Acupuncture with or without moxibustion for primary dysmenorrhea Original paper
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Women’s Health
Women’s Health
Women’s health, a vital aspect of medical science, encompasses various conditions unique to women’s physiological makeup. Historically, women were often excluded from clinical research, leading to a gap in understanding the intricacies of women’s health needs. However, recent advancements have highlighted the significant role that the microbiome plays in these conditions, offering new insights and potential therapies. MicrobiomeSignatures.com is at the forefront of exploring the microbiome signature of each of these conditions to unravel the etiology of these diseases and develop targeted microbiome therapies.
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Primary Dysmenorrhea
Primary Dysmenorrhea
Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is painful menstrual cramps without underlying pelvic pathology, predominantly caused by elevated prostaglandins inducing uterine contractions and ischemia. Managing primary dysmenorrhea (PD) requires understanding its complex mechanisms involving prostaglandins, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Treatments include NSAIDs, hormonal therapies, and promising complementary options like probiotics, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, exercise, yoga, acupuncture, and massage, significantly improving women's quality of life.
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Divine Aleru
What was reviewed?
The authors designed a protocol to systematically review randomized controlled trials of acupuncture, with or without moxibustion, in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. They plan to search nine databases, including PubMed, Embase, and CNKI, from their inception to August 2020, using both MeSH terms and free‐text keywords related to dysmenorrhea, acupuncture, and moxibustion. Two independent reviewers will screen, extract data, and assess study quality using the Cochrane risk‐of‐bias tool, and RevMan 5.4 will facilitate meta‐analysis of primary and secondary outcomes.
Who was reviewed?
The protocol focuses exclusively on women of reproductive age diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea according to the Canadian Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ criteria. It excludes participants with organic pelvic pathology (such as endometriosis or fibroids) and those combining acupuncture or moxibustion with other complementary therapies. Control groups may include sham acupuncture, placebo, pharmacotherapy, or no treatment, ensuring comparability between arms.
Most important findings
As a protocol, this work does not report empirical findings; instead, it outlines its intent to evaluate pain intensity—measured by visual analog scale, numerical rating scale, or Cox retrospective symptom scale—as the primary outcome. It will also examine overall response rates, quality of life scores, and adverse events. The authors anticipate calculating risk ratios for dichotomous data and mean differences for continuous measures, applying fixed‐ or random‐effects models based on heterogeneity assessments.
Key implications
By predefining rigorous inclusion criteria and analytical methods, this protocol aims to generate high‐quality, evidence‐based recommendations on the efficacy and safety of acupuncture with or without moxibustion for primary dysmenorrhea. Its findings will guide clinicians in selecting optimal nonpharmacological pain management strategies and identify gaps for future research.
Primary Dysmenorrhea
Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is painful menstrual cramps without underlying pelvic pathology, predominantly caused by elevated prostaglandins inducing uterine contractions and ischemia. Managing primary dysmenorrhea (PD) requires understanding its complex mechanisms involving prostaglandins, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Treatments include NSAIDs, hormonal therapies, and promising complementary options like probiotics, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, exercise, yoga, acupuncture, and massage, significantly improving women's quality of life.
Endometriosis
Endometriosis involves ectopic endometrial tissue causing pain and infertility. Validated and Promising Interventions include Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT), Low Nickel Diet, and Metronidazole therapy.