The UK’s Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, has published an opinion paper supporting the use of acupuncture and Chinese herbs in the treatment of chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in women. It is estimated that one in six women are affected by CPP which can be defined as intermittent or constant pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis for over six months.
Acknowledging that conventional treatments are of limited effectiveness, the paper presents the results of a comprehensive literature review and a summary of the evidence from relevant acupuncture and herbal research trials. It concludes that whilst they found no reliable studies on the treatment of chronic pelvic pain specifically, there is evidence that acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can benefit associated conditions such as painful periods, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The paper also recommends that patients consult a member of one of the large acupuncture bodies, such as The British Acupuncture Council.
(Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine for Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain (Scientific Impact Paper No. 30) 20 March 2012.)