compared to baseline, with no reports of any major adverse events. In the case of acupuncture, a reduction of up to 78% in symptom severity was seen after as few as two to four treatments.

(Effects and treatment methods of acupuncture and herbal medicine for premenstrual syndrome/ premenstrual dysphoric disorder: systematic review. BMC Complementary & Alternative Medicine, January 2014.)