Efficacy of Acupuncture in the Management of Primary Dysmenorrhoea: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Dysmenorrhoea constitutes one of the most frequent disorders in women of a fertile age. The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in the management of primary dysmenorrhoea. Sixty females with the age varied from 17-23-years were randomly assigned to either a study group or a control group. Study group received acupuncture for the duration of 20-minutes/day, for 15-days/month, for the period of 90-days. Control group did not receive acupuncture for the same period. Baseline, during and post assessments were taken on day-1, day-30 & day-60 and day-90 respectively. Statistical analysis was performed by repeated measures of analysis of variance followed by Post-hoc analysis with Bonferroni adjustment for multiple comparisons, independent samples-t-test for visual analogue scale (VAS) score and Mann-Whitney U test for rest of the variables using statistical package for the social sciences, version 16. This study showed a significant reduction in all the variables such as VAS score for pain, menstrual cramps, headache, dizziness, diarrhoea, faint, mood changes, tiredness, nausea, vomiting in the study group compared to control group. Acupuncture could be considered as an effective treatment modality for the management of primary dysmenorrhoea.