Scientific research of acupuncture for the treatment of Endometriosis and Adenomyosis

Acupuncture is gaining recognition as a promising treatment for endometriosis. This page discusses four respected research articles that explore the efficacy of acupuncture in managing endometriosis symptoms, highlighting its potential benefits and clinical relevance.

These studies collectively support the efficacy and safety of acupuncture, highlighting its potential to alleviate pain and improve quality of life. As research continues to validate these findings, acupuncture may become an integral part of endometriosis management strategies.

Acupuncture for endometriosis:
A systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and Meta Analysis of clinical trials of acupuncture for Endometriosis was done in 2023 by Nora Giese, Ki Kyung Kwon, and Mike Armour (Australian and German researchers).  Clinical trials had to meet PRISMA guidelines for inclusion. The individual trials included are available in the online version of the review.

Unless you are familiar with reading systematic reviews this is pretty heavy reading with a lot of expalantion of methods inclusions etc.

To assist you I have quoted 2 sections of the discussion and conclusion.

From the discussion, ‘Acupuncture for endometriosis demonstrated benefit in reducing the severity of menstrual pain and overall pelvic pain when compared to non-specific acupuncture, usual care, and Chinese herbal medicine. Reductions in pelvic pain severity were clinically relevant, with reductions in VAS scores for pelvic pain >20 %, well in excess of the minimum clinically important difference. Similar benefits were observed for HRQoL when compared to sham acupuncture and to usual care. Although a meta-analysis could not be performed, studies generally reported greater reductions in analgesic usage in the acupuncture versus the comparison groups.’

The conclusion drawn from this review was ‘Acupuncture treatment for endometriosis demonstrated clinically relevant improvements in pelvic pain and should be considered as a potential treatment intervention’.

The birth of integrative reproductive medicine: finally, a randomized controlled trial for endometriosis treated with acupuncture!

This is a discussion paper printed in the prestigous ‘Fertility and Sterility Journal’. It is a discussion about a trial by Li et al, ‘‘Efficacy of acupuncture for endometriosis-associated pain: a multicenter randomized single-blind placebo-controlled trial’’

The trial addresses in a randomized controlled trial format the following questions: does adding acupuncture protocol impact pain relief and is it lasting? The short answer that this article concluded is yes, it can reduce pain perception, and no it is not lasting. This is consistent with many Western medicine treatment protocols, whereby nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug give relief when used, but not lasting when stopped.

The paper states ‘This study matters for 2 reasons: they report a nonpharmaceutical approach to relieve the pain of endometriosis that is efficacious and secondary, it adds much needed critical analysis of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) protocols as adjuncts to our medicine recommended by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). As a medical society, we are attempting to reduce opioid addiction. Reducing the dependence on opioids with a treatment modality with little or no implicit side effects is beneficial. This study does not directly address the opioid issue, it certainly can be inferred by the benefit shown of the acupuncture arm for pain reduction will reduce the need for opioids’.

Overview of the Effect of Complementary Medicine on Treating or Mitigating the Risk of Endometriosis

This overview looked at results from studies into endometriosis and complementary methods of treatment, beyond just acupuncture. 3 Large databases for scientific literature were searched.

They found acupuncture was effective in reducing pain and CA-125 a related serum marker. Physical exercise, smoking, diet, caffeine intake did not show a reduced risk or improve treatment. (Note: I believe these factors will improve the effectiveness of acupuncture).

Acupuncture for pain and pain-related disability in deep infiltrating endometriosis

This study looked at women with deep infiltrating endometriosis and acupunctures effect on pain- menstrual, with intercourse, pelvic and when passing urine. They also looked to see women reported improved pain scale meant it interference with daily life (functional disability they called it) improved.

To evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in relieving symptoms (dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, pelvic pain and dyschezia) intensity, improving functional disability, reducing the number of days per months of dysmenorrhea, the frequency and the efficacy of analgesic use in deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). The safety profile was also evaluated.

Acupuncture was found to be effective, safe and to reduce the requirement for analgesics. Positively pain relief started in the first month of treatment.